April 9, 1987
The President today announced his intention to nominate Robert M. Smalley to be United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho. He would succeed S.L. Abbott.
Mr. Smalley began his career as a film script reader and junior writer for Lester Cutler Productions, Motion Picture Center Studios, Hollywood, CA, in 1948. From 1949 to 1950, he was a freelance writer in Sydney, Australia. He returned to Hollywood in 1950 and became radio news writer/editor for network reporter Sam Hayes, Mutual-Don Lee Broadcasting System. From 1956 to 1957, he served as executive assistant to senior partner Clem Whitaker of Whitaker & Baxter. In 1957 he became manager, Agricultural Information, Inc., in Sacramento and then returned to Whitaker & Baxter as an assistant to the partners, 1959 to 1961. From 1961 to 1964, Mr. Smalley was confidential secretary to the mayor of San Francisco, George Christopher. He then served as assistant director of public relations, press secretary, and director of public relations for the Republican National Committee, 1964 - 1965. In 1965 he became vice president of Whitaker & Baxter. In 1968 he served for a time as assistant press secretary to Vice Presidential candidate Spiro Agnew, Nixon-Agnew Committee, returning to Whitaker & Baxter until 1969. Mr. Smalley then became Special Assistant to Secretary of Commerce Maurice H. Stans, 1969 - 1972, to be followed in 1972 - 1973 as administrative assistant and campaign manager to Senator Robert P. Griffin. From 1973 to 1975, he was director of corporate affairs, Potomac Electric Power Co., Washington, DC. In 1975 Mr. Smalley was appointed U.S. representative to the Development Assistance Committee, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France. He returned in 1977 to serve as special assistant to Senator Robert P. Griffin for a year. In 1979 he served as assistant to the campaign manager, Reagan for President Committee in Washington, DC, before becoming senior adviser and project manager, management communications, IBM, Armonk, NY. In 1982 Mr. Smalley returned to Washington as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, where he has been serving since.
Mr. Smalley attended the University of California at Los Angeles, 1946 - 1947. He served in the United States Navy, 1944 - 1946. Mr. Smalley was born November 14, 1925, in Los Angeles, CA. He is married, has two children, and resides in Chevy Chase, MD.