Walter John Stoessel, Jr.

Infobox US Cabinet official
name = Walter John Stoessel Jr.


birth_date = birth date|1920|1|24
birth_place = Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
death_date = death date|1986|12|9
party =
title=United States Deputy Secretary of State
order=7th
term_start=February 11 1982
term_end=September 22, 1982
predecessor=William P. Clark, Jr.
successor=Kenneth W. Dam
president=Ronald Reagan
profession= DiplomatInfobox US Ambassador
name=


imagesize=
order=
ambassador_from=United States
country=Poland
term_start=1968
term_end=1972
predecessor=
successor=
president=
order2=
ambassador_from2=United States
country2=the Soviet Union
term_start2=1974
term_end2=1976
president2=Gerald Ford
predecessor2=Jacob D. Beam
successor2=Malcolm Toon
order3=
ambassador_from3=United States
country3=West Germany
term_start3=1976
term_end3=1980
president3=
predecessor3=
successor3=
birth_date=1920
birth_place=Manhattan, Kansas
death_date=
death_place=
party=
spouse=
profession=
religion=
footnotes=

Walter John Stoessel Jr. (January 24, 1920 – December 9, 1986) was a U.S. diplomat.

Stoessel was born in Manhattan, Kansas, but attended high school in California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1941 and later undertook graduate studies at Columbia University.

Stoessel served as the U.S. ambassador to Poland from 1968 to 1972, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Geographic Areas for European and Canadian Affairs from 1972 to 1974, the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union between 1974 and 1976, and the ambassador to West Germany from 1976 through 1980. During his term as ambassador to Poland, Stoessel initiated contact with China and hosted talks on behalf of the United States, directly opening the door for President Richard Nixon's famous visit to China. While ambassador to West Germany, Stoessel headed the delegation greeting the U.S. hostages released by Iran in 1980 when they deplaned.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Stoessel as the United States Deputy Secretary of State. During his term he served briefly as acting Secretary of State between the tenures of Alexander M. Haig and George P. Schultz.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The U.S. Department of State awards a Walter J. Stoessel Award for Distinguished Diplomatic Service in his honor.