Peter H. Dailey

Peter H. Dailey
United States Ambassador to Ireland
In office
April 30, 1982 – January 15, 1984
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byWilliam V. Shannon
Succeeded byRobert F. Kane
Personal details
Born(1930-05-01)May 1, 1930
New Orleans, Louisiana
DiedMarch 11, 2018(2018-03-11) (aged 87)
Pasadena, California
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJacqueline Ann Biggerstaff
Children5
Alma materUCLA
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy

Peter H. Dailey (May 1, 1930 – March 11, 2018) was an American advertising executive, who served as United States Ambassador to Ireland (1982–1984).[1]

Dailey was born in New Orleans in 1930; he attended UCLA where he played college football for the Bruins (1951–1953).[2] He graduated from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 1954, and served in the US Navy (1954–1956).[3] He worked for Foote, Cone and Belding (1963–1964) and Campbell Ewald (1964–1968) before becoming chairman and CEO of his own company, Dailey International Group, in 1968.[3] The company was acquired by Interpublic in 1983.[4]

Dailey acted as principal media strategist for President Nixon during the 1972 election and for President Reagan during the 1980 election.[5] He served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament, and was counselor to William J. Casey, Director of Central Intelligence.[5] At various times, he was a member of the board of directors of several companies, including Walt Disney Productions;[5] Dailey's sister Patricia was married to Roy E. Disney.[6][7]

In 1982, Dailey was appointed ambassador to Ireland by President Reagan.[8] After confirmation by the Senate, he presented his credentials to Irish leaders on April 30, 1982.[8] He had the official title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and served in the role until January 15, 1984.[8] In 1984, Dailey was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree from Whittier College.[9] In 1989, Dailey was inducted to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.[2]

Dailey's wife, Jacqueline, died in 2016; the couple had five children.[10] On March 11, 2018, Dailey died at his Pasadena home at the age of 87.[11]

  1. ^ "Peter H. Dailey". Council of American Ambassadors. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "7 Former Bruins Join UCLA Sports Hall of Fame". Los Angeles Times. April 27, 1989. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Nomination of Peter H. Dailey To Be United States Ambassador to Ireland" (Press release). February 16, 1982. Retrieved April 28, 2017 – via The American Presidency Project.
  4. ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (May 18, 1983). "Advertising; Interpublic To Acquire Dailey". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Executive Profile: Peter H. Dailey". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. ^ Gennawey, Sam (December 12, 2013). "Disney for sale?". Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "Patricia A. Disney". Los Angeles Times. February 4, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c "Peter H. Dailey (1930–)". history.state.gov. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Honorary Degrees | Whittier College". www.whittier.edu. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "Jacqueline A. Dailey (1931–2016)". Los Angeles Times. November 25, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016 – via legacy.com.
  11. ^ "Peter H. Dailey's Obituary on Orange County Register". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 19, 2018.