Arthur A. Hartman
The American ambassador who maintained crucial dialogue with the Soviet Union during the most dangerous years of the late Cold War.
1926–2015 (age 89)·American diplomat·Birthday: March 12·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arthur Hartman's diplomatic path was defined by two of the most prestigious and challenging postings of his era: Paris and Moscow. A career foreign service officer with a sharp intellect, he served as Ambassador to France under President Carter, navigating a complex relationship with a proud ally. His defining role, however, came under President Reagan, when he was sent to Moscow as Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1981 to 1987. These were years of intense confrontation—the Solidarity crisis in Poland, the deployment of Pershing II missiles in Europe, and Reagan's 'Evil Empire' rhetoric. Hartman's job was to keep channels open, delivering tough messages while explaining Soviet anxieties to Washington. His calm, professional presence provided a vital link between the superpowers as the old order began to crack.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arthur was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Died at 89
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union during the pivotal first six years of Ronald Reagan's presidency.
- Appointed Ambassador to France by President Jimmy Carter, managing a key NATO alliance relationship.
- Played a central role in European economic affairs as Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs in the mid-1970s.
- Was the senior U.S. diplomat in Europe as the U.S. Coordinator for East-West Relations in the late 1970s.
Did You Know?
He was the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union since the end of World War II.
Hartman initially studied to be a chemist at Harvard before switching to government and international relations.
He was known for his dry wit and was a respected, if sometimes blunt, analyst of Soviet leadership.
“In diplomacy, you must listen carefully to what is not being said.”
