Antony Blinken
Secretary of State
Antony John Blinken was born in April 1962 in Yonkers, New York. He earned an undergraduate degree in social studies from Harvard University, worked for a publishing company for a year, and then enrolled Columbia Law School where he earned a Juris Doctor. He entered the private practice of law.
During the administration of President Bill Clinton, Blinken was a member of the National Security Council. For a portion of that time, he was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Strategic Planning and NSC Senior Director for Speechwriting. Toward the end of that administration, he was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Canadian Affairs.
In 2002, he was appointed director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where he assisted then-Senator Joe Biden on matters of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
During the administration of President Barack Obama, Blinken was Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President, where he helped craft U.S. policy on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the nuclear program of Iran.
Thereafter, he entered the private sector and founded a political strategy advising team and a private equity firm.
He was nominated by President Joe Biden to be the U.S. Secretary of State and was confirmed by the Senate in a 78-22 vote, assuming office on January 26, 2021.
He is married to Evan Ryan. Blinken is Jewish. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In the News…
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken with a number of his foreign counterparts in the Western Hemisphere, Asia, and Europe. He described the desire to have the U.S. more involved on the global stage as “almost palpable.”
“What I’ve picked up from those conversations already is a very, very strong desire for the United States to be back in the room, back at the table, working with them on the many, many common challenges we face,” Blinken said. “And I expect to hear more of that in the days ahead.”
“The world is watching us intently right now. They want to know if we can heal our nation. They want to see whether we will lead with the power of our example … and if we will put a premium on diplomacy with our allies and partners to meet the great challenges of our time,” he said.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Secretary Blinken today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
