George Wildman Ball (1909–94) was an American diplomat, lawyer, and banker known for opposing U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and advancing European integration. He served as Under Secretary of State (1961–66) under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and briefly as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1968.)
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Ball studied English and law at Northwestern University. A protégé of Adlai Stevenson, he worked on his presidential campaigns and co-founded the law firm Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in 1946. His early career included roles in the Lend-Lease program and the Strategic Bombing Survey during World War II.
Ball was a vocal critic of escalating the Vietnam War, warning it would lead to a prolonged, unwinnable conflict. He also shaped trade expansion policies, Middle East diplomacy, and European economic cooperation.
His book The Past Has Another Pattern: Memoirs (1982) offers insights into his diplomatic career and policy decisions. His papers, documenting his work in law, diplomacy, and finance, are housed at Princeton University.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by George Wildman Ball
Nostalgia is a seductive liar.
—George Wildman Ball
Topics: Past, The Past
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