John O. Bell

John Oscar Bell (October 4, 1912 – December 31, 2000) was an American diplomat and the US Ambassador to Guatemala from 1962 to 1965. After his time as ambassador, Bell worked as a Foreign Policy Advisor at the United States Strike Command (STRICOM) in Florida.

Early life and family Bell was born October 4, 1912 in Manila, Philippines. Bell's career in the State Department began at 19 years old, working as a clerk. In this position he worked to organize large-scale US economic aid for Pakistan with Economic Officer David Bell. While working in Pakistan, Bell hosted Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy at his home.

In 1961 President John F. Kennedy abolished the ICA and transferred all of its functions to the newly created United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Bell worked as a Deputy Chief of a task force until he was made the Ambassador to Guatemala in 1962. thumb John O. Bell (left) presents an Honor Award to Francis J. McNeil, a Political Officer in 1962

Ambassador to Guatemala With the upcoming election in 1963 and the general discontent with the pro-American president, Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes, Guatemalan statesman and previous president Juan José Arévalo planned to return to Guatemala from exile in Mexico to run for president again. Bell was largely against Arévalo. In a letter to the Department of State, he called Arévalo "passionately and pathologically antagonistic to the United States and all its works."

Enrique Peralta Azurdia, the general who replaced Ydígoras after the coup, immediately repressed opposition to his regime, voided the constitution, and shut down congress. Bell remained optimistic, however, and believed Peralta intended to make a one-party system modeled after the Mexican government.

The situation in Guatemala worsened and anti-American sentiment grew. By 1965, officials in Washington were increasingly fearful of guerillas in Guatemala due to the Marxist guerilla movement in Cuba led by Che Guevara. They advised the embassy to protect US citizens against these guerilla threats. In response, Bell wroteI must express my dismay and irritation at Dept's reaction every time raw report is received suggesting terrorist action. Dept appears either [to] have little confidence in my judgment or ... are writing for record should something eventually happen. If first is true, Department should replace me now. If second case, this [is] not helpful and I suggest desist. He was replaced shortly after with John G. Mein.

Retirement Bell retired from the Foreign Service in 1969. He took up teaching at the University of South Florida where he taught for 14 years. In 1988, Bell was interviewed by Arthur L. Lowrie for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training about his career in the Foreign Service. He died in Temple Terrace, Florida at the age of 88.