Waldheim, Kurt (1918–2007)

Kurt Waldheim of Austria, fourth secretary general of the United Nations, 1972–81. He was president of Austria 1986–92.

Austrian politician and diplomat, president 1986–92. He was secretary general of the United Nations (UN) 1972–81, having been Austria's representative there 1964–68 and 1970–71. In 1981, China vetoed his attempt to secure a third term as UN secretary general and he was succeeded by Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. He was elected president in spite of revelations – unknown at the time he was secretary general – that during World War II he had been an interpreter and intelligence officer in a German army unit responsible for atrocities in Yugoslavia, including transporting Jews to death camps. His election, therefore, led to some diplomatic isolation of Austria, including Waldheim being personally barred from visiting the USA, and in 1991 he announced that he would not run for re-election. An investigation cleared him from allegations of having been a war criminal.

Born near Vienna and educated at the University of Vienna, he entered the Austrian diplomatic service in 1945, becoming Austria's permanent representative at the UN in 1964. Between 1968–70 he served as foreign minister in the Austrian People's Party government. He contested the election to become Austria's president in 1971, but was defeated. In 1972, he succeeded U Thant as UN secretary general.