During his lengthy career with the United States Department of State, he served as an Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1975–1977), U.S. ambassador to Israel (1977–1985), and Director of Policy Planning (1993–1994). Lewis also headed the United States Institute of Peace from 1987 through 1993.

 

Born in Houston, Texas, Lewis received an A.B. from Yale University in 1952 and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in 1954.

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In 1977-85 Lewis served as Ambassador to Israel under Presidents Carter and Reagan, the second-longest tenure of any US Ambassador to Israel. As ambassador, Lewis had a major role in negotiating the Camp David peace talks in 1978 that resulted in a historic treaty between Egypt and Israel.

“Sam set a frame of reference that allowed Carter to understand Begin,” Aaron David Miller, a vice president of the Wilson Center and a former U.S. Middle East negotiator, told The Washington Post. “He managed to gain Begin’s confidence and that set the stage for what I think is the most important act of diplomacy by an American president ever in the Middle East.”

 

The historic Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt were signed on September 17, 1978 and within months Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.