Waldheim, Kurt

Waldheim, Kurt
(1918–2007)
   Trained as a jurist, Waldheim served as Austrian foreign minister from 1968 to 1971. In 1971, he was the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) candidate for president of the republic, but lost the election. He then served two terms from 1971 to 1981 as secretary general of the United Nations. During a second campaign for the presidency of the Austrian Republic in 1986, charges were brought against Waldheim by the World Jewish Congress and by the Office of Special Investigation of the United States Department of Justice that he had not been fully candid about his record and role as an army officer during World War II. He was thought to be covering up his complicity in Nazi war atrocities in Greece and in what was then Yugoslavia. Alleged inconsistencies in dates when he was finishing his legal studies while on furlough in 1943 and differences in detail between the English and German editions of his memoirs fueled these suspicions.
   Waldheim’s election to a five-year term as president in Austria in 1986 set off a firestorm of criticism throughout much of the world. During his term in office, Waldheim was effectively isolated from formal diplomatic channels. An international tribunal of historians found no evidence that Waldheim had participated in Nazi war crimes. Nevertheless, doubts about the former president’s veracity still linger. In 1991, lacking support in his own ÖVP, Waldheim announced that he would not run for the office again. His decision made him the first president of the post–World War II Austrian Republic not to seek a second term of office.

Historical dictionary of Austria. . 2014.

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  • Waldheim, Kurt — born Dec. 21, 1918, Sankt Andrä Wördern, Austria Fourth secretary general of the United Nations (1972–81). After military service in the German army before and during World War II, he entered the Austrian foreign service and served successively… …   Universalium

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  • Waldheim,Kurt — Wald·heim (wôldʹhīm , vältʹ ), Kurt. Born 1918. Austrian diplomat and politician. He served as secretary general of the United Nations (1972 1981), and was later elected as president of Austria (1986 1992) despite worldwide controversy over his… …   Universalium

  • Waldheim, Kurt Josef — ▪ 2008  Austrian diplomat and statesman born Dec. 21, 1918, Sankt Andrä Wördern, Austria died June 14, 2007, Vienna, Austria served two terms as the fourth UN secretary general (1972–81) and one as president of Austria (1986–92) until an… …   Universalium

  • Waldheim, Kurt —  (1918–2007) Austrian politician, secretary general of the United Nations (1972–1982), and president of Austria (1986–1992) …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

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