Leonard Firestone
| Leonard Firestone | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
|
In office 1974–1977 |
|
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Robert Strausz-Hupé |
| Succeeded by | Anne Cox Chambers |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Leonard Kimball Firestone June 10, 1907 Akron, Summit County, Ohio |
| Died | December 24, 1996 (aged 89) Pebble Beach, California |
| Spouse(s) | Polly Curtis; Barbara Knickerbocker Heatley; Caroline Hudson Lynch |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
| Profession | Businessman, diplomat |
Leonard Kimball Firestone (June 10, 1907 – December 24, 1996), was a businessman, ambassador and philanthropist.
He was born on June 10, 1907 in Akron, Ohio to Harvey Firestone and Idabelle Smith Firestone. He was educated at The Hill School, and graduated from Princeton University in 1931, where he was active in golf and polo. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, and later attendee at Bohemian Grove.
He was employed on graduation by the family company in sales positions by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, founded by his father in Akron, Ohio. In 1935, he was appointed sales manager and in 1939 became a director of Firestone. He was named president of Firestone Aviation Products Co. in 1941.
He was commissioned in the United States Navy as a lieutenant, but was assigned to inactive status to become president of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. of California in 1943. In 1966, he was the target of an abortive multimillion-dollar kidnap plan. He retired as president of Firestone's California operations in 1970.
He died on December 24, 1996 in Pebble Beach, California of respiratory failure.
A staunch Republican, Firestone was a delegate to Republican National Convention from California in 1944 (alternate), 1948 and 1952. In 1954 he was elected to the city council of Beverly Hills.
Firestone was chairman of the Nelson Rockefeller campaign in the California Presidential primary in 1964. Firestone was appointed U.S. ambassador to Belgium by President Richard Nixon in 1974, and was reappointed by President Gerald Ford, serving until 1976. He was later chairman of the Richard M. Nixon Foundation.
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