Warren Christopher occupied high-level federal positions across four decades, including two separate tenures as United States Secretary of State. His career bridged private practice at O’Melveny & Myers with service as a deputy attorney general and a critical architect of international diplomacy during the administrations of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
Formative Education and Early Military Service
Born in Scranton, North Dakota, in 1925, Christopher graduated from Hollywood High School before attending the University of Redlands and later transferring to the University of Southern California. He finished his studies there in 1945, graduating magna cum laude. Between 1943 and 1946, he served as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve. Following this, he enrolled at Stanford Law School, where he established the Stanford Law Review and attained membership in the Order of the Coif.
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In 1949, Christopher became the first Stanford Law graduate to clerk for a Supreme Court Justice, assisting William O. Douglas. He joined the firm O’Melveny & Myers in 1950, securing a partnership in 1958. During the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, he served as Deputy Attorney General from 1967 to 1969, working to address urban unrest in Detroit and Chicago. He also presided over the Los Angeles County Bar Association and headed the commission investigating the Los Angeles Police Department following the Rodney King incident in 1991.
Diplomatic Roles Under Carter
Appointed Deputy Secretary of State in 1977, Christopher managed complex international negotiations until 1981. He played a central role in the Algiers Accords, which secured the release of 52 American hostages in Iran. Beyond this, he directed efforts regarding the Panama Canal treaties and led initiatives focused on human rights. In recognition of his government service, President Carter awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981.
Secretary of State and Global Engagements
Christopher assumed the role of Secretary of State in 1993 under President Bill Clinton, holding the office until 1997. His portfolio included the expansion of NATO and efforts to facilitate peace in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He facilitated the Dayton Agreement to conclude the Bosnian War and oversaw the normalization of relations with Vietnam. His tenure also involved responding to the Rwandan genocide and the Khobar Towers bombing.
Fast facts
- Born: 27 October 1925, Scranton, North Dakota
- Died: 18 March 2011, Los Angeles, California
- Education: Stanford Law School, University of Southern California
- Secretary of State: 1993–1997
- Deputy Secretary of State: 1977–1981
- Deputy Attorney General: 1967–1969
- Award: Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1981
- Final Resting Place: Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Questions readers ask
What was the Christopher Commission?
It was an independent commission chaired by Warren Christopher in 1991 to investigate the Los Angeles Police Department following the Rodney King incident.
Which major conflict did Christopher help resolve as Secretary of State?
He helped negotiate the Dayton Agreement, which brought an end to the Bosnian War.
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