John Holdridge

History is written as a series of headlines but carried out by
accumulating nuances. And the accumulation of nuances depends on
men and women who are dedicated, knowledgeable, and concerned more
with the national purpose than with their careers. John Holdridge
belonged to this group. Unobtrusive but ever available, unassertive yet
indispensable, he helped shape our national policy for nearly four
decades.

John combined the discipline he acquired at the US Military
Academy with the skill of a career diplomat. An early student of Asian
affairs, he served his nation in a series of critical posts in Washington, in
China, and as ambassador to Singapore and Indonesia.

Our lives intersected when I invited John to join my NSC staff as its
Asian expert at a time when we were extricating ourselves from Vietnam,
opening relations with China, adapting those with Japan to new
circumstances, and rebuilding our position in Southeast Asia. John played
a vital role in all of these undertakings. He was at my side during my
secret trip to Beijing; indeed, in an ultimate gesture of friendship, he
even let me wear his shirts because I had somehow managed to forget to
pack my own. To complicate matters further, the shirts were labeled
"Made in Taiwan" so that when, following my talking points, I emphasized
that Taiwan was close to us, I was literally speaking the truth.

Unflappable and erudite, John kept me from error through all these
efforts - insofar as that was possible - and helped design important
goals. More than any other adviser, he is responsible for the famous
phrase in the Shanghai Communiqué by which we managed to reconcile
our presence in Beijing with the recognition of Taiwan by acknowledging
that "Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait maintain that there is but
one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States does not
challenge that proposition." John found a draft to that effect in papers
originally prepared for Secretary John Foster Dulles in 1954.

John and I became good friends. I consulted him from time to time
informally as he went on to bigger assignments in the Central Intelligence
Agency, as Assistant Secretary of State, and as ambassador to Singapore
and Indonesia. In the 1980s, Nancy and I spent a few days with him and
Martha at the ambassador's residence in Jakarta, where he proved to be
a great host and invaluable guide to the intricacies of Indonesian politics.
We stayed in touch throughout the intervening years, mostly by John
tutoring me on developments in Asia.

Our last meeting occurred just a few weeks ago at a reunion of my
original NSC staff. Other than some impairment to his hearing, John
seemed well - vigorous and alert. Characteristically he told me about
some new books being published on Asia, especially an upcoming volume
of diaries of David Bruce, whom he had served as Deputy Chief of Mission
when David was head of our Liaison Office in Beijing.

John and I promised each other that night that we would get
together soon to exchange thoughts on new trends in Asia. It was not to
be. But those of us who knew John will not forget him. We will
remember him with affection and gratitude and only hope that we can
live up to the values of service to our nation that he represented.

Henry A. Kissinger

August 1, 2001

To be read at August 1, 2001

memorial service

John Holdridge

2

Henry A. Kissinger

August 1, 2001

565 WORDS

7/31/01-#2

John Holdridge

Our lives intersected when I invited John to join my NSC staff as its
Asian expert at a time when we were extricating ourselves from Vietnam,
opening relations with China, adapting those with Japan to new
circumstances, and rebuilding our position in Southeast Asia. John played
a vital role in all of these undertakings. He was at my side during my
secret trip to Beijing; indeed, in an ultimate gesture of friendship, he
even let me wear his shirts because I had somehow managed to forget to
pack my own. To complicate matters further, the shirts were labeled
"Made in Taiwan" so that when, following my talking points, I emphasized
that Taiwan was close to us, I was [literally] speaking the truth.

[Y]

579 WORDS

7/30/01

## John Holdridge

History is written as a series of headlines but carried out by
accumulating nuances. And the accumulation of nuances depends on
men and women [who are] dedicated, knowledgeable, [and] concerned
[more] with the national purpose than with their career[s]. [The United
States] is fortunate that [its] Foreign Service functions as a safety net for
political leaders and [that it] provides a sense of direction for our nation.
John Holdridge was one of the best of [its officers]. Unobtrusive but ever
available, unassertive yet indispensable, John helped shape our national
policy for [nearly] four decades.

3

Unflappable [and] an inexhaustible source of information, John kept me from error through all these efforts – insofar as that was possible – and helped design important goals. More than any other adviser, he is responsible for the famous phrase in the Shanghai Communiqué by which we managed to reconcile our presence in Beijing with the recognition of

Taiwan: "Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait affirm that there is only one China. The United States does not challenge that proposition."

John found a draft to that effect in papers originally prepared for Secretary [John Foster] Dulles in 1954.

Agency, and as ambassador to Singapore and Indonesia. In the 1980s, Nancy and I spent a few days with him [and Martha?] at the

4

[Y]

ambassador's residence in Jakarta, where he proved to be a [wonderful] great host and [invaluable] guide to the intricacies of Indonesian politics. [And] we stayed in touch [throughout] the intervening years, mostly by John Z tutoring me on developments in Asia.

Our last meeting occurred just a few weeks ago at a reunion of my original NSC staff. [Other than some impairment to his hearing,] John Z [seemed well], vigorous and very alert. Characteristically he told me about some new books [being published] on Asia, especially an upcoming volume of memoirs of David Bruce, whom he had served as Deputy Chief of Mission when [David] was head of our Liaison Office in Beijing.

John and I promised each other [that night that we would] get together [soon] to [exchange] thought[s on] new trends in Asia. It was not to be. But those of us who knew John will not forget him. We will

579 WORDS

7/30/01

John Holdridge

2

He combined the discipline he acquired at the US Military Academy with diplomatic skill and considerable erudition. An early student of Asian affairs, John served his nation in a series of [critical] posts in Washington, in China, and as ambassador to Singapore and Indonesia.

Our lives intersected when I invited John to join my NSC staff as its Asian expert at a time when we were extricating ourselves from Vietnam, opening relations with China, adapting [those with] Japan, and rebuilding our position in Southeast Asia. John [played a vital role in all of these undertakings]. He was at my side during my secret trip to Beijing; indeed, [I] [even had to resort to] wearing his shirts because I had somehow [managed to forget to pack] my own. [The fact that John, as you know, was a few inches taller than I explains just why I appear to have no neck in all the photos taken during that historic occasion].

3

Taiwan, "Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait affirm that there is but and that Taiwan is a part of China. Government only one China, The United States does not challenge that proposition."

as Assistant Secretary of State, Agency, and as ambassador to Singapore and Indonesia. In the 1980s, Nancy and I spent a few days with him [and Martha?] at the

4

ambassador's residence in Jakarta, where he proved to be a [wonderful]
host and [invaluable] guide to the intricacies of Indonesian politics. [And]
we stayed in touch [throughout] the intervening years, mostly by John
tutoring me on developments in Asia.

Our last meeting occurred just a few weeks ago at a reunion of my
original NSC staff. [Other than some impairment to his hearing,] John
[seemed well], vigorous and very alert. Characteristically he told me
about some new books [being published] on Asia, especially an upcoming
volume of memoirs of David Bruce, whom he had served as Deputy Chief
of Mission when [David] was head of our Liaison Office in Beijing.

5

remember him with affection and gratitude and [only hope that we can]

live up to the values of service [to our nation that] he represented.

579 WORDS

7/30/01

John Holdridge

Theresa Cimino

From: Jody Williams [JWilliam@csis.org]
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 12:49 PM
To: theresa.cimino@kainy.org
Subject: weekend sched

I had incorrect address for Lynn Nesbit house - it's 267, not 260, Amenia Union Rd.

I have directions from them - which should also suffice to get HK & NK to the Hotchkiss Library event, **assuming that the**
Sharon Green is on Main St. At least I think I could figure it out (Frank seems to think they'll manage).

Also have directions to the restaurant for the Aug 4th McDonough thing.

Both sets are going in Frank's pouch back w/ Jon tonight.

Do you also want copies?

2

Our lives intersected when I invited John to join my NSC staff as its Asian expert at a time when we were extricating ourselves from Vietnam, opening relations with China [and] adapting [those with] Japan, and rebuilding our position in Southeast Asia. John [played a vital role in all of these undertakings]. He was at my side during my secret trip to Beijing; indeed, I [even had to resort to] wearing his shirts because I had somehow [managed to forget to pack] my own. [The fact that John, as you know, was a few inches taller than I explains just why I appear to have no neck in all the photos taken during that historic occasion].

3

John and I became good friends. I consulted him from time to time informally as he went on to bigger assignments in the Central Intelligence Agency and as ambassador to Singapore and Indonesia. In the 1980s, Nancy and I spent a few days with him [and Martha?] at the

4

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■ ABOUT THIS SERVICE

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July 14, 2001, Saturday

# John Holdridge, Ambassador And Asian Affairs Expert, 76

By ERIC PACE

John H. Holdridge, a longtime Foreign Service official who accompanied President Richard M. Nixon on his historic visit to Beijing in 1972, died on Thursday in Washington. He was 76 and lived in Bethesda, Md.

The cause was pulmonary fibrosis, his family said.

Mr. Holdridge, an expert in Asian affairs who also served as ambassador to two countries, retired in 1986 after almost 40 years in the Foreign Service.

After joining it in 1948, he spent more than two years learning Mandarin Chinese at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, and at Cornell and Harvard Universities.

After holding posts in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and Washington, he was director of Asian affairs in the Intelligence and Research Bureau at the State Department.

After Nixon became president in 1969, Mr. Holdridge was one of the first top assistants whom Henry A. Kissinger - then Nixon's assistant for national security affairs -- brought over from the State Department for his strengthened National Security Council staff.

Mr. Holdridge became the White House's in-house expert on China in particular and the Far East in general. In China early in 1972, he sat with the president and Mr. Kissinger during their conferences with Premier Chou En-lai. That visit to China by Nixon was a breakthrough in the antagonism between Washington and Beijing and led to a bilateral agreement on improving relations between the countries.

Mr. Holdridge was ambassador to Singapore from 1975 to 1978. From 1979 to 1981 he worked with the Central Intelligence Agency, as national intelligence officer for East Asia. From 1981 to 1983 he was assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and from 1983 to 1986 he was ambassador to Indonesia.

He wrote "Crossing the Divide: An Insider's Account of the Normalization of U.S.-China Relations" (Rowman, 1996) and cowrote "War and Peace With China" (University Press of America, 1994).

Born in Brooklyn, he graduated in 1945 from West Point and then switched from the Army to the Foreign Service.

In his later years, he was a consultant and worked informally to improve the United States' relations with China and Indonesia.

His survivors include his wife of five decades, Martha McKelvey Holdridge; a daughter, Patricia Johnson of Silver Spring, Md.; two sons, David, of Bethesda, and Geoffrey, of Laurel, Md.; and six grandchildren.

JUL-27-2001 17:14

KAI DC

212 753 7248

7/13/01 Wash
Post

UBI CUBIC

# John Holdridge Dies; Two-Time Ambassador, Security Council Official

John H. Holdridge, 76, an Asia specialist in the Foreign Service who had been an ambassador to two countries and a staffer with the National Security Council in addition to serving as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, died of pulmonary fibrosis July 12 at Sibley Memorial Hospital. He lived in Bethesda.

He served almost four decades in the Foreign Service before retiring in 1986 after three years as ambassador to Indonesia. He had been ambassador to Singapore from 1975 to 1978 and assistant secretary of state from 1981 to 1983.

Mr. Holdridge, a National Security Council member from 1969 to 1973, accompanied then-National Security Adviser Henry A. Kissinger to Beijing on a 1971 secret trip that laid the groundwork for President Richard M. Nixon to make his visit the next year. He also helped draft the Shanghai Communique of 1972, in which the United States recognized Taiwan as a part of "one China" instead of a separate nation.

Mr. Holdridge was deputy director at the then-new U.S. mission in Beijing from 1973 to 1975. He went on temporary assignment to the Central Intelligence Agency, as national intelligence officer for East Asia, from 1979 to 1981.

His decorations included the Presidential Meritorious Service Award and two State Department Superior Honor awards.

John Herbert Holdridge, a New

York native and son of an Army general, was a 1945 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He spent some of his teenage years in Asia, and the experience left him eager to learn more when he left the Army in 1948 to join the Foreign Service. He became a political officer in Hong Kong, chief of the political section in Singapore and, in the mid-1960s, director of State's research and analysis office for East Asia.

After retiring from the Foreign Service, he did consulting work. He was a past board chairman of Harvest International and, at his death, was a board member of the Maryland-China Business Council. He was a founding member of the U.S.-China Policy Foundation in Washington.

In 1995, he co-wrote "War and Peace With China" with two other Foreign Service officials.

He also was the author of "Crossing the Divide: An Insider's Account of the Normalization of U.S.-China Relations," published in 1997.

In the mid-1980s, he purchased farmland in Grassy Meadows, W.Va., which he thought an ideal place for stargazing with a telescope. Over the years, he turned the property into a small cattle farm.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Martha Jane McKelvey Holdridge of Bethesda; a daughter, Patricia Johnson of Silver Spring; two sons, David, of Bethesda, and Geoffrey, of Laurel; and six grandchildren.

TOTAL P.01

B6

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2001

S DM VA

OBITUARIES

John Herbert Holdridge, a New

July 2001

Dear Friends,

John (Jerry) died of "idiopathic" pulmonary
fibrosis. He was ill for less than a month; his last two
weeks were spent in hospital ICU under excellent
care. But as breathing became ever more difficult,
he finally succumbed quietly in his sleep.

Up to the time of his illness, John was composing
his autobiography on his laptop; walking his dear dog
Perry; supporting Martha in her grass farming/
cattle raising endeavors; attending official and
unofficial functions concerning China and Indonesia;
lunching with Foreign Service friends and West
Point classmates; conversing by phone regularly
with distant friends and with his family (often
fulminating over computer snafus or political
events); attending the opera; stargazing from the
high points of beautiful West Wind Farm; marketing
West Point to his grandchildren; reading the
obligatory 4 daily newspapers, myriad journals, and
a stack of books; and cheerily singing out multiple
verses of obscure songs. As his mother, Marie, used to
say about herself, he has "lived"!

Thank you for your part in John's remarkable life.

Yours in loving memory,

Martha, Pat, Lee, David, Katie, Geoff, Bonnie,
Sakura, Evan, Marian, Chris, Stephanie, and Hayley