[3] A longtime liberal and aide to Phillip Burton and Jerry Brown, Beeman's career included periods in trade unions, the church, government, and diplomacy.
[3] Beeman worked for the Social Security Administration become serving as director of education for the Northern California Council of Churches from 1961 to 1963.
[3] While a legislative assistant, Beeman served as state president of the California Young Democrats; he participated in the Sproul Plaza sit-in during the Free Speech Movement, addressing a rally on December 2, 1964.
[4][6] Beeman remained Burton's advisor for four years, until 1967, when Mayor John Shelley appointed him to serve out the unexpired term of George Moscone (who had been elected to the state Senate) on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
[3][4] At the time, Beeman had already gained a reputation as a liberal, and his "political platform included cleaning up conflicts of interest at the Youth Guidance Center, allowing residents to vote on matters relating to the Vietnam War, and enacting 'some kind of business tax to bring relief to the city's property owners.
"[4] From 1981 to 1983, Beeman served as director of political and legislative affairs for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
[3] Beeman was appointed U.S. ambassador of the United States to New Zealand and Samoa by President Bill Clinton on March 28, 1994.
[8] He was, with Sir Edmund Hillary, the principal speaker at the 40th anniversary celebration of the establishment of New Zealand's Scott Base in Antarctica.
From June 2004 until shortly before he died, Beeman served as chairman of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.