65th birthday - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1997 - 7 Shilling

Thomas Klestil, born on November 4, 1932 in Vienna, comes from modest circumstances. He attended elementary and high school and graduated from the College of World Trade in his hometown. After completing his studies (1957) he began his career in the Federal Chancellery. His professional path led through the Austrian Mission to the OEEC (today OECD) in Paris and the Austrian Embassy in Washington; later he took over the task of an Austrian Consul General in Los Angeles. After an interlude in Vienna, he moved again for nine years in the United States: First, he took over as ambassador to the leadership of the Austrian Mission to the United Nations in New York and profiled himself quickly by his appearance in the General Assembly and in numerous conferences and commissions. In 1982 he became Austrian Ambassador to the United States and to the Organization of the American States (OAS), with headquarters in Washington D.C. In 1987, he returned to Vienna as Secretary General for Foreign Affairs. In 1992, the Austrian People's Party nominated him as candidate for the office of Federal President. The Austrian people appointed him in direct election to his Federal President. Dr. Klestil enjoys the highest reputation in Austria and in the world through his personality and his work in his six-year term of office.