Gaddi Holguin Vasquez (born January 22, 1955) was the 8th United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, in Rome, Italy. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 2006. Vasquez was sworn into office on September 7, 2006, by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and served in the position until 2009. Prior to that, he was the first person of Hispanic ancestry to head the Peace Corps.
Early life and education Born in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Vasquez is a Mexican-American and the son of migrant workers.United States State Department. "Biography of Gaddi H. Vasquez." Vasquez grew up in poverty. He kept a photo of him and his father on his desk at the Peace Corps. "I have this here as a reminder every day," said Vasquez. "I lived in Third World conditions without having to go overseas."Orange County Register. "Gaddi Vasquez at peace in new role" by Dena Bunis. September 15, 2005. The link to the original story has expired. An archival copy is available here. Vasquez's family lived in a trailer in Watsonville, California, and worked as migrant workers until Vasquez went to first grade. "I remember that when I was very young, people who were homeless - they were called hobos then - would come up and bang on the door and literally ask for a meal. My mother would tell them to wait on the porch or wait outside and she would cook them a burrito, notwithstanding our own limitations. I watched this over and over again," he said, so much so that it became known, "If you needed a meal, go down to the Vasquez house." The family moved to Orange County, California, where his father went to work in a furniture factory in Los Angeles and eventually to the Apostolic Church in Orange, where he served as Pastor until his passing. Vasquez went to Orange High School in Orange, to Santa Ana College and then on to the University of Redlands. "I was the first one to graduate college," Vasquez said.
Vasquez has been awarded five honorary doctorate degrees and has served as a Trustee/Professor at Chapman University, Orange, California. He has served as commencement speaker at Chapman University, Vanguard University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, James Madison University, University of La Verne, University of San Diego, California State University, Fullerton, California State University San Marcos, Walsh University, Houghton College, University of Redlands, Concordia University, Irvine and Chaminade University in Hawaii.
Orange County official Vasquez worked in the public sector for 22 years before his Peace Corps nomination, starting as a police officer for the city of Orange, California. He later worked as deputy appointments secretary for Governor George Deukmejian, followed by service as Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.National Journal. "Decision Makers: Gaddi Vasquez, Peace Corps" by Gwen Glazer. June 20, 2005. An archival copy is available here. Vasquez resigned this position in 1995 after the county's bankruptcy.Orange County Register. "Vasquez defends role in O.C. bankruptcy" by Dena Bunis. November 15, 2001. The link to the original story has expired. An archival copy of the story is available here. The Orange County bankruptcy changed the course of his political ambitions, eventually leading Vasquez to reach out to his Republican colleagues for help in re-creating his career.
In 1988 Vasquez addressed the Republican national convention and said that Hispanics shouldn't support Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis for President just because Dukakis spoke Spanish. The Democratic nominee spoke Spanish, Vasquez said, but because of his liberal policies, "he doesn't speak our language."Appeal-Democrat. "Latino voters deserve more than chips, guacamole" by Ruben Navarrette. January 20, 208.
Peace Corps Director
Controversy over appointment as Director Appointed as Director of Peace Corps under George W. Bush, Vasquez had donated $100,000 to Bush's campaignFederal Election Commission. "Gaddi Vasquez's Campaign Committee made $100,000 contribution to Republican National State Election Committee August 14, 2000." To access the original document follow this link to the Federal Election Commission's database "Transaction Query By Individual Contributor." Type "VASQUEZ CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE" into the last name field and hit enter. Then click on the link that says "20035953902" for a copy of the original document. An archival copy of the document is available here. and was criticized by former Volunteers for lacking experience with, or previous membership in, Peace Corps. Los Angeles Times,Los Angeles Times. "Not the One for Peace Corps." August 20, 2001. The original reference is now a dead link. An Archival copy is available here. Boston Globe,Boston Globe. "Bad choice for Peace Corps." August 6, 2001. The original story has expired. An archive copy is available here. Washington PostWashington Post. "Peace Corps Deserves Better than GOP Deadwood" by Judy Mann. November 9, 2001. The original story has expired. An archive copy is available here and New York Times editorialized against Vasquez's nomination and returned Peace Corps volunteers signed a petition opposing his nomination.Peace Corps Writers. "The Gaddi Vasquez nomination" September, 2001. However Vasquez cleared the United States Senate Foreign Relations committee by a vote of 14–4,Orange County Register. "Vasquez survives critics in Senate" by Dan Nowicki. December 13, 2001. The link to the original story has expired. An Archival copy is available here. and was accepted in the full Senate on a voice vote.Associated Press. "U.S. Senate confirms Gaddi Vasquez as Peace Corps director." January 26, 2002. The original story has expired. An archival copy is available here,
Accomplishments as Director Vasquez's major initiatives and accomplishments as Peace Corps Director include: an agreement with Mexico in 2003 to host volunteers,Fox News. "Peace Corps on a High-Tech Mission to Mexico" by Peter Brownfeld. November 24, 2003. emphasis on recruitment of minorities and of community college graduates,Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Peace Corps to begin recruiting community college graduates." December 13, 2003. upgrading Peace Corps' infrastructure, especially IT upgrades in the online application tracking process, the Volunteer Delivery System,Peace Corps Press Release. "Web-Based Tools Assist Peace Corps Applicants." March 29, 2002. an emphasis on safety and security of volunteers (including the creation of a Situation Room at Peace Corps Headquarters),Peace Corps. "The 2002 Annual Report of Volunteer Safety Peace Corps." October 14, 2003. An arcival copy is available here. modifying Peace Corps' "Five Year Rule" for employment,Dayton Daily News. "Bill would create Peace Corps watchdog" by Mei-Ling Hopgood. April 2, 2004. and the expansion of the Peace Corps to one of its highest levels in 30 years.Peace Corps Press Release. "Highest Number of Americans Serving in the Peace Corps in 29 Years" November 29, 2004. Vasquez visited 60 countries during his tenure as Director, meeting with volunteers in the field to advance the agency's mission and goals of promoting world peace and friendship. Peace Corps Press Release. "Peace Corps Director Bids Farewell to Washington and "Ciao!" to Italy." September 7, 2006.
Minority recruitment Vasquez placed a high priority on recruitment of minorities. During his confirmation hearings Vasquez said "We all recognize that the face of America looks vastly different today than 40 years ago - or even 10 years ago. In step with those changes, I consider it a high priority to expand the diversity of the Peace Corps so that it becomes a true reflection of America. Diversity of ethnic backgrounds, life experiences and beliefs has strengthened our country in countless ways. And in doing so we achieve an opportunity to engage a broader segment of the American population in one of our nation's greatest programs."United States Senate Foreign Relations committee. "Statement of Gaddi H. Vasquez" November 15, 2001. An archival copy is available here. Vasquez had a personal experience when he was visiting Morocco as Peace Corps Director that brought home to him the importance of his diversity initiatives. A young man stopped Vasquez and said, "You don't look like an American." And Vasquez answered, "What do you mean, I don't look like an American? Why do you say I don't look like an American?" He said, "The color of your skin. You don't look like an American." And I said, "Well, my grandparents came from Mexico to the United States, pursuing dreams and opportunities."National Press Club. "Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Muslim Countries" October 14, 2004. An archival copy is available here. By the end of Vasquez's tenure, 16 percent of the 7,810 volunteers were minorities — the highest percentage since the agency began collecting data on volunteer diversity.
National Call to Service program Portions of the sometimes controversial expansion were successfully challenged by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community when former volunteers and the National Peace Corps Association raised objections to the continued inclusion of Peace Corps in the National Call to Service program, which had been used to allow military service members with at least three years and three months of military service completed, to finish their service obligation in the Peace Corps. Vasquez argued unsuccessfully for continued inclusion of the Peace Corps in that program, and the Peace Corps was removed from the National Call to Service program on December 22, 2005, when the United States Senate completed congressional action on the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
Political briefings at Peace Corps Headquarters On July 24, 2007, the Washington Post reported that during the tenure of Gaddi Vasquez as Peace Corps Director a "general political briefing" occurred at the Peace Corps headquarters after the 2002 midterm elections.Washington Post. "Diplomats Received Political Briefings." July 24, 2007. Senator Joseph Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is seeking to determine whether the meetings complied with Hatch Act of 1939 that bars the use of federal resources—including office buildings, phones and computers—for partisan purposes.Washington Post. "Rove-Taylor PowerPoint: GOP "conduct" caused losses, not Iraq." July 24, 2007. On July 25, 2007, in Senate subcommittee hearings chaired by Senator Chris Dodd, Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter disclosed that approximately fifteen Peace Corps officials including then Director Gaddi Vasquez attended one of the political briefings at Peace Corps Headquarters. In testimony before the committee, Tschetter said that he did not condone the meetings and that in his opinion they should not have happened.Voice of America. "Peace Corps Politicization and Bureaucracy Criticized" by Ralph Mayrell. August 2 2007 Dodd concluded by saying that "The reputation of this institution suffers when that happens. We have a reputation and we have a good one over the years and to have it soiled because people want to turn it into a political operation is something that I am not going to tolerate at all and I will call for heads if there are still people there involved in this. They should know better than this, to engage in that kind of activity."
Ambassador to FAO