35 Facts About Otto Reich

Otto Reich graduated from University of North Carolina in 1966, and after a two-year stint in the US Army, received a master's degree from Georgetown University in 1973.

In 1983 Otto Reich began leading the Office of Public Diplomacy, which he helped establish.

Otto Reich, described as "chief spinner" of the effort by journalist Ann Bardach, was not accused of illegal activity.

Otto Reich served as the Ambassador to Venezuela from 1986 to 1989, and subsequently worked as a corporate lobbyist for twelve years.

Bush made a recess appointment, allowing Otto Reich to hold the position for one year without confirmation.

Otto Reich was appointed special envoy to Latin America.

Otto Reich resigned from the Bush administration in 2004, and has since run a consulting firm and advised Republican presidential candidates.

Otto Reich was born in Cuba to an Austrian Jewish father and a Cuban Catholic mother.

Otto Reich then spent three years in the US Army, from 1966 to 1969, as an officer in the 3rd Civil Affairs Detachment stationed in the Panama Canal Zone.

Otto Reich received an Master's degree in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University in 1973.

Otto Reich worked as a staff assistant in the US House of Representatives, as a Community Development Coordinator for the City of Miami, and later as a Director of the Council of the Americas.

Otto Reich was Assistant Administrator of the US Agency for International Development in charge of US economic assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean between 1981 and 1983.

From 1983 to 1986, Otto Reich established and managed the inter-agency Office of Public Diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean, which sought to promote the Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua.

Otto Reich managed a staff including officials from the Central Intelligence Agency and The Pentagon, some of whom were personnel trained in psychological warfare.

Otto Reich reported to Oliver North, who then worked at the National Security Council, although the office itself was under the State Department.

Otto Reich confronted journalists at CBS News in April 1984 after the network aired a documentary about El Salvador that, according to Otto Reich's superior George Shultz, favored the country's guerrillas over the US and Salvadoran governments.

Otto Reich himself, described as the "chief spinner" of the Iran-Contra effort by journalist Ann Bardach, was not accused of illegal activity.

Otto Reich served as the US Ambassador to Venezuela between 1986 and 1989.

Otto Reich argued both that Bosch was innocent, and that his safety was threatened.

Otto Reich subsequently denied taking a special interest in Bosch's situation.

In 1989, Otto Reich received the State Department's "Exemplary Service Award".

Otto Reich maintained good relations with the government of Jaime Lusinchi, and received the Order of the Liberator, Venezuela's highest honor, from him.

From 1989 to 2001, Otto Reich worked as a corporate lobbyist.

Otto Reich was involved with an effort by Lockheed-Martin to sell F-16 jet fighters to Chile, which would have been the first time in twenty years that advanced weapons had been sold by the US to Latin American countries.

Bush, Otto Reich served as Deputy US Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

Otto Reich was co-host of CNN International's, a Spanish-language version of CNN's Crossfire, on which he represented the right-wing position.

In 2001, President George W Bush nominated Reich to be Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, the top State Department post for Latin America.

Opponents to Otto Reich's nomination cited his advocacy as ambassador to Venezuela for Bosch, and his role in the Iran-Contra scandal.

Otto Reich held the post of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the time of the Venezuelan coup d'etat on April 11,2002, that briefly overthrew President Hugo Chavez.

Otto Reich spoke to ambassadors of other Latin American countries hours after the coup, telling that Chavez had resigned, and asked them to support the new government.

Otto Reich was replaced at the State Department by Roger Noriega, and became special envoy to Latin America, which was a position that did not require confirmation by the Senate.

Otto Reich served as a foreign policy advisor to Jeb Bush during the latter's 2016 presidential campaign.

In 2001, Otto Reich was vice-chairman of Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production.

Otto Reich's much-debated links to Bosch, his support of the Contras, and his lobbying activities, generated controversy, particularly during his nomination for Assistant Secretary for State.

Otto Reich has been described as a right-winger, and a person with strong opinions, and called himself an anti-communist.