These days, Stanford students aren't known for their conservatism. But in 1949, an earnest and congenial young man earned his degree in political science and went on to become one of the best-loved backroomers in Oregon, where they called him "Mr. Republican."
Alan "Punch" Green Jr., the man behind the Oregon campaigns of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, the elder George Bush and the younger George Bush, died of heart failure on March 23 at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 75.
Green, who adopted his father's nickname, served in the Army during World War II before coming to Stanford, where he joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He spent most of his career in public service, serving two terms as president and commissioner of the Port of Portland and four years as chair of the Federal Maritime Commission. In 1988, Green was named Oregon Republican of the Year. The following year, he was appointed ambassador to Romania.
Green arrived in Bucharest just two weeks before the execution of dictator Nicolae Ceauçescu threw the country into violent upheaval. He spent 10 days round-the-clock in his office at the U.S. embassy, ensuring the safe evacuation of nonessential personnel and waving the American flag from his window to cheering Romanian crowds below. The State Department gave him its Distinguished Honor Award--one rarely bestowed on political appointees--after his deputy penned a heartfelt letter of nomination. "Ambassador Green made life-and-death decisions daily under intense and unrelenting pressure," the diplomat wrote. "There is not a single member of the Embassy staff who would not run through a brick wall for Punch Green."
Green is survived by his wife, Joan; three daughters, Carter Peterson, Ladd Mengel, '78, and Kelsey Grout; and eight grandchildren.
