# Richard H. Solomon

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American diplomat (1937–2017)

Richard Solomon United States Ambassador to the Philippines In office September 4, 1992 – March 1, 1993 President George H. W. Bush Preceded by Frank G. Wisner Succeeded by John Negroponte 18th Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs In office June 23, 1989 – July 10, 1992 President George H. W. Bush Preceded by Gaston J. Sigur Jr. Succeeded by William Clark, Jr. 15th Director of Policy Planning In office March 3, 1986 – January 21, 1989 President Ronald Reagan Preceded by Peter Rodman Succeeded by Dennis B. Ross Personal details Born Richard Harvey Solomon June 19, 1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Died March 13, 2017 (aged 79) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. Alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology (S.B., Ph.D.)

**Richard Harvey Solomon** (June 19, 1937 – March 13, 2017) was an American diplomat and academic.[1][2]

A scholar of Chinese politics, Solomon was a faculty member at the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan) before joining the [National Security Council](/source/United_States_National_Security_Council) under the [Richard Nixon](/source/Richard_Nixon) administration. He left the NSC in 1976 to join the [RAND Corporation](/source/RAND_Corporation) as head of its political science department, where he remained until returning to government service in 1986.[3]

He served as [director of policy planning](/source/Director_of_Policy_Planning) in the [Department of State](/source/United_States_Department_of_State) from 1986 to 1989, [assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs](/source/Assistant_Secretary_of_State_for_East_Asian_and_Pacific_Affairs) from 1989 to 1992, and [U.S. ambassador to the Philippines](/source/U.S._Ambassador_to_the_Philippines) from 1992 to 1993.

In September 1993, he became president of the [United States Institute of Peace](/source/United_States_Institute_of_Peace), a position he held until his retirement in September 2012. He subsequently returned to the RAND Corporation as a senior fellow and remained there until his death in 2017.

## Early life and education

Richard Harvey Solomon was born in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) on June 19, 1937. His family background is of German and French Jewish émigrés who settled in the eastern United States around the turn of the 20th century. Previous generations of Solomon's family included salesmen of German silver, distinguished academics including [Milton J. Rosenau](/source/Milton_J._Rosenau), and an art dealer who funded [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](/source/Pierre-Auguste_Renoir) and other [Impressionist](/source/Impressionism) artists. Solomon's maternal grandfather successfully managed a knitting mill during the Second World War and supported Solomon's high school and university education after the death of his father.

Solomon's father, a furniture salesman who also served in the [United State Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard), died from a [pulmonary embolism](/source/Pulmonary_embolism) resulting from an operation at the age of 37 in 1945. His mother took up the same profession after the death of Solomon's father.

Solomon was sent to study at the [Westtown School](/source/Westtown_School) at the age of 12 and graduated from high school in the spring of 1955. He later credited Westtown for encouraging his interest in public affairs and entering a career in public service. In the summer of 1953, at the age of 15, Solomon was part of a Quaker work camp in California and other parts of the west, where he worked with a group of Russian émigrés, contributing to his interest in public and international affairs, which he recalled as being much more attractive than the business environment in which he was raised.

Solomon's strong record in the sciences and his early interest in photography led him to enroll at the [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology) in the fall of 1955. Solomon entered MIT to study chemistry, but having not enjoyed science, Solomon left in the middle of his third year with a colleague to hitchhike around Europe for nine months. He returned to finish his studies and received a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1960 after completing an undergraduate thesis titled "Aerial photography, a research tool for the social sciences."[4][5]

Solomon remained at MIT for graduate studies and developed his interest in China under the influence of [Lucian Pye](/source/Lucian_Pye). After a call from [Walt Rostow](/source/Walt_Rostow) seeking a China analyst, Pye enabled Solomon to acquire a scholarship to study at the Air Force program in Chinese language studies at [Yale University](/source/Yale_University) in the summer of 1961.

With the support of a [Ford Foundation](/source/Ford_Foundation) fellowship and research grants from MIT and the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan), Solomon conducted research for his dissertation in Taiwan and Hong Kong from 1964 to 1965. He also continued his language studies at [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University) and [National Taiwan University](/source/National_Taiwan_University). While conducting research in Hong Kong, Solomon befriended figures who would later become influential figures in American diplomacy, such as [Morton Abramowitz](/source/Morton_I._Abramowitz), [William Gleysteen](/source/William_H._Gleysteen), and [Nicholas Platt](/source/Nicholas_Platt).

For his dissertation, Solomon interviewed over a hundred Chinese refugees in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and received his Ph.D. in political science in 1966 after completing a dissertation on Chinese political culture under the supervision of Pye.[6][7]

## Career

In 1966, Solomon became a professor of political science at the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan). He left in 1971 to become a staff member of the [United States National Security Council](/source/United_States_National_Security_Council), responsible for Asian Affairs. In this position, he worked with then-[National Security Advisor](/source/National_Security_Advisor_(United_States)) [Henry Kissinger](/source/Henry_Kissinger) on the normalization of relations with China.

In 1976, he joined the Rand Corporation in [Santa Monica, California](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California) as head of the political science department, a position he held until 1986. Solomon then joined the [United States Department of State](/source/United_States_Department_of_State) in 1986 as [Director of Policy Planning](/source/Director_of_Policy_Planning), serving until 1989.

On March 24, 1989, [President of the United States](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [George H. W. Bush](/source/George_H._W._Bush) nominated Solomon as [Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs](/source/Assistant_Secretary_of_State_for_East_Asian_and_Pacific_Affairs) serving from June 23, 1989 until July 10, 1992. As Assistant Secretary, Solomon helped negotiate the [1991 Paris Peace Agreements](/source/1991_Paris_Peace_Agreements), by which the [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam)-backed [People's Republic of Kampuchea](/source/People's_Republic_of_Kampuchea) agreed to turn over control of Cambodia to the [United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia](/source/United_Nations_Transitional_Authority_in_Cambodia), an international peacekeeping force (with Cambodia gaining independence in 1995). Solomon also facilitated nuclear proliferation discussions between [North Korea](/source/North_Korea) and [South Korea](/source/South_Korea). He played a role in the formation of the [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation](/source/Asia-Pacific_Economic_Cooperation) initiative. He also participated in bilateral negotiations with [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam), [Mongolia](/source/Mongolia), and Japan.

In 1990, Solomon was offered the opportunity to succeed [James R. Lilley](/source/James_R._Lilley) as U.S. ambassador to China but turned it down due to the immobilization of the U.S.-China relationship in the aftermath of the [Tiananmen Square massacre](/source/1989_Tiananmen_Square_protests_and_massacre).[1]

President [George H. W. Bush](/source/George_H._W._Bush) nominated Solomon as [United States Ambassador to the Philippines](/source/United_States_Ambassador_to_the_Philippines). He was confirmed and served in that role from September 4, 1992 until March 1, 1993.

Solomon left government service in 1993, becoming president of the [United States Institute of Peace](/source/United_States_Institute_of_Peace). He served in that role until September 2012. In October of that year he returned to the RAND Corporation as a senior fellow.

Solomon published eight books, including "Mao's Revolution and the Chinese Political Culture" (1971, 1999), "A Revolution is Not a Dinner Party" (1975), "The China Factor" (1981), "Chinese Negotiating Behavior" (1985 and 2000), "Exiting Indochina" (2000), "American Negotiating Behavior" (2007), and "Peace Building" (2012). He served as a member of [Partnership for a Secure America](/source/Partnership_for_a_Secure_America)'s bipartisan advisory board until his death in 2017. The Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to rebuilding the bipartisan center in American foreign policy and national security.

Solomon received the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) from [Whittier College](/source/Whittier_College) in 2012.[8]

## Personal life

Solomon's first marriage to Carol Schwartz ended in divorce. He was married to his second wife, Anne Greene Keatley Solomon, for 25 years at the time of his death.

Solomon had two children from his first marriage: Lisa Solomon, and former [Wall Street Journal](/source/The_Wall_Street_Journal) reporter Jonathan "Jay" Solomon.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

## Death

Solomon died on March 13, 2017, at his home in [Bethesda, Maryland](/source/Bethesda%2C_Maryland) from brain cancer at the age of 79.[15]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) Richard H. Solomon Oral History, Interviewed by Charles Stuart Kennedy, Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection, Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Arlington, VA, adst.org.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Library of Congress Name Authority File: Solomon, Richard H., 1937–](http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79113279.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Richard H. Solomon, RAND Policy Analyst and Former Diplomat, Dies at 79"](https://www.rand.org/news/press/2017/03/14.html). *www.rand.org*. Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Solomon, Richard H. *Aerial photography, a research tool for the social sciences.* Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Economics and Social Science, 1960. [\[1\]](https://mit.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01MIT_INST/10692a4/alma990007389330106761)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Richard H. Solomon papers, Circa 1962-1972 (majority within 1965-1967) - University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library - University of Michigan Finding Aids"](https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-2008034#summary). *findingaids.lib.umich.edu*. Retrieved 2026-04-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Cullison, Alan (2017-03-14). ["Richard Solomon, Former Diplomat Who Helped Nixon Open Relations With China, Dies"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/richard-solomon-former-diplomat-who-helped-nixon-open-relations-with-china-dies-1489532159). *Wall Street Journal*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0099-9660](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0099-9660). Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Bernstein, Adam (2017-03-14). "Richard Solomon, Kissinger aide involved in 'Ping-Pong diplomacy' with China, dies at 79". *The Washington Post*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Honorary Degrees | Whittier College"](https://www.whittier.edu/alumni/poetnation/honorary). *www.whittier.edu*. Retrieved 2019-12-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["A Former WSJ Reporter Is Suing — Over the Email Hack That Got Him Fired"](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/10/28/reporter-suing-email-hack-fired-00063901). *POLITICO*. 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Press, The Associated (2017-06-21). ["'Wall Street Journal' Fires Jay Solomon Over Ethical Lapses"](https://www.npr.org/2017/06/21/533881518/wall-street-journal-fires-jay-solomon-over-ethical-lapses). *NPR*. Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Alpert, Lukas I. (2017-06-21). ["Wall Street Journal Reporter Is Fired After Dealings With Source"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/journal-reporter-is-fired-after-allegations-of-dealings-with-source-1498084216). *Wall Street Journal*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0099-9660](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0099-9660). Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Rowland, Geoffrey (2017-06-21). ["WSJ fires reporter over ethics violation"](http://web.archive.org/web/20201112030521/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/338829-wsj-fires-reporter-over-ethics-violation). *TheHill*. Archived from [the original](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/338829-wsj-fires-reporter-over-ethics-violation) on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Graham, David A. (2017-06-21). ["The Fall of a Foreign-Affairs Reporter"](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/06/arms-and-the-man/531168/). *The Atlantic*. Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Grynbaum, Michael M.; Ember, Sydney (2017-06-21). ["Wall Street Journal Fires Reporter With Ties to Iranian-Born Magnate"](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/business/media/jay-solomon-fired-wall-street-journal.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2026-04-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Richard H. Solomon, Political Scientist and Former Diplomat, Dies at 79"](https://politicalsciencenow.com/richard-h-solomon-political-scientist-and-former-diplomat-dies-at-79/). *politicalsciencenow.com*. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2020-03-02.

## External links

- [President Bush's nomination of Solomon as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs](http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=16846)

- [Profile from the United States Institute of Peace](https://web.archive.org/web/20100529043147/http://www.usip.org/specialists/richard-h-solomon)

- [Richard Solomon, Kissinger aide involved in ‘Ping-Pong diplomacy’ with China, dies at 79](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/richard-solomon-kissinger-aide-involved-in-ping-pong-diplomacy-with-china-dies-at-79/2017/03/14/a8866d74-ef03-11e6-b4ff-ac2cf509efe5_story.html)

- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?9004) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)

Government offices Preceded by Gaston J. Sigur, Jr. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs June 23, 1989 – July 10, 1992 Succeeded by William Clark, Jr. Diplomatic posts Preceded by Frank G. Wisner United States Ambassador to the Philippines September 4, 1992 – March 1, 1993 Succeeded by John Negroponte

v t e United States ambassadors to the Philippines McNutt O'Neal Cowen Spruance Ferguson Nufer Bohlen Hickerson Stevenson Blair Williams Byroade Sullivan Newsom Murphy Armacost Bosworth Platt Wisner Solomon Negroponte Hubbard Ricciardone Kenney Thomas Goldberg Kim Carlson

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Richard H. Solomon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_H._Solomon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_H._Solomon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.