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Langhorne A. Motley

1938 – 2023

American diplomat

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About Langhorne A. Motley

Lived 1938 – 2023 (aged 85). Langhorne A. Motley was an American diplomat and businessperson.

Langhorne Anthony "Tony" Motley (June 5, 1938 – October 14, 2023) was a former United States Ambassador to Brazil (1981–83) and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (1983–85). He was a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and Council on Foreign Relations. Ambassador Motley had a wife and two children. He received his Bachelor of Arts from The Citadel in 1960.

Early life Motley was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Time Magazine described Langhorne A. Motley as "The son of an American oil executive and a British-Brazilian mother, he was born and grew up amid sun-splashed privilege in Rio de Janeiro. After graduating from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., Motley joined the Air Force and was posted from 1965 to 1967 in Panama—his only Central American experience—and later in Alaska. There he switched careers and founded what has since become the largest real estate firm in the state."

Professional experience Motley meeting with Ronald Reagan on the occasion of his appointment as ambassador, September 24, 1981. Military service: USAF (1960–70) US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (1983–85) US Ambassador to Brazil (1981–83) Valeria, Inc. President (1980–81) Citizens for the Management of Alaska Lands, Inc. EVP (1977–80) Alaska State Official Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development (1975–77) RODMAR, Inc. VP (-1974) Crescent Realty, Inc. President (c. 1972) Area Realtors, Inc. (Anchorage) VP (1970-) American Academy of Diplomacy Bayou Leader PAC Bush Cheney '04 Council on Foreign Relations George W. Bush for President Board of Telos Corporation (2004–2006) John McCain 2008 Junior Achievement Board of Directors

Quotes According to a Foreign Policy Article "The Art of Leaking" published January 20, 2010, "An assistant secretary of state, Langhorne A. Motley, once defined a leak as a "premature unauthorized partial disclosure." According to a news item on the St. John's University Website "Ambassador Motley then discussed his experiences working with Latin America and some general principals of U.S. relations with Latin America in general, as well as specific countries. He also emphasized the importance and relevance of our country's foreign policy towards Latin American nations. "Up through World War II, you could separate foreign policy from domestic policy," said Ambassador Motley. "This is no longer true. Today many issues at the center of Latin American policy are also domestic issues."

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
The Citadel, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
Positions held
United States Ambassador to Brazil
Also known as
Langhorne Anthony Motley, Tony Motley

People in Langhorne A. Motley's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Langhorne A. Motley's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Langhorne A. Motley?

American diplomat

When was Langhorne A. Motley born?

Langhorne A. Motley was born on 5 June 1938 in Rio de Janeiro.

When did Langhorne A. Motley die?

Langhorne A. Motley died on 23 October 2023 in Stuart.

What was Langhorne A. Motley's occupation?

Langhorne A. Motley was a diplomat and businessperson.

What nationality was Langhorne A. Motley?

Langhorne A. Motley was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Langhorne A. Motley

· Wikidata: Q6486100

· DBpedia: Langhorne A. Motley

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Langhorne A. Motley. https://biography.guide/langhorne-a-motley/

MLA: "Langhorne A. Motley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/langhorne-a-motley/.

Chicago: "Langhorne A. Motley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/langhorne-a-motley/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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