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Peter Schechter

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Peter Schechter
Born1959
Rome, Italy
NationalityAmerican
EducationPaul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University
Occupations
TitleExecutive Producer and Host of Altamar, A Foreign Policy Podcast
SpouseRosa Puech
ChildrenAlia, Marina
Websitewww.altamar.us

Peter Schechter (born 1959) is an American political consultant and the executive producer and host of Altamar, a foreign policy podcast. Until June 2017, he was the Atlantic Council's Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and the founding director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, a Washington-based think tank launched in October 2013 to study the trends transforming Latin America.

Born in 1959 in Rome, Schechter was raised in Italy, Bolivia, and Venezuela. He has a Master's from the Johns Hopkins’ Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. He is fluent in six languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, and German.

Biography

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Schechter spent a significant portion of his professional career providing guidance to political candidates in Latin America, such as Henrique Capriles from Venezuela, Alvaro Uribe from Colombia, and Fernando Henrique Cardoso from Brazil.[1]

From 1987 to 1992, Schechter worked as a political consultant for a public relations firm, The Sawyer Miller Group, where he led their international divison. In 1991, he and Bob Chlopak were credited with helping Barco Vargas of Columbia get elected.[2] In 1993, he co-founded Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates, a Washington, DC–based public relations company with partners Bob Chlopak and Charlie Leonard.[3][4]

According to Foreign Agents Registration filings with the US Department of Justice, the firm received over $292,000 in 2009 to boost the image of the interim government of Honduras in the US after the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya.[5][6] The contract was signed by Schechter. The firm's lobbyists interacted with members of the US Congress, including Senator Jim DeMint, who became a supporter the interim government, later expressing his support to the Wall Street Journal and Fox News.[7][8][9] The Obama administration stated that they saw the coup in Honduras as a dangerous development in the region.[9] Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates received negative publicity in the US and Honduras for their involvement and a protest was held outside of their Washington DC office.[1][10]

Schechter is an adjunct professor at George Washington University in DC and a visiting professor at Ben Gurion University’s Faculty of Business and Management. He also serves on BGU's Board of Directors[11][12]

Schechter is also a goat farmer in Virginia, co-owner with chef José Andrés of five successful Washington restaurants (including prize-winning Jaleo and Zaytinya), co-proprietor of Agur Winery in Israel, and an author.[citation needed]

Schechter published his first novel, Point of Entry, in 2006. The Washington Post called it "fast moving". The Chicago Tribune said it is "as good as this kind of writing gets". The St. Louis Post Dispatch said the plot is "why-didn't I think-of-that-clever." Newsweek called it "a rip-roaring novel about terrorism, nuclear plots and presidential dating." The Boston Globe declared it "entertaining". His second book, Pipeline, was published in 2009.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b BRASILWIRE (28 December 2017). "The Atlantic Council & Latin American "Regime Change"". BRASILWIRE. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  2. ^ Siegel, Barry (24 November 1991). "SPIN DOCTORS TO THE WORLD : THE SAWYER MILLER GROUP USES THE TRICKS OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, BIG BUSINESS AND ANY CLIENT IN NEED OF AN IMAGE LIFT". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  3. ^ Team, Meridian International Center. "Peter Schechter | Meridian International Center". meridian.org. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  4. ^ Sarasohn, Judy (11 October 2000). "Enron Hire Faces Some Partisan Fire". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Honduran government hires PR shop", The Hill, 27 September 2009; retrieved November 2009.
  6. ^ Contract filing for Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter and Associates, Inc., Foreign Agent Registration Unit, 21 October 2009; retrieved November 2009.
  7. ^ "Foreign agents lobbied on issues raised in Wikileaks cables : Sunlight Foundation". sunlightfoundation.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  8. ^ Davis, Susan (2 July 2009). "Sen. DeMint Supports Honduran Coup". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Leader Ousted, Honduras Hires U.S. Lobbyists (Published 2009)". 8 October 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Honduras rights curbs lifted". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Board of Directors". A4BGU. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Peter Schechter | HuffPost". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
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