Robert Borden Reams (January 27, 1904 – March 26, 1994) was an American diplomat.[1][2] He was the first United States Ambassador to Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), Dahomey (now Benin), Niger, and Ivory Coast (now Côte d'Ivoire) simultaneously. On July 31, 1960, an envoy, Donald R. Norland, had presented his credentials as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim on the previous day of Reams' appointment.
Reams was born in Luthersburg, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, on January 27, 1904.[3][4] He was the son of John Homer Reams and Lulu Ann (Borden) Reams. He married Charlotte Johns on April 6, 1924, divorced her in 1947 and married Dorothy Yovich that same year. He later joined the U.S Foreign and saw overseas post as U.S. Vice Consul in Le Havre, France from 1929 to 1931, South Africa in Johannesburg from 1931 to 33 and again from 1935 to 1936; From 1933 to 1935 Reams was U.S. Vice Consul in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He later became U.S. Consul in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1937 until 1940.
Reams served as the specialist on Jewish issues for the State Department's Division of European Affairs during World War II. In the role he downplayed reports of Nazi exterminations of Jews in Europe, casting doubts on diplomatic cables that sought to notify the United Nations and raise alarm. Reams concluded the reports of mass deportation and murder were accurate, but wrote in 1942 that if the State Department corroborated such information, it would have exposed governments to "increased pressure... to do something."[5]
Reams similarly resisted efforts in 1943 to potentially rescue Jews in Europe facing deportation and extermination. Reams wrote there was a "danger" that the German Government might agree to release Jewish refugees to the U.S., and that to care for such refugees would be an "onus" on the United Nations.[5] Between 1942 and 1944, Reams and his colleagues in the State Department resisted all efforts to save European Jews. Randolph Paul of the Treasury Department described Reams and his colleagues as an "underground movement... to let the Jews be killed."[5]
On October 14, 1960, Reams was nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Dahomey, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Upper Volta by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was a resident at Abidjan during his ambassadorship. By 1962, Reams had been superseded by respective ambassadors to each country he represented.
Reams died from an aortic aneurysm on March 26, 1994, at the age of 90.[6]
References
^. abidjan.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
^Institute for Research in Biography, Inc; Institute for Research in Biography (New York, N.Y.) (1948). World Biography. Institute for Research in Biography. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
^Lawrence Kestenbaum. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Reade to Rector". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
^ abcDavid S. Wyman (1984). The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust 1941-1945. Pantheon Books.
borden, reams, robert, borden, reams, january, 1904, march, 1994, american, diplomat, first, united, states, ambassador, upper, volta, burkina, faso, dahomey, benin, niger, ivory, coast, côte, ivoire, simultaneously, july, 1960, envoy, donald, norland, present. Robert Borden Reams January 27 1904 March 26 1994 was an American diplomat 1 2 He was the first United States Ambassador to Upper Volta now Burkina Faso Dahomey now Benin Niger and Ivory Coast now Cote d Ivoire simultaneously On July 31 1960 an envoy Donald R Norland had presented his credentials as Charge d Affaires ad interim on the previous day of Reams appointment R Borden ReamsR Borden Reams with Felix Houphouet Boigny John F Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy in 19621st United States Ambassador to Burkina FasoIn office December 6 1960 June 26 1961PresidentDwight D EisenhowerPreceded byoffice establishedSucceeded byThomas S Estes1st United States Ambassador to BeninIn office November 26 1960 July 31 1961PresidentDwight D EisenhowerPreceded byoffice establishedSucceeded byRobinson McIlvaine1st United States Ambassador to NigerIn office November 23 1960 August 2 1961PresidentDwight D EisenhowerPreceded byoffice establishedSucceeded byMercer Cook1st United States Ambassador to Cote d IvoireIn office November 20 1960 May 12 1962PresidentDwight D EisenhowerPreceded byoffice establishedSucceeded byJames WineUnited States Minister to DenmarkActingIn office June 5 1940 December 20 1941PresidentFranklin D RooseveltPreceded byRay AthertonSucceeded byMonnett Bain Davis 1945 Personal detailsBorn 1904 01 27 January 27 1904Luthersburg PennsylvaniaDiedMarch 26 1994 1994 03 26 aged 90 Panama City FloridaSpouseCharlotte JohnsProfessionDiplomatBiography EditReams was born in Luthersburg Clearfield County Pennsylvania on January 27 1904 3 4 He was the son of John Homer Reams and Lulu Ann Borden Reams He married Charlotte Johns on April 6 1924 divorced her in 1947 and married Dorothy Yovich that same year He later joined the U S Foreign and saw overseas post as U S Vice Consul in Le Havre France from 1929 to 1931 South Africa in Johannesburg from 1931 to 33 and again from 1935 to 1936 From 1933 to 1935 Reams was U S Vice Consul in Port Elizabeth South Africa He later became U S Consul in Copenhagen Denmark in 1937 until 1940 Reams served as the specialist on Jewish issues for the State Department s Division of European Affairs during World War II In the role he downplayed reports of Nazi exterminations of Jews in Europe casting doubts on diplomatic cables that sought to notify the United Nations and raise alarm Reams concluded the reports of mass deportation and murder were accurate but wrote in 1942 that if the State Department corroborated such information it would have exposed governments to increased pressure to do something 5 Reams similarly resisted efforts in 1943 to potentially rescue Jews in Europe facing deportation and extermination Reams wrote there was a danger that the German Government might agree to release Jewish refugees to the U S and that to care for such refugees would be an onus on the United Nations 5 Between 1942 and 1944 Reams and his colleagues in the State Department resisted all efforts to save European Jews Randolph Paul of the Treasury Department described Reams and his colleagues as an underground movement to let the Jews be killed 5 On October 14 1960 Reams was nominated to be the U S Ambassador to Dahomey Niger Ivory Coast and Upper Volta by President Dwight D Eisenhower He was a resident at Abidjan during his ambassadorship By 1962 Reams had been superseded by respective ambassadors to each country he represented Reams died from an aortic aneurysm on March 26 1994 at the age of 90 6 References Edit Former Ambassadors Embassy of the United States Abidjan Cote d Ivoire abidjan usembassy gov Archived from the original on 2015 05 18 Retrieved 2015 05 15 R Borden Reams NameBase Retrieved 2012 01 20 dead link Institute for Research in Biography Inc Institute for Research in Biography New York N Y 1948 World Biography Institute for Research in Biography Retrieved 2015 05 15 Lawrence Kestenbaum The Political Graveyard Index to Politicians Reade to Rector politicalgraveyard com Retrieved 2015 05 15 a b c David S Wyman 1984 The Abandonment of the Jews America and the Holocaust 1941 1945 Pantheon Books Oscar Dodek Sr Dies pqasb pqarchiver com Retrieved 2015 05 15 Diplomatic postsPreceded byoffice established United States Ambassador to Benin1960 1961 Succeeded byRobinson McIlvainePreceded byoffice established United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso1960 1961 Succeeded byThomas S EstesPreceded byoffice established United States Ambassador to Niger1960 1961 Succeeded byMercer Cook This article incorporates public domain material from U S Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets United States Department of State Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title R Borden Reams amp oldid 1113680036, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
