Robert Holmes Tuttle served as ambassador to the Court of St. James’s July 14, 2005 to February 6, 2009. A California native, Tuttle graduated from Stanford University and earned his MBA at the University of Southern California.

 

After finishing college in 1968, Tuttle joined his father’s car dealership, sweeping the floors. He eventually became co-managing general partner of the Tuttle-Click Automotive Group, one of the largest automobile dealer organizations in the United States.

 

Tuttle has been involved with the Republican Party since 1979, when he became a member of Ronald Reagan’s election team. He joined the White House staff in 1982 as special assistant to the President. In 1985, President Reagan appointed him Director of Presidential Personnel, a position he held until the end of the administration. Tuttle also was appointed by President Reagan to the board of directors of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars for four years.

 

Tuttle has served on the boards of several prominent civic organizations, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication, and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, where he was chairman from 2001 to 2004.

 

A wealthy Republican benefactor, Tuttle contributed $200,000 towards former President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election and inauguration. He has given thousands more to other Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets.org.

 

State Department Biography

How $200,000 gave Bush friend ticket to London (by Tim Reid, London Times)