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{{Short description|American diplomat (1918–2005)}}
'''Robert Dean Nesen''' (1918–2005) was an American [[car dealer]] who served as [[United States]] [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)]] from 1972 to 1974 and as [[United States Ambassador to Australia]] from 1981 to 1985.
{{Infobox US Ambassador
| image = Robert D. Nesen and Ronald Reagan.jpg
| caption = 1985, on right
| imagesize =
| order =
| ambassador_from1 = United States
| country1 = Nauru
| term_start1 = November 20, 1981
| term_end1 = May 2, 1985
| predecessor1 = [[Philip H. Alston]]
| successor1 = [[Laurence W. Lane Jr.]]
| president1 = [[Ronald Reagan]]
| ambassador_from2 = United States
| country2 = Australia
| term_start2 = November 20, 1981
| term_end2 = May 2, 1985
| predecessor2 = [[Philip H. Alston]]
| successor2 = [[Laurence W. Lane]]
| president2 = [[Ronald Reagan]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|01|22}}
| birth_place = [[St. Louis, Michigan]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|11|14|1918|01|22}}
| death_place = [[Thousand Oaks, California]]
| restingplace = [[Westlake Village, California]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]
| alma_mater = [[Tri-State College]]<br>[[Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute]]
| spouse =
| profession =
| religion =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Robert Dean Nesen''' (January 22, 1918 – November 14, 2005) was an American car dealer and diplomat who served as the U.S. [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)]] from 1972 to 1974 and as [[United States Ambassador to Australia]] from 1981 to 1985.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Robert D. Nesen was born January 22, 1918, in [[St. Louis, Michigan]]. He was educated at [[Tri-State College]] and the [[Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute]], receiving a [[B.S.]] in [[Aeronautical Engineering]] in 1941. He worked for the Air-Research Corp. until 1942, when he joined the [[United States Navy]], serving in [[World War II]] until 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Nesen remained a member of the [[United States Navy Reserve]], ultimately attaining the rank of [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] before retiring from the Navy Reserve in 1966.


Upon leaving the Navy in 1946, he opened the Coast Aero Flying Service in [[Oxnard, California]]. Nesen started in the automobile business a few year later, opening an [[Oldsmobile]] [[car dealership]] in Oxnard. The dealership added [[Cadillac]] in the mid-1950s and then in 1971, moved to a new facility in [[Thousand Oaks, California]]. The business continued to grow in what became known as the "Thousand Oaks Auto Mall" and took on many more franchises; from [[Subaru]] and [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]] in the 1970s and 1980s to high-end exotic brands like [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]] and [[Bentley]] in the 1990s.
Robert D. Nesen was born January 22, 1918 in [[St. Louis, Michigan]]. He was educated at [[Tri-State College]] and the [[Curtiss-Wright]] Technical Institute, receiving a [[B.S.]] in [[Aeronautical Engineering]] in 1941. He worked for the [[Air-Research Corp.]] until 1942, when he joined the [[United States Navy]], serving in [[World War II]] until 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Nesen remained a member of the [[United States Navy Reserve]], ultimately attaining the rank of [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] before retiring from the Navy Reserve in 1966.

Upon leaving the Navy in 1946, he opened the Coast Aero Flying Service in [[Oxnard, California]]. In 1948, Nesen opened an [[Oldsmobile]]-[[Cadillac]] [[car dealership]] in [[Thousand Oaks, California]].


[[Governor of California]] [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed Nesen to the California New Car Dealers Policy and Appeals Board, and Nesen was elected as that organization's first president. Reagan later appointed him to the [[California State Board of Education]]. Nesen was active in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] during this period and served as chairman, and then cochairman, of the California delegation to the [[Republican National Convention]]. In 1970, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Review Board of the [[United States Department of State]].
[[Governor of California]] [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed Nesen to the California New Car Dealers Policy and Appeals Board, and Nesen was elected as that organization's first president. Reagan later appointed him to the [[California State Board of Education]]. Nesen was active in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] during this period and served as chairman, and then cochairman, of the California delegation to the [[Republican National Convention]]. In 1970, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Review Board of the [[United States Department of State]].


In 1972, [[President of the United States]] [[Richard Nixon]] nominated Nesen as [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)]] and Nesen subsequently served in this office from May 31, 1972 until May 15, 1974.
In 1972, [[President of the United States]] [[Richard Nixon]] nominated Nesen as [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)]] and Nesen subsequently served in this office from May 31, 1972, until May 15, 1974.


President Reagan named Nesen [[United States Ambassador to Australia]] in 1981, a post he held until 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title= Reagan's Nomination of Nesen as Ambassador to Australia |url= http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=43707 |accessdate= May 25, 2010 }}</ref>
President Reagan named Nesen [[United States Ambassador to Australia]] in 1981 and concurrently as Ambassador to the [[Republic of Nauru]], a post he held until 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title= Reagan's Nomination of Nesen as Ambassador to Australia |url= http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=43707 |accessdate= May 25, 2010 }}</ref> In 1981 and 1987, there was press speculation that President Reagan would name Nesen [[United States Secretary of the Navy]], but this never happened.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/13/us/lehman-resigning-as-navy-secretary.html?pagewanted=1 Bernard E. Trainor, "Lehman Resigning as Navy Secretary," ''New York Times'', Feb. 13, 1987.]</ref>

In 1981 and 1987, there was press speculation that President Reagan would name Nesen [[United States Secretary of the Navy]], but this never happened.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/13/us/lehman-resigning-as-navy-secretary.html?pagewanted=1 Bernard E. Trainor, "Lehman Resigning as Navy Secretary," ''New York Times'', Feb. 13, 1987.]</ref>


In 1991, Nesen was inducted into the [[Automotive Hall of Fame]].
In 1991, Nesen was inducted into the [[Automotive Hall of Fame]].


Nesen died November 14, 2005 in Thousand Oaks, California.
Nesen died in [[Thousand Oaks, California]], on November 14, 2005, at the age of 87.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://nndb.net/people/273/000128886/ Profile at NNDB]
* [http://nndb.net/people/273/000128886/ Profile at NNDB]
*{{findagrave|16360370}}

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{{succession box |before= [[Philip H. Alston]] |title= [[United States Ambassador to Australia]] |years= 1981–1985 |after= [[Laurence W. Lane Jr.]] }}
{{succession box |before= [[Philip H. Alston]] |title= [[United States Ambassador to Australia]] |years= 1981–1985 |after= [[Laurence W. Lane Jr.]] }}
{{succession box |before= [[Philip H. Alston]] |title= [[United States Ambassador to Nauru]] |years= 1981–1985 |after= [[Laurence W. Lane Jr.]] }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nesen, Robert D.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nesen, Robert D.}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel]]
[[Category:United States Assistant Secretaries of the Navy]]
[[Category:United States ambassadors to Australia]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Australia]]
[[Category:People from Gratiot County, Michigan]]
[[Category:People from St. Louis, Michigan]]
[[Category:Trine University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American diplomats]]

Latest revision as of 06:09, 24 January 2023

Robert D. Nesen
1985, on right
United States Ambassador to Nauru
In office
November 20, 1981 – May 2, 1985
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byPhilip H. Alston
Succeeded byLaurence W. Lane Jr.
United States Ambassador to Australia
In office
November 20, 1981 – May 2, 1985
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byPhilip H. Alston
Succeeded byLaurence W. Lane
Personal details
Born(1918-01-22)January 22, 1918
St. Louis, Michigan
DiedNovember 14, 2005(2005-11-14) (aged 87)
Thousand Oaks, California
Resting placeWestlake Village, California
Political partyRepublican
Alma materTri-State College
Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute

Robert Dean Nesen (January 22, 1918 – November 14, 2005) was an American car dealer and diplomat who served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) from 1972 to 1974 and as United States Ambassador to Australia from 1981 to 1985.

Biography

[edit]

Robert D. Nesen was born January 22, 1918, in St. Louis, Michigan. He was educated at Tri-State College and the Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute, receiving a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1941. He worked for the Air-Research Corp. until 1942, when he joined the United States Navy, serving in World War II until 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Nesen remained a member of the United States Navy Reserve, ultimately attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander before retiring from the Navy Reserve in 1966.

Upon leaving the Navy in 1946, he opened the Coast Aero Flying Service in Oxnard, California. Nesen started in the automobile business a few year later, opening an Oldsmobile car dealership in Oxnard. The dealership added Cadillac in the mid-1950s and then in 1971, moved to a new facility in Thousand Oaks, California. The business continued to grow in what became known as the "Thousand Oaks Auto Mall" and took on many more franchises; from Subaru and Hyundai in the 1970s and 1980s to high-end exotic brands like Rolls-Royce and Bentley in the 1990s.

Governor of California Ronald Reagan appointed Nesen to the California New Car Dealers Policy and Appeals Board, and Nesen was elected as that organization's first president. Reagan later appointed him to the California State Board of Education. Nesen was active in the Republican Party during this period and served as chairman, and then cochairman, of the California delegation to the Republican National Convention. In 1970, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the National Review Board of the United States Department of State.

In 1972, President of the United States Richard Nixon nominated Nesen as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) and Nesen subsequently served in this office from May 31, 1972, until May 15, 1974.

President Reagan named Nesen United States Ambassador to Australia in 1981 and concurrently as Ambassador to the Republic of Nauru, a post he held until 1985.[1] In 1981 and 1987, there was press speculation that President Reagan would name Nesen United States Secretary of the Navy, but this never happened.[2]

In 1991, Nesen was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

Nesen died in Thousand Oaks, California, on November 14, 2005, at the age of 87.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Reagan's Nomination of Nesen as Ambassador to Australia". Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  2. ^ Bernard E. Trainor, "Lehman Resigning as Navy Secretary," New York Times, Feb. 13, 1987.
[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
May 31, 1972 – May 15, 1974
Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Australia
1981–1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Nauru
1981–1985
Succeeded by