Residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations
The Residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations is a suite of rooms on the 42nd floor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City leased by the U.S. Department of State for use as the official residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Design[edit]
Described in press accounts as "palatial," the residence is decorated with, among other items, a Jim Dine painting, an Alexander Calder mobile, and a grand piano, and features "twinkling city views" of the New York skyline.[1] The front door to the suite is framed by a golden eagle. It is located on the opposite side of the corridor from the "royal suite," so-called as it was long used by the Duke of Windsor as his New York City residence.[2]
History[edit]
The State Department assumed long-term occupancy of the suite during the 1961–1965 ambassadorship of Adlai Stevenson II after Stevenson determined a U.S. government-owned townhouse at Sutton Place that had been made available for the ambassador was not to his liking.[2] As of 1999, the State Department was paying $360,000 per year to lease the suite.[3]
Madeline Albright, George H.W. Bush, John Bolton, Adlai Stevenson II, Samantha Power, and Bill Richardson are among notable former residents of the suite.[2][4] During his tenure as ambassador, Richard Holbrooke elected not to occupy the 42nd floor apartment, choosing instead to live in his private Manhattan home. In his place, the residence was temporarily occupied by Holbrooke's assistant, then 27-year old Randolph Eddy.[3][5]
In 2015 it was announced the State Department would no longer permit staff to be housed at the Waldorf-Astoria, due to security concerns arising from the recent purchase of the property by Chinese business interests. However, whether the decision would impact the status of the residence was not made clear.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Gordon, Meryl. "Ambassador A-List". New York Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Knoller, Mark (5 June 2013). "New U.N. ambassador's perk: A NYC penthouse". CBS News. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ a b "UN Ambassador Forgoes Waldorf Suite". Victoria Advocate. 29 August 1999. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "George Bush Ran All the Way". Life magazine. 5 November 1971.
- ^ Kettle, Martin (29 August 1999). "Suite at the Waldorf for Holbrooke aide". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "US Diplomats leave the New York Waldorf-Astoria". Hospitality Business News. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
