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Moorhead C. Kennedy Jr.

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Moorhead C. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy in 1985
Born
Moorhead Cowell Kennedy Jr.[1]

(1930-11-05)November 5, 1930
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 3, 2024(2024-05-03) (aged 93)
Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
Alma materPrinceton University
Harvard Law School
OccupationForeign Service officer
SpouseLouisa Kennedy[2][3][4]

Moorhead Cowell Kennedy Jr. (November 5, 1930 – May 3, 2024) was an American Foreign Service officer.[5] He was one among 52 Americans held hostage for 444 days during the Iran hostage crisis.[6]

Life and career

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Kennedy was born in Manhattan, New York, the son of Moorhead Cowell Kennedy Sr., a banker, and Anna Scott, a schoolteacher. He attended Princeton University, earning his bachelor's degree in oriental studies in 1952. After earning his degree, he attended Harvard Law School, graduating with a speciality in Islamic law in 1959.[7][8][9]

In 1960, Kennedy joined the United States Foreign Service. Over the years working in the Foreign Service, he worked on assignments in Chile, Greece and Yemen,[7] and was an economic officer in Lebanon from 1965 to 1969.[10]

On November 4, 1979, while Kennedy was working on a temporary assignment for the Foreign Service in the American Embassy, the embassy was surrounded and taken over by Islamist militant students, following the Iranian Revolution. Kennedy was taken hostage along with 52 Americans, following 444 days of captivity. They were released on January 20, 1981,[11][12][13] which after Kennedy returned home to the United States, he retired from the Foreign Service.[8]

Kennedy (left) with Ed Asner, 1986

After retiring from the Foreign Service, Kennedy served as an executive director of Council for International Understanding until the late 1980s.[14][15][16]

In 1991, Kennedy was awarded an honorary doctor of public service degree from North Adams State College.[10]

Death

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Kennedy died on May 3, 2024, from complications of dementia at an assisted-living center in Bar Harbor, Maine, at the age of 93.[1][7][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Moorhead Kennedy obituary: American diplomat held during Iranian hostage crisis". The Times. June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Diary of a hostage's wife: Running on empty". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. January 20, 1981. p. 10. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  3. ^ "'Selling of hostages' begins". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. February 2, 1981. p. 23. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ^ "A Giant Step Toward Peace for Former Hostage in Iran: Kennedy Joins Church Peace Institute". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. August 5, 1981. p. 74. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Hostages' Families Split on De-emphasizing issue". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. May 23, 1980. p. 26. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  6. ^ Kushner, Harvey W. (1998). The Future of Terrorism: Violence in the New Millennium. SAGE Publications. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-7619-0869-2 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b c Rosenwald, Michael S. (May 18, 2024). "Moorhead C. Kennedy Jr., 93, Dies; Hostage Who Chided Foreign Policy". The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Smith, Harrison (May 8, 2024). "Moorhead C. Kennedy Jr., captive in Iran hostage crisis, dies at 93". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, Harrison (May 8, 2024). "Moorhead C. Kennedy Jr., envoy, captive in Iran hostage crisis, dies at 93". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "NASC graduation speakers include ex-Iranian hostage". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. May 16, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved June 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  11. ^ "Ex-Iranian hostage believes culture gap slows peace efforts". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. April 24, 1985. p. 3. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ "Ex-hostage describes smell of fear". The Day. New London, Connecticut. September 26, 1985. p. 21. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ "'Satanic Verses' book lacked discretion, ex-diplomat says". Tarrytown Daily News. Tarrytown, New York. March 9, 1989. p. 3. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "Extremism Hurts Cause For Peace, Ex-Hostage Says". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 7, 1983. p. 4. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ "U.S. should grow up, says veteran diplomat". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. February 24, 1984. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ "Ex-hostage tells of his struggle to understand Iran's hostility". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. March 21, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. ^ "Moorhead Cowell Kennedy". Tribute Archive. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
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