Former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Tom Korologos has died at the age of 91. He served as an adviser to U.S. presidents and was a powerful political figure in Washington for decades, where he became known as the “101st Senator” because of his outsized influence on Capitol Hill.
Your Greek Roots and Journey
Born April 6, 1933, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Tom Korologos was the son of Greek immigrants who, like many expatriates of the time, worked in the catering industry. He graduated from the University of Utah and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. His political career began in 1962, when he left a successful advertising agency to serve as press secretary in the office of Utah Republican Senator Wallace F. Bennett.
During his political career he did not forget his Greek heritage. In fact, he was instrumental in establishing the tradition of the annual Greek Independence Day reception at the White House. Tom Korologos used his access to President Reagan, persuading him to open the door to the Oval Office to receive the Archbishop of America and a small delegation of Greek-American community leaders.
He previously served as deputy assistant to the president for legislative affairs during the Nixon and Ford presidencies. In 1975, he founded the lobbying firm Timmons and Company. He was also instrumental in confirming 300 Senate nominees, including Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
From 2004 to 2007, Korologos served as the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, where he initiated a Muslim outreach program that was later adopted by the State Department and used globally.
In his last public appearance, he attended a White House reception for Hellenic Independence Day in April. President Biden singled him out from the crowd and they had a candid conversation.
The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the Hagia Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington.
Source: RES-MPE