HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF AMBASSADOR J. WILLIAM MIDDENDORF II

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF AMBASSADOR
J. WILLIAM MIDDENDORF II

Introduced By:
Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McGaw, Chippendale, Abney,
Fogarty, Ajello, Fellela, Tanzi, and McNamara

Date Introduced:
January 15, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the
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passing of J. William Middendorf II, a distinguished former Ambassador and United States Navy
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World War II veteran. He was the beloved husband of the late Isabelle Jackson Paine for 63
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years; and
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WHEREAS, John William Middendorf II, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of
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Sarah and Harry Middendorf. He rowed and played sports in high school, and briefly attended
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Harvard, but because there were no Navy ROTC openings at Harvard, he transferred to the
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College of the Holy Cross; and
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WHEREAS, While attending the College of the Holy Cross, J. William Middendorf II,
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joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and played basketball with the highly regarded
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Holy Cross Basketball Team and Hall of Fame teammate, the legendary Bob Cousy. While at
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Holy Cross, Mr. Middendorf took classes in navigation, naval history, engineering, gunnery, and
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ship stability; and
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WHEREAS, After graduating from Holy Cross with a degree in Naval Science, Mr.
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Middendorf served with distinction in the United States Navy as an officer in World War II. Mr.
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Middendorf served as an Engineer Officer and Navigator aboard the USS LCS(L) 53, and was
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later stationed in China, first as a member of the occupation forces and later as part of a security
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detail for General George Marshall, who at the time was trying to broker a peace deal in the
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Chinese Civil War between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek; and

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WHEREAS, After completing his military obligation, Mr. Middendorf attended Harvard
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College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 and was a member of the Hasty
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Pudding Theatricals and the Owl Club. Mr. Middendorf later attended the Stern School of
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Business at NYU, where he earned his MBA. Upon graduation, Mr. Middendorf became an
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investment banker, founded the highly successful Middendorf, Colgate and Company, and gained
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a seat on the New York Stock Exchange; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Middendorf was also very active in Republican politics, first at the local
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level in Connecticut, then in service to the 1964 presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater,
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serving as the Treasurer of the Republican National Committee from 1965 to 1969; and
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WHEREAS, Beginning in 1969, Mr. Middendorf began a long and distinguished period
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of public service, mostly in ambassadorial and military-related positions, starting with Mr.
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Middendorf's appointment to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Netherlands by
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President Nixon, a position he held until June of 1973; and
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WHEREAS, Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Middendorf was chosen to serve as
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the Under Secretary of the United States Navy and later was chosen to serve as the Secretary of
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the Navy when Secretary John Warner left to serve on the Bicentennial Commission. Mr.
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Middendorf was confirmed by the Senate and served in this position until the end of the Ford
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administration. His most notable accomplishments included securing a 60 percent increase in the
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Navy budget, while Army and Air Force spending remained flat; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Middendorf declined President Carter's offer to remain as the Secretary
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of the Navy, and returned to the private sector in 1977, serving as the President and Chief
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Executive Officer of Financial General BankShares, which Mr. Middendorf re-organized and
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renamed First American Bank; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Middendorf returned to public service once again in 1980, serving as
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the head of the CIA transition team for incoming President Reagan, then later serving as the
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Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of the American
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States (OAS), with the rank of Ambassador. In 1984, President Reagan appointed him to serve as
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the U.S. Representative to the European Community, known today as the European Union, a
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position he held until 1987; and
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WHEREAS, In his free time, Mr. Middendorf was a devotee of the arts and was a prolific
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composer of symphonies. One of the highlights of his music career was his writing of more than
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100 marches and the Holland Symphony, which he presented to Dutch Queen Juliana on the 25th
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Anniversary of her ascension to the throne. In recognition of his excellence in music, Mr.
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Middendorf received the "Edwin Franko Goldman Award" from the American Bandmasters

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Association, and was a member of the American Society of Composers and Performers; and
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WHEREAS, In his later years, Mr. Middendorf wrote two well-received books, "A
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Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater's Presidential Campaign and the Origins of the Conservative
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Movement", and "Potomac Fever: A Memoir of Politics and Public Service", in which President
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George H.W. Bush said that Mr. Middendorf "was always constructively involved in the political
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world, and he is a good friend. For those who believe in public service, Bill Middendorf's memoir
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should be a must read."; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Middendorf was a member of the Council of American Ambassadors,
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Defense Forum Foundation, the Board of Directors of the International Republican Institute, and
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was a member of the Heritage Foundation. He was also a member of the Rhode Island Society of
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the Sons of Revolution and the Navy League of the United States; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Middendorf leaves behind his daughters, Frances Middendorf and Dr.
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Amy Givler, and her husband, Don, and his son, Ralph Middendorf and his wife, Sofia, and
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daughter-in-law, Jeni Middendorf. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Martha, Chandler,
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John, Rowen, Remi, Laila, and Wolfie, along with four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased
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by his wife, Isabelle Jackson Paine Middendorf and children, Martha and John; now, therefore be
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it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of J. William Middendorf II; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Frances Middendorf, Dr. Amy Givler and
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Ralph Middendorf.
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