Alejandro José Luis Orfila

Alejandro Orfila grew up in Mendoza in a family involved in wine production. After studying law in Buenos Aires, he pursued further study at Stanford and Tulane. His diplomatic career included assignments in Moscow, Warsaw, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Washington, followed by the embassy in Japan. He also worked in private international finance before returning to Washington as ambassador during the renewed Peronist government. ¹

In January 1975, Orfila warned that controversy over the U.S. Trade Act could lead several governments to boycott a planned foreign ministers' meeting in Buenos Aires. He recommended postponing the meeting and coordinating the announcement. While encouraging Kissinger to visit Argentina, he stressed the damage a late cancellation would cause. ²

Orfila became secretary-general of the Organization of American States in July 1975, won a second term, and left office in March 1984. That April, the OAS Permanent Council criticized his simultaneous paid employment with a private firm during his final months. ^{3, 4}

After public service, he developed a winery in California's San Pasqual Valley and advised students and businesspeople. He remained in the San Diego area and died in 2021, aged ninety-six. ¹