Joseph Luns

Joseph Marie Antoine Hubert Luns (28 August 1911 – 17 July 2002) was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the defunct Catholic People's Party (KVP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and jurist. He served as Secretary General of NATO from 1 October 1971 until 25 June 1984. Luns worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1938 until 1940 and as a Attaché in Lisbon from 1940 until 1941, Bern from 1941 until 1943 and in Londen from 1943 until 1949. Luns worked as Chargé d'affaires for the Netherlands at the United Nations from 1 August 1949 until 2 September 1952. After the election of 1952 Luns was appointed as Minister for United Nations Affairs in the Cabinet Drees II, taking office on 2 September 1952. After the election of 1956 Luns was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 3 July 1956. The following cabinet formation resulted in the formation of the Cabinet Drees III with Luns appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking office on 13 October 1956. Luns served continuously as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the next 15 years in the Cabinets Beel II, De Quay, Marijnen, Cals, Zijlstra and De Jong. Luns also served as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1967 and 1971, serving from 23 February 1967 until 5 April 1967 and from 11 May 1971 until 1 October 1971. In September 1971 Luns was nominated as the next Secretary General of NATO. He resigned as a Member of the House of Representatives on 1 October 1971 the day he was installed as Secretary General, serving from 1 October 1971 until 25 June 1984. Luns was known for his abilities as a negotiator and debater. Luns continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death at the age of 90. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs with 15 years and the longest-serving Secretary General of NATO with over 12 years.