Smith Hempstone (February 1, 1929–November 19, 2006) was a journalist, author, and the United States ambassador to Kenya in 1989–93. He was a vocal proponent of democracy, advocating free elections for Kenya.
Kathaleen Fishback "Kitty", January 30, 1954 - February 20, 2021 –his death
Children
daughter, Katherine Hope Hempstone of Baltimore; and two grandsons and one granddaughter
Parent(s)
Smith (a naval officer) and Elizabeth (Noyes) Hempstone
Awards
Sigma Delta Chi Award for distinguished service in journalism (foreign correspondence), 1960 Nieman Fellow, 1964–1965 Overseas Press Club citations for excellence in foreign correspondence, 1968, 1974 honorary doctorate of letters from University of the South, 1968.
He did radio rewrite for the Associated Press in Charlotte, North Carolina, (1952). He was a reporter at the Louisville Times, Louisville, Kentucky (1953), rewrite man at National Geographic, Washington, D.C. (1954), then a reporter at the Washington Star (1955–56). He was a fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs in Africa (1956–60). He served as a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Daily News in Africa (1961–64) and in Latin America (1965). He was a foreign correspondent for the Washington Star in Latin America (1966), and Europe, (1967–69). He was associate editor and editorial page director of the Star (1970–75). He left the Star in 1975 after a disagreement with Joe L. Allbritton, its new owner. He wrote a syndicated twice-weekly column, "Our Times," beginning 1975.
Hempstone worked as the Africa correspondent for The Chicago Daily News, wrote several books, and wrote a syndicated column carried by 90 newspapers. In 1982 he was named executive editor of the newly founded Washington Times and, following the resignation of editor and publisher James R. Whelan in 1984, briefly served as editor of the paper before being replaced by Arnaud de Borchgrave.
He was appointed ambassador to Kenya by George H. W. Bush in 1989, a time when the United States was beginning to push African countries toward democracy and human rights. Hempstone worked toward these goals by fighting for multiparty elections in Kenya in 1991, nine years after Kenyan presidentDaniel arap Moi had banned all parties except his own. The Moi administration derided him, saying he failed to understand that strong, unified government was necessary to keep Kenya's tribal groups from splitting the country. He aided dissidents and befriended opponents of the administration, causing the African press to describe his style as "bulldozer diplomacy." The Kenyan government isolated him and, according to Hempstone's book Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir, twice attempted to kill him. Multiparty elections were ultimately held in 1992, and were won by Moi with 36 percent of the vote.
In 2001 former Kenyan government minister Nicholas Biwott successfully sued Hempstone (High Court Civil Suit Case No. 1273)[5][6] for suggesting in his autobiography that Biwott had been involved in the murder of Kenya's minister of foreign Affairs, Dr. Robert Ouko, in February 1990. Hempstone did not defend the action.
Hempstone died in 2006 in Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, from complications of diabetes.
WritingsEdit
Letters from Africa to the Institute of Current World Affairs, New York (1956)
Africa: Angry Young Giant, Praeger, 1961 (published in England as The New Africa, Faber, 1961).
The New Africa (1961)
Katanga Report, Faber, 1962
Rebels, Mercenaries and Dividends: The Katanga Story, Praeger, 1962.
^Bernstein, Adam (November 20, 2006). "Smith Hempstone; U.S. Ambassador to Kenya". Washington Post. p. B04. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
^Martin, Douglas (November 30, 2006). "Smith Hempstone, 77, Journalist Who Became a Prominent Ambassador, Is Dead". New York Times. p. A27. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
smith, hempstone, february, 1929, november, 2006, journalist, author, united, states, ambassador, kenya, 1989, vocal, proponent, democracy, advocating, free, elections, kenya, hempstone, kenya, 1993, born, 1929, february, 1929diednovember, 2006, 2006, aged, su. Smith Hempstone February 1 1929 November 19 2006 was a journalist author and the United States ambassador to Kenya in 1989 93 He was a vocal proponent of democracy advocating free elections for Kenya Smith HempstoneHempstone in Kenya 1993 Born 1929 02 01 February 1 1929DiedNovember 19 2006 2006 11 19 aged 77 Suburban HospitalBethesda MarylandNationalityAmericanEducationGeorge Washington University 1946 47University of the South B A 1950Harvard University graduate study 1964 1965 Alma materUniversity of the SouthOccupationJournalistPolitical partyRepublican Party USA 1958 1968 Independent 1 1968 2006 Board member ofTrustee University of the South 1975 1978governor Institute of Current World Affairs 1975 1978 Spouse s Kathaleen Fishback Kitty January 30 1954 February 20 2021 his deathChildrendaughter Katherine Hope Hempstone of Baltimore and two grandsons and one granddaughterParent s Smith a naval officer and Elizabeth Noyes HempstoneAwardsSigma Delta Chi Award for distinguished service in journalism foreign correspondence 1960Nieman Fellow 1964 1965Overseas Press Club citations for excellence in foreign correspondence 1968 1974honorary doctorate of letters from University of the South 1968 Notes 2 3 4 Contents 1 Biography 2 Writings 3 Memberships 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksBiography EditHempstone attended George Washington University and graduated from the University of the South He was a U S Marine in the Korean War 1950 52 leaving as a captain He did radio rewrite for the Associated Press in Charlotte North Carolina 1952 He was a reporter at the Louisville Times Louisville Kentucky 1953 rewrite man at National Geographic Washington D C 1954 then a reporter at the Washington Star 1955 56 He was a fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs in Africa 1956 60 He served as a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Daily News in Africa 1961 64 and in Latin America 1965 He was a foreign correspondent for the Washington Star in Latin America 1966 and Europe 1967 69 He was associate editor and editorial page director of the Star 1970 75 He left the Star in 1975 after a disagreement with Joe L Allbritton its new owner He wrote a syndicated twice weekly column Our Times beginning 1975 Hempstone worked as the Africa correspondent for The Chicago Daily News wrote several books and wrote a syndicated column carried by 90 newspapers In 1982 he was named executive editor of the newly founded Washington Times and following the resignation of editor and publisher James R Whelan in 1984 briefly served as editor of the paper before being replaced by Arnaud de Borchgrave He was appointed ambassador to Kenya by George H W Bush in 1989 a time when the United States was beginning to push African countries toward democracy and human rights Hempstone worked toward these goals by fighting for multiparty elections in Kenya in 1991 nine years after Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi had banned all parties except his own The Moi administration derided him saying he failed to understand that strong unified government was necessary to keep Kenya s tribal groups from splitting the country He aided dissidents and befriended opponents of the administration causing the African press to describe his style as bulldozer diplomacy The Kenyan government isolated him and according to Hempstone s book Rogue Ambassador An African Memoir twice attempted to kill him Multiparty elections were ultimately held in 1992 and were won by Moi with 36 percent of the vote In 2001 former Kenyan government minister Nicholas Biwott successfully sued Hempstone High Court Civil Suit Case No 1273 5 6 for suggesting in his autobiography that Biwott had been involved in the murder of Kenya s minister of foreign Affairs Dr Robert Ouko in February 1990 Hempstone did not defend the action Hempstone died in 2006 in Suburban Hospital Bethesda Maryland from complications of diabetes Writings EditLetters from Africa to the Institute of Current World Affairs New York 1956 Africa Angry Young Giant Praeger 1961 published in England as The New Africa Faber 1961 The New Africa 1961 Katanga Report Faber 1962 Rebels Mercenaries and Dividends The Katanga Story Praeger 1962 A Tract of Time novel Houghton 1966 In the Midst of Lions novel 1968 gt India in Focus Six Articles 1964 In the Midst of Lions novel Harper 1968 United States Foreign Policy and the China Problem by Morton A Kaplan Douglas MacArthur Smith Hempstone 1982 Chosin Marine An Autobiography by Bill Davis James H Webb Smith Hempstone 1986 Rogue Ambassador An African Memoir 1997 Editor STA an Illustrated History of St Albans School Glastonbury Press 1981 Contributor to Saturday Evening Post Atlantic Monthly Reader s Digest U S News amp World Report and other magazines Memberships EditAmerican Society of News Editors Explorers ClubReferences Edit https www adst org OH 20TOCs Hempstrone 20Smith 20Jr toc pdf bare URL PDF Contemporary Authors Online Gale 2009 Reproduced in Biography Resource Center Farmington Hills Michigan Gale 2009 http galenet galegroup com servlet BioRC Fee via Fairfax County Public Library accessed 2009 05 04 Document Number H1000044413 Bernstein Adam November 20 2006 Smith Hempstone U S Ambassador to Kenya Washington Post p B04 Retrieved 2009 05 04 Martin Douglas November 30 2006 Smith Hempstone 77 Journalist Who Became a Prominent Ambassador Is Dead New York Times p A27 Retrieved 2009 05 04 Civil Case 1273 of 2001 Kenya Law Reports Nicholas Biwott v Smith Hempstone Service Abroad and preliminary decree PDF Kenyan Court documents Archived from the original PDF on 2012 07 11 Sources EditDouglas Martin November 30 2006 Smith Hempstone 77 Journalist Who Became Prominent Ambassador Is Dead New York Times p A27 External links Edit Biography portal Politics portalWashington Post obituary Kenyan tribute to Hempstone Appearances on C SPANDiplomatic postsPreceded byElinor Greer Constable United States Ambassador to Kenya1989 1993 Succeeded byAurelia E Brazeal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smith Hempstone amp oldid 1135542043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
