Ellsworth Bunker

Ellsworth Bunker
Bunker in 1965
United States Ambassador to South Vietnam
In office
April 5, 1967 – May 11, 1973
PresidentLyndon Johnson
Richard Nixon
Preceded byHenry Cabot Lodge Jr.
Succeeded byGraham Martin
5th United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
In office
January 29, 1964 – November 7, 1966
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded bydeLesseps Story Morrison
Succeeded bySol Linowitz
United States Ambassador to India
In office
November 28, 1956 – March 23, 1961
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Preceded byJohn Sherman Cooper
Succeeded byJohn Kenneth Galbraith
United States Ambassador to Italy
In office
May 7, 1952 – April 3, 1953
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byJames Clement Dunn
Succeeded byClare Boothe Luce
United States Ambassador to Argentina
In office
March 13, 1951 – March 12, 1952
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byStanton Griffis
Succeeded byAlbert F. Nufer
Personal details
Born(1894-05-11)May 11, 1894
Yonkers, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 27, 1984(1984-09-27) (aged 90)
Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
Spouses
Harriet Allen Butler
(m. 1920; died 1964)
(m. 1967)
Alma materYale University
ProfessionBusinessman and diplomat
Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (1963, 1967)
President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1979)

Ellsworth F. Bunker (May 11, 1894 – September 27, 1984) was an American businessman and diplomat who served as ambassador to Argentina, Italy, India, Nepal and South Vietnam. He is perhaps best known for being a hawk on the war in Vietnam and Southeast Asia during the 1960s and 1970s. As of February 2024, Bunker is one of only two people to have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, and the only person to receive both awards With Distinction.