Nelson C. Ledsky, the director of NDI’s Eurasia programs for many years and a 35-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service who retired with the rank of ambassador, died June 19 in Washington, D.C.

“Nelson Ledsky was a fixture at the Institute for more than 17 years, having previously led a storied career in the U.S. Foreign Service,” said NDI President Kenneth Wollack.  “For a decade and a half, the Institute gained by the application of his experience, wisdom and practiced professionalism on behalf of those who build democratic societies.  All of us at NDI will miss him, but I can guarantee that his presence will be felt at the Institute for many years to come.”

Upon his retirement from the State Department in 1992, Ambassador Ledsky joined NDI, where he took over the reins of the Institute’s nascent democratic development program in Eurasia and built it into an operation with activities and partners in more than a dozen countries and a first-rate reputation for navigating challenging political environments.  

Under his tutelage, NDI shared international experiences on political party strengthening, local government reform, citizen participation and parliamentary modernization with partners in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.  

Prior to joining NDI, Ambassador Ledsky held a number of State Department posts, including U.S. negotiator in Germany and U.S. special coordinator for Cyprus, both with the rank of ambassador.  He served in the White House from 1987 to 1989 as a special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for European and Soviet Affairs, and held numerous other State Department posts, including principal deputy director of the policy planning staff, U.S. minister in Berlin, deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations and director for Southern Europe. He was also director of the State Department's Olympic Boycott Office in 1980 – 1981 and had postings in Bonn, Germany; Enugu, Nigeria; and Georgetown, Guyana.

“For those of us who grew to know and love Nelson, we quickly realized that his rather gruff demeanor could not mask a keen intellect, a rapier wit and a personality that harbored no patience for demagoguery or self importance,” Wollack said.

“Nelson’s greatest legacy is his wonderful family,” said Laura Jewett, director of NDI’s programs in Eurasia.  “After that, however, among his finest achievements must be considered the hundreds of  current and former NDI staff members around the world who count Nelson as one of the most important influences on their lives.  He challenged us in every situation to think politically, question assumptions, speak the truth and, above all, find the humor.  He helped us believe, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the goal of democracy is within our reach.”

Pictured above: A photo of Ambassador Nelson C. Ledsky, who died June 19 in Washington, D.C.

Read Turkish Policy Quarterly's Dedication to Nelson Ledsky»

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Published on June 26, 2009