Alan Blinken

Alan John Blinken (born 1937) is an American businessman, political candidate, and former diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Belgium from 1993 to 1997. Blinken was also the Democratic nominee in the 2002 United States Senate election in Idaho, losing to incumbent Larry Craig.

Alan Blinken
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office
July 25, 1993 – December 27, 1997
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byBruce Gelb
Succeeded byPaul L. Cejas
Personal details
Born
Alan John Blinken

1937 (age 83–84)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Melinda Koch
Children4
RelativesMeir Blinken (grandfather)
Donald M. Blinken (brother)
Tony Blinken (nephew)
ResidenceKetchum, Idaho, U.S.
EducationHarvard University (AB)

Early life and education

Blinken was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ethel (Horowitz) and Maurice Blinken. His father was a Jewish immigrant from Kiev. His older brother Donald M. Blinken, was also a diplomat. Blinken was raised in Manhattan and Yonkers, New York, and graduated from the Horace Mann School. Blinken earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University. Blinken studied business and economics. His thesis advisor was John Kenneth Galbraith.[1]

Career

After graduating from Harvard, Blinken worked in the financial services industry, serving as president of Model Roland & Co. and as managing director of Wertheim Schroder & Co. He was a director of the Belgium-based biopharmaceutical manufacturer UCB. Blinken ran for the New York State Assembly in Manhattan, but lost to Republican John Ravitz.

Blinken served as United States ambassador to Belgium from 1993 to 1997.[2]

A longtime resident of the Upper East Side, Blinken later relocated to Sun Valley, Idaho. In 2002, he was the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Idaho. He was defeated by incumbent Republican Larry Craig.[3]

Personal life

Blinken is married to Melinda Blinken (née Koch), the daughter of Hollywood producer Howard W. Koch.[4]

He is the grandson of the Ukrainian-born writer Meir Blinken, brother of Donald M. Blinken and uncle of Tony Blinken. Blinken Auditorium at the Residential Academic Facility of The Washington Center is named after him.[5]

Blinken and his wife reside in Ketchum, Idaho. In 2019, they hosted a fundraiser then-candidate Joe Biden.[6]

See also

References
  1. AMBASSADOR ALAN J. BLINKEN Interview
  2. Preusch (NYT), Matthew (2002-03-13). "National Briefing | Northwest: Idaho: Senate Hopeful Cites Jobs (Published 2002)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  3. Egan, Timothy (2002-08-11). "Ex-New Yorker Takes Senate Hopes to Idaho (Published 2002)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  4. "Howard Koch, 84, Producer and Director (Published 2001)". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2001-02-20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  5. KleinNovember 23, David Ian; 2020. "Tony Blinken: advocate for Israel's Iron Dome, formed by a story of Holocaust rescue". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-11-23.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Press, BETSY Z. RUSSELL Idaho. "Joe Biden visiting Idaho next week". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Walt Minnick		 Democratic Party nominee, U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Idaho
2002 (lost)		 Succeeded by
Larry LaRocco
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Bruce Gelb		 United States Ambassador to Belgium
1993-1997		 Succeeded by
Paul L. Cejas


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