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William A. Wilson
William A. Wilson
	Wilson with Ronald Reagan in 1984
1st United States Ambassador to the Holy See
	In office; April 9, 1984 – July 18, 1986
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Diplomatic relations established
Succeeded by	Frank J. Shakespeare
Personal details
Born	William Albert Wilson; November 3, 1914; Los Angeles, California
Died	December 5, 2009 (aged 95); Carmel, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Elizabeth Johnson
Children	2
Education	Stanford University (B.S., M.S.)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Ordnance Corps
Rank	Captain

William Albert Wilson (November 3, 1914 – December 5, 2009) was an American diplomat and businessman from Los Angeles. From 1984 to 1986, he served as the first U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See.

Early life and education

Wilson's father was an engineer in the oil-tool business and his mother a Canadian. Wilson attended college at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1936 and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1937. While attending Stanford, he met his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Johnson, the daughter of Pennzoil co-founder Luther Johnson. They married in 1938 and he converted to her religion, Catholicism. Together, they went on to have two daughters. She later died in 1996.

During World War II, Wilson served as a captain in the Army Ordnance Corps. He later was employed by his family's business, Web Wilson Oil Tools, and went on to become its president, until the company's sale in 1960. After that, Wilson had a successful career as a real estate developer, cattle rancher, and investor.^[1]

Political career

A close friend of President Ronald Reagan, Wilson was appointed on 11 February 1981 as the personal representative of the President to the Holy See, when the United States still did not have full diplomatic relations with the Vatican. At the time, a 1867 U.S. Anti-Catholic law which had prevented the U.S. from establishing relations with the Vatican, was still in effect.^[2] In 1984, the law was repealed. Following this, Reagan nominated Wilson as the first United States Ambassador to the Holy See on January 10.^[3]

As Ambassador, he became involved with a scandal after being reprimanded, following his contact with Marc Rich, a commodities trader who had fled to Switzerland to avoid prosecution for racketeering, fraud, and tax evasion. He also had relations with Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, head of the Vatican Bank during the midst of a financial scandal.

In January 1986, Wilson flew to Libya for an unauthorized secret meeting with Moammar Kadafi, just several days after terror attacks in Vienna and Rome had reportedly killed 20 people. U.S. officials believed Libya was responsible for the attacks and had urged the international community to isolate Kadafi. U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz called Wilson's actions an “embarrassment.”^[4] Following this, Wilson submitted his resignation, with the state department stating that he resigned to return to private life. They refused to say whether his resignation was tied to the Kadafi meeting.^[5]

Death

Wilson died of cancer in his home on 5 December 2009, aged 95. According to his daughter, Marcia Wilson Hobbs, he passed at approximately 1 am.^[6]^[7] He was survived by his two daughters, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

Nancy Reagan issued a statement in response, saying "I am deeply saddened at the death of Bill Wilson. He was a dear friend for many years and a close advisor to my husband."^[4]

References

^ "William A. Wilson". Thomas Aquinas College Newsletter. Winter 2010. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
^ Drake, Tim (7 December 2009). "First U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Dies". National Catholic Register.
^ Reagan, Ronald (10 January 1984). "Nomination of William A. Wilson To Be United States Ambassador to the Holy See". UC Santa Barbara - The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b Noland, Claire (6 December 2009). "William A. Wilson dies at 95; first U.S. ambassador to the Vatican". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
^ Kempster, Norman (21 May 1986). "Wilson Quits as Ambassador to Vatican". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
^ "US Ambassador William A. Wilson, K6ARO (SK)". Arrl.org. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
^ Berger, Joseph (7 December 2009). "William A. Wilson, Reagan's Envoy to Vatican, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2024.