A devoted genealogist, Brice McAdoo Clagett bought a home built by his ancestors centuries ago. (Family Photo)Brice Clagett; Specialized in International Disputes
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
By Joe Holley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Brice McAdoo Clagett, 74, a Washington lawyer and historic preservationist, died April 8 of cardiac arrest at George Washington University Hospital.
An attorney for more than four decades with the law firm of Covington and Burling, Mr. Clagett's specialties included public and private international law, foreign claims, international arbitration, international land and maritime boundaries, transportation and environmental law and Middle Eastern law.
In 1960, former secretary of state Dean Acheson, a partner in the firm, asked Mr. Clagett to serve as a juridical counselor with the Cambodian delegation to the International Court of Justice at The Hague. The case was a boundary dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. Cambodia prevailed, and Acheson was made Prince of the Royal Order of Cambodia, while Mr. Clagett was made Commander of the Order.
In 1975, he argued before the Supreme Court in United States v. Maine on behalf of 11 of the 13 Atlantic coastal states that were challenging on constitutional grounds the alleged federal ownership of the Atlantic coastal shelf, which included oil-drilling rights.
Afterward, he received a letter from New Hampshire's deputy attorney general. "I have yet to make my maiden argument in the Supreme Court, and when I do I will think back to yours as a model," wrote David H. Souter, who is now a Supreme Court justice.
Mr. Clagett often appeared before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, established to settle claims between Iran and American nationals after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He also represented numerous foreign governments in matters involving boundary disputes, natural resources, expropriation, war damages and treaty claims.
Born in the District, Mr. Clagett graduated from St. Albans School in 1950. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He was on the Harvard Law Review and the Board of Editors and won a Rotary Fellowship to study for a year at the University of Allahabad, India.
Mr. Clagett joined Covington and Burling as an associate in 1958 and became a partner in 1967. He retired in 2002.
A lifelong advocate of historic and land preservation and environmental protection, he served as chairman of the Maryland Historical Trust from 1972 to 1978 and chairman of the Maryland Environmental Trust from 1985 to 1989. He also was a member of the Clagett Family Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
In 1968, he and his first wife, Virginia Parker Clagett, bought Holly Hill, a house in Friendship that was built by Mr. Clagett's ancestors more than three centuries ago. He lavished great care on both the house and gardens.
Passionate about history and genealogy, he compiled a 1,200-page book about 20 generations of his family, including his maternal grandfather, William Gibbs McAdoo, secretary of the Treasury in the Wilson administration.
"I wasn't born when I was born, and I won't die when I will die," he said in 1975. "I am part of a continuum of the family."
His first marriage ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Diana Sinkler Clagett of the District; and two children from his first marriage, John Brice de Treville Clagett of Friendship and Brooke Clagett of the District.
An attorney for more than four decades with the law firm of Covington and Burling, Mr. Clagett's specialties included public and private international law, foreign claims, international arbitration, international land and maritime boundaries, transportation and environmental law and Middle Eastern law.
In 1960, former secretary of state Dean Acheson, a partner in the firm, asked Mr. Clagett to serve as a juridical counselor with the Cambodian delegation to the International Court of Justice at The Hague. The case was a boundary dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. Cambodia prevailed, and Acheson was made Prince of the Royal Order of Cambodia, while Mr. Clagett was made Commander of the Order.
In 1975, he argued before the Supreme Court in United States v. Maine on behalf of 11 of the 13 Atlantic coastal states that were challenging on constitutional grounds the alleged federal ownership of the Atlantic coastal shelf, which included oil-drilling rights.
Afterward, he received a letter from New Hampshire's deputy attorney general. "I have yet to make my maiden argument in the Supreme Court, and when I do I will think back to yours as a model," wrote David H. Souter, who is now a Supreme Court justice.
Mr. Clagett often appeared before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, established to settle claims between Iran and American nationals after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He also represented numerous foreign governments in matters involving boundary disputes, natural resources, expropriation, war damages and treaty claims.
Born in the District, Mr. Clagett graduated from St. Albans School in 1950. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He was on the Harvard Law Review and the Board of Editors and won a Rotary Fellowship to study for a year at the University of Allahabad, India.
Mr. Clagett joined Covington and Burling as an associate in 1958 and became a partner in 1967. He retired in 2002.
A lifelong advocate of historic and land preservation and environmental protection, he served as chairman of the Maryland Historical Trust from 1972 to 1978 and chairman of the Maryland Environmental Trust from 1985 to 1989. He also was a member of the Clagett Family Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
In 1968, he and his first wife, Virginia Parker Clagett, bought Holly Hill, a house in Friendship that was built by Mr. Clagett's ancestors more than three centuries ago. He lavished great care on both the house and gardens.
Passionate about history and genealogy, he compiled a 1,200-page book about 20 generations of his family, including his maternal grandfather, William Gibbs McAdoo, secretary of the Treasury in the Wilson administration.
"I wasn't born when I was born, and I won't die when I will die," he said in 1975. "I am part of a continuum of the family."
His first marriage ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Diana Sinkler Clagett of the District; and two children from his first marriage, John Brice de Treville Clagett of Friendship and Brooke Clagett of the District.
9 comments:
For gratitution, two years later Shihanouk kicked USA out.
US became very good friend and close alliance with THAILAND ever after.
PREAH VIHEAR dispute this time will Cambodia alone to fight.
Thank you Mr Clagett. May you rest in peace.
Vanak.
PP
on behalf of all cambodian people, thank you very much for your service for humanity. i'm sure your work in cambodia will be remembered forever in the hearts and minds of all khmer people and the field of studies of international disputes. may you rest in peace.
Thank you my ass. The fucking westerner established the stupid law in their favorite so that we have to spend millions of our hard earning money to feed their greedy lawyers.
Go fuck your Vietnamese parent 3"46AM
In name of Cambodian people, I would like to say thank you so much for your efford to helping us to win the PREAH VIHEAR from the Thailand. I will never forget you forever. All Cambodian people must know this event.
RAMY, Chungnam University. S.Korea
Mr. Brice McAdoo Clagett statue must replace all Vietcong statues!
May Budhha be with you Sir Brice McAdoo.
you had performed the task .Thank you !
The khmer people would like to send condolance to Attorney Brice Clagett;'s family. Messrs Brice Clagett and Dean Acheason were our best attorneys at the Hague International court of justice that reaffirm our sovereignity over Prasad Phnom Preah Vihear.
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