Residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations

The 42nd floor apartment is located in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (pictured).

The residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations is a suite of rooms on the 42nd floor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City leased by the U.S. Department of State for use as the official residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Design

Described in press accounts as "palatial," the residence is decorated with, among other items, a Jim Dine painting, an Alexander Calder mobile, and a grand piano, and features "twinkling city views" of the New York skyline.[1] The front door to the suite is framed by a golden eagle. It is located on the opposite side of the corridor from the "royal suite," so-called as it was long used by the Duke of Windsor as his New York City residence.[2]

History

The State Department assumed long-term occupancy of the suite during the 1961–1965 ambassadorship of Adlai Stevenson II after Stevenson determined a U.S. government-owned townhouse at Sutton Place that had been made available for the ambassador was not to his liking.[2] As of 1999, the State Department was paying $360,000 per year to lease the suite.[3]

Madeleine Albright, George H. W. Bush, John Bolton, Adlai Stevenson II, Samantha Power, and Bill Richardson are among notable former residents of the suite.[2][4] During his tenure as ambassador, Richard Holbrooke elected not to occupy the 42nd floor apartment, choosing instead to live in his private Manhattan home. In his place, the residence was temporarily occupied by Holbrooke's assistant, then 27-year old Randolph Eddy.[3][5]

In 2015 it was announced the State Department would no longer permit staff to be housed at the Waldorf-Astoria, due to security concerns arising from the recent purchase of the property by Chinese business interests. However, whether the decision would impact the status of the residence was not made clear.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Gordon, Meryl. "Ambassador A-List". New York Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Knoller, Mark (June 5, 2013). "New U.N. ambassador's perk: A NYC penthouse". CBS News. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "UN Ambassador Forgoes Waldorf Suite". Victoria Advocate. August 29, 1999. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ "George Bush Ran All the Way". Life magazine. November 5, 1971.
  5. ↑ Kettle, Martin (August 29, 1999). "Suite at the Waldorf for Holbrooke aide". The Guardian. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ "US Diplomats leave the New York Waldorf-Astoria". Hospitality Business News. June 18, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
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