Longtime State Department spokesman, diplomat Richard Boucher, dies at 73
Share this @internewscast.com


WASHINGTON (AP) Richard Boucher, who served for more than a decade as the spokesman for the State Department and assistant secretary of state for public affairs, has died at age 73. He died Friday at his home in northern Virginia after a battle with spindle-cell sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, according to his son.

Boucher had been the face of U.S. foreign policy at the State Department podium across administrations throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, beginning in the George H.W. Bush presidency and continuing through Bill Clinton’s and George W. Bush’s terms in office. Boucher served as the spokesman for secretaries of state James Baker, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

In a career that took him from the Peace Corps though Africa and Asia as well as in Washington, Boucher also served as U.S. Consul General Hong Kong during the 1997 handover of the territory from Britain to China, and later used the skills he learned there to help orchestrate an end to the U.S.-China spy plane crisis in early 2001.

After leaving the spokesman’s job, Boucher became assistant secretary of state for state for South and Central Asia and was then ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Retired veteran CBS journalist Charles Wolfson, who worked with Boucher for years, lauded him as an effective State Department spokesman but also a valued professional colleague and friend.

“He was a superb diplomat, an excellent spokesman and an even better human being,” Wolfson said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Ex-Boyfriend Reveals Difficulties in Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s Home Life

() An ex-boyfriend of Celeste Rivas Hernandez says she was not in…

Bert Kreischer set to take the stage at Hard Rock Bristol on March 7

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol,…

Georgia Educators Advocate for Smaller Classes and Higher Salaries Before 2026 Legislative Session

ATLANTA (WJBF) – Just three months remain until the 2026 legislative session,…

Riverton Middle School Evacuated Due to Smoke and Burning Odor

RIVERTON, Ill. (WCIA) — Firefighters from various departments in Sangamon County were…

Parents in Gaza Mourn Loss of Daughter Conceived Through IVF in Airstrike

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…

Johnson City Rotary Club Reveals ‘Peace Pole’ at Rotary Park

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson City Rotary Club unveiled a…

Powerful Earthquake in the Philippines Claims at Least 69 Lives

MANILA – At least 69 individuals lost their lives following a strong…

AOL Ends Support for Dial-Up Internet Services

IE 11 is not supported. For the best experience, please visit our…

Illini’s Justin Bowick Emerges as Go-To Red Zone Target for Altmyer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois wide receiver Justin Bowick doesn’t lead the…

According to a PEN report, Stephen King tops the list of banned authors in U.S. schools.

NEW YORK – According to a new report on book bans in…

Potential Government Shutdown Poses Major Disruption to Virginia Governor’s Race

This isn’t the first instance where voters in Virginia find themselves facing…

Iowa Superintendent’s Immigration Case: Universities Reject Credentials

The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools resigned on Tuesday following his…