Smith Hempstone, Jr.

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A journalist and ambassador and advocate for democracy. Following his ICWA Fellowship, Mr. Hempstone worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa, Latin America, and Europe. He held several editorial positions at Washington newspapers before becoming the Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Times. In 1989 Mr. Hempstone was appointed ambassador to Kenya by President George H.W. Bush. While ambassador he advocated vocally for a free vote at a time when all political parties but the one in power were banned in Kenya. He did this despite significant pushback from the Kenyan government, criticism and mockery in the press and, at times, threats to his life. Kenya hosted a multiparty election in 1992, shortly before the end of his tenure as ambassador. He went on to be the diplomat in residence at his alma mater, The University of the South, and at the Virginia Military Institute. He is the author of several books including Africa, Angry Young Giant (1961), Rebels, Mercenaries and Dividends (1962), A Tract of Time (1966), In the Midst of Lions (1968), Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir (1997) about his time as ambassador to Kenya.