John Richardson Jr. was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and educated at Harvard University.
[3][4] During World War II, Richardson served in the United States Army as a paratrooper.
In 1969, President of the United States Richard Nixon nominated Richardson to be Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Richardson held that office from July 15, 1969, until March 7, 1977.
In 1986, he became president of the United States Institute of Peace, holding that position until his retirement in 1989.
[6] Interview from the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project [1]