Bruce Laingen

Laingen speaking at the White House on January 27, 1981, with President Ronald Reagan

Lowell Bruce Laingen (August 6, 1922 – July 15, 2019) was an American diplomat. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Malta from 1977 to 1979. He worked under the Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter presidencies. He was a World War II veteran. Laingen was best known for having been the most senior American official held hostage during the Iran hostage crisis.

He was the chargé d'affaires (head of diplomatic mission) at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran at the time of the crisis.[1][2][3] He was born in Butterfield, Minnesota.

Laingen died on July 15, 2019 at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland of problems caused from Parkinson's disease, aged 96.[4]

References

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  1. ↑ "Former Iranian Hostage, Ambassador Bruce Laingen Statement: Don't Hold Successful Diplomacy Hostage to History". Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-03-08.
  2. ↑ "Diplomat's In Harm's Way – Bruce Laingen". The Association for Diplomatic Studies & Training. Archived from the original on 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  3. ↑ "Tribute to Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen – U.S. Senate" (PDF). Congressional Record. Library of Congress. 2012-07-26. p. S5474.
  4. ↑ "L. Bruce Laingen, Top US Diplomat Held in Iran, Dies at 96"[permanent dead link], AP via The New York Times, July 17, 2019.