WASHINGTON — Richard Boucher, a prominent figure who served as the State Department’s spokesperson and assistant secretary of state for public affairs for over ten years, has passed away at the age of 73. He succumbed to spindle-cell sarcoma, a particularly aggressive cancer, at his residence in northern Virginia on Friday, as confirmed by his son.
Boucher became a pivotal face of U.S. foreign policy throughout the 1990s into the early 2000s. His tenure at the State Department podium spanned various administrations, commencing with the presidency of George H.W. Bush and continuing through the terms of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Notably, he served as the spokesman for secretaries of state including James Baker, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice.
His distinguished career also took him overseas, beginning with the Peace Corps and extending his influence through Africa, Asia, and back to Washington. Boucher held a key position as the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong during the critical 1997 transition when the territory was handed over from Britain to China. He later utilized his diplomatic expertise to aid in resolving the U.S.-China spy plane standoff in early 2001.
Post his spokesperson role, Boucher advanced to the position of assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia. Eventually, he was appointed as the ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Charles Wolfson, a retired veteran journalist from CBS who collaborated with Boucher for years, praised him not only for his effectiveness as a State Department spokesman but also for his qualities as a professional colleague and friend. “He was a superb diplomat, an excellent spokesman, and an even better human being,” remarked Wolfson.