New State Department Appointees

President Reagan has nominated Kenneth Dam, a law professor and friend of many years of Secretary of State George Shultz, as Deputy Secretary of State. He replaces Walter Stoessel, who is retiring after 40 years in the Foreign Service.

The 62-year-old Staessel was acting Secretary from July 5th when Alexander Haig officially left the State Department, until Shultz was sworn in last Friday morning. Shultz took note of this today saying that “no one in public service today is better known for grace and sound judament under the most difficult of circumstances. These qualities have been amply demonstrated to me in his role as acting Secretary during the current crisis in Lebanon.”

Dam, 49, is provost and an international law professor at the University of Chicago. He served as assistant director for national security and international affairs in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) when Shultz was its director in the Nixon Administration.

Reagan also named two other top State Department officials today. All three have to be confirmed by the Senate.

Allen Wallis, 69, chancellor of the University of Rochester and economics professor emeritus, was nominated to be Undersecretary of State for economic affairs. He replaces Myer Rashish who left his post earlier this year because of policy differences with Haig.

William Schneider, associate director of national security and international affairs at the OMB, was named Undersecretary for Security Assistance, Science and Technology. He will replace James Buckley, who is slated to become the State Department counsellor.

Lawrence Eagleburger, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, has agreed to remain in his present post, State Department spokesman Dean Fischer said. Fischer said he knew of no other top State Department officials who are leaving. However, Fischer, who is also Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said he plans to return to private life as soon as Shultz can find a replacement.