Frank Shakespeare obit

Heritage Mourns Loss of Ambassador Frank Shakespeare 

He was not on the list.

Frank Shakespeare, former U.S. ambassador to both Portugal and the Holy See and chairman of The Heritage Foundation’s Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1985, died Dec. 14, 2022. Shakespeare was an honorary trustee at Heritage.

Shakespeare’s belief in the power of ideas was best exemplified by his role as chairman of the Board for International Broadcasting during the Reagan administration. Under his leadership, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty carried the message of freedom behind the Iron Curtain and helped bring the Cold War to a successful conclusion. 

Following his tenure as The Heritage Foundation’s board chairman from 1981 to 1985, he went on to serve as U.S. ambassador to Portugal (1985) and the Holy See (1986-89). Shakespeare was president of RKO General Inc., director of the U.S. Information Agency, and president of CBS Television Services. He also served as a trustee of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.

Heritage Foundation Founder Ed Feulner and Board of Trustees Chairman Barb Van Andel-Gaby made the following statement:

“Frank Shakespeare served as an inspiration to people all over the world for his pursuit of freedom, and we are all better off today because of his leadership. Following a successful career in business and media, he became a public servant whose contributions beginning in the Nixon administration led to transformational change across the globe. While serving in government, he was guided by principles that aligned with the vision of President Ronald Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II to restore freedom to those living under the repressive Soviet Union. He had a front-row seat to the USSR’s downfall and played an important role to bring about the end of the Cold War.    “On a personal level, Frank was a mentor and trusted friend whose wise counsel guided The Heritage Foundation at a critical period of growth and ascendence during President Reagan’s first term. He was a fount of knowledge and wisdom. Our organization benefited greatly from his leadership of our Board of Trustees and his longtime service as an honorary trustee. We will greatly miss Frank and extend our sincerest condolences to his family.”

Shakespeare was president of CBS Television in New York from 1950 to 1969, when he was appointed by President Richard Nixon as director of the United States Information Agency. He returned to the private sector in 1973, and became an executive vice president of Westinghouse in New York. In 1975 he became vice chairman of RKO General.

In 1981 President Ronald Reagan named him chairman of the Board for International Broadcasting, the entity which oversaw the operations of Radio Free Europe. He held this position until 1985, when Reagan appointed him United States Ambassador to Portugal. The following year, in September 1986, Shakespeare was appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See.

From 1979, Shakespeare was an honorary member of the board of trustees for The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based public policy research institute. He served as a trustee of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.