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Robert D. Nesen

AKA Robert Dean Nesen

Born: 22-Jan-1918
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
Died: 14-Nov-2005
Location of death: Thousand Oaks, CA
Cause of death: unspecified

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Diplomat
Party Affiliation: Republican [1]

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: US Ambassador to Australia, 1981-85

Military service: US Navy (1942-46); US Naval Reserve (Lt. Commander, 1946-66)

Nesen opened an Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership in Thousand Oaks, CA, in 1948, and managed it into the 1970s, when he started receiving government appointments.

From Ronald Reagan's Foreign Service, published in the APF Reporter Vol. 7 #3:

"We are just going to have to recognize that politics in this business is here to stay," says one career [foreign service] officer. "We have to resign ourselves to working under the car salesman from San Diego."

Indeed, Robert Dean Nesen, an old friend of Ronald Reagan's, is our current ambassador to Australia. A confidential State Department assessment of Nesen prepared for his confirmation hearings and obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reads: "Nesen, 63, of Thousand Oaks, California, is currently chairman, R. D. Nesen Oldsmobile-Cadillac, Inc ... His entire background has been in the automobile and aviation business ... his reputation for honesty and as a superb salesman should be useful in his personal dealings with the senior members of the Australian government. Nesen is the prototype of the non-professional envoy..." Quite so.


[1] Cochairman, California delegation to the Republican National Convention.

Brother: Stanley Nesen
Wife: Delta Hudson (b. 1917, m. 19-May-1938, d. 2005, three children)
Son: Greg Nesen
Son: Gary Nesen
Son: Randy Nesen (d.)

    University: Tri-State Engineering College
    University: Aeronautical Engineering, Curtis-Wright Technical School (1941)

    US Ambassador to Australia (1981-85)
    US Defense Department Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1972-74)
    US State Department Executive Committee, National Review Board (1970-73)
    Board of Education California State Board of Education


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