1981 United Nations Secretary-General selection 1981 United Nations Secretary-General selection A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1981. Kurt Waldheim ran for an unprecedented third full term as Secretary-General, losing to Salim Ahmed Salim by one vote. However, the selection deadlocked through 16 rounds of voting as China vetoed Waldheim and the United States voted against Salim. The Security Council finally settled on a dark horse candidate who stayed home and did not campaign. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar was selected for a term beginning on 1 January 1982, becoming the first Secretary-General from Latin America. The deadlock was finally broken by a system of
1953 United Nations Secretary-General selection leading contender for Secretary-General in 1946, and the United Kingdom launched an intense campaign on his behalf. British ambassador Gladwyn Jebb declared to Dean Acheson that the United Kingdom would veto anyone except Pearson or Erik Boheman of Sweden. France also regarded Pearson as their first choice. The British delegation had instructions from London to delay the selection until February 1953, when the General Assembly would reconvene after its holiday recess. On 20 January 1953, Dwight Eisenhower succeeded Harry S. Truman as President of the United States, with John Foster Dulles as his Secretary of State. The United States offered