L. Desaix Anderson

He was the first envoy to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, following the establishment of diplomatic relations, serving as chargé d'affaires from August 1995 when the embassy opened until 1997.

After a stint in the Political-Military Bureau, he was assigned as deputy political counselor and chief Indochina watcher in the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand (1977–80).

He served as the State Department coordinator for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial and leaders meetings hosted by President Clinton in Seattle, Washington (1993–94).

He taught on contemporary Asian political economies at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University during the spring semester of 1998.

The primary historical significance of Anderson's contribution was his instrumental role in restoring formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.

[citation needed] Anderson was an executive board member of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation which is composed of former US Ambassadors to Japan.