James Pope – First Lieutenant, United States Army Government Official

From a contemporary press report: 11 June 2001

When he was unable to get a newspaper job after he received a master’s degree from Boston University, James Pope landed a spot with the State Department as a
communications specialist in Washington, D.C.

Starting as a cub reporter on the U.S. Information Agency’s (USIA) wireless file, he covered U.S. political events for global distribution. Pope progressed there to deputy chief of the African branch, and public affairs advisor. He later became deputy public affairs director of the U. S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

After more than 40 years of service, he retired at age 65 as director of the USIA Foreign  Press Center.

When he died recently at the age of 74 after he suffered a massive heart attack, Pope was recalled as one of the best-known Black foreign service aides in the State Department.

“As I look back over the years,” he once said, “I have every reason to be pleased with my choice of a career. The years and agency have been good to me, and it has been unbelievably exciting, eventful, and rewarding.”

Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, he attended Ohio Wesleyan University and Boston University where he earned a master’s. He served in the Army before joining government service.

He is survived by his wife, Cora, and two sons, Michael and Anthony, and six grand children.

His burial was at Arlington National Cemetery.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard