Robert H. Tuttle

Infobox US Ambassador
name=Robert H. Tuttle

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image_width=
order=
ambassador_from=United States
country= the United Kingdom
term_start= 2005
term_end=
predecessor= William S. Farish III
successor=
president= George W. Bush
birth_date= birth date and age|1943|08|04
birth_place= California, U.S.
death_date=
death_place=
religion=
spouse= Maria Denise Hummer
party= Republican
profession=
religion=
footnotes=

Robert Holmes Tuttle is the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James's in the United Kingdom, a post he has held since July 2005. [ [http://london.usembassy.gov/ukamb/tuttlebio.html Ambassador Robert Holmes Tuttle] US embassy in UK bio on Tuttle] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1673958,00.html US embassy close to admitting Syria rendition flight] , "The Guardian", December 27 2005]

A California native, he was appointed Ambassador by US President George W. Bush after donating $200,000 towards the President's 2004 re-election campaign and his inauguration ceremony. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article532108.ece How $200,000 gave Bush friend ticket to London] , "The Times", June 11, 2005] Tuttle previously worked in the White House during the Reagan administration as an Assistant to the President in 1982, and Director of Presidential Personnel in 1985. Tuttle was also on the Board of Directors of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He is a graduate of Stanford University, and earned his MBA degree at the University of Southern California. Tuttle is a partner in an automobile dealership based in Beverly Hills, California and is married to the former Maria Denise Hummer. He has two daughters from a previous marriage.

Controversy over traffic tickets

Tuttle is perhaps most widely known for his (and the US Embassy's) refusal to pay the London congestion charge [ [http://www.politics.co.uk/party-politics/livingstone-hits-out-at-us-ambassador-$17079951.htm Livingstone hits out at US ambassador] , "Politics.co.uk", March 28 2006] . The embassy has claimed that the charge is a form of taxation, and the diplomats and their staff are therefore exempt under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Transport for London, which is headed by the Mayor of London, considers the charge to be a fee for services, and points out that other embassies in London pay it, and US embassies in other cities pay similar road charges. The embassy says that the decision to stop paying was made before Tuttle became Ambassador, although the embassy only ceased payment after he took up the post.

In March 2006, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said that Tuttle was trying to "skive out of [paying] like some chiselling little crook" [ [http://www.britainusa.com/sections/articles_show_nt1.asp?d=0&i=41089&L1=41002&L2=41002&a=41520 British Press Review: BBC News, 28 March 2006] , "Britain USA", March 28 2006] . A survey published in 2007 showed that the United States owed £1.5 million in outstanding congestion charge payments. Livingstone again chided Tuttle, and called him a "venal little crook" for his refusal to pay [ [http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/environment/diplomatic+ccharge+bill+tops+45m/569892 Diplomatic C-charge bill tops £4.5m] , "channel4.com", June 22 2007] .

However, Tom Conti, founder of campaign group London Motorists Action Group (LMAG), said: "I think the American ambassador's stance on this is very reasoned, I think he makes his case very well.

"Obviously, when you have got a parking ticket then you've done something wrong - so you should pay up. But in terms of the congestion charge I can see how some of these diplomats feel." ["channel4.com", June 22 2007] .

According to the survey, the US Embassy is the "worst offender" out of the top 10, but other countries on the list include Nigeria, Sudan, Japan, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Germany, and Zimbabwe.

References