High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Robert Orris Blake (born April 7, 1921) is a retired U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Among his duties was serving as ambassador to Mali, serving under U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He also served as ambassador to the United Nations, and subsequently as the United States Representative to the Joint Commission on the Environment. His path led him to a 30-year career in the U.S. foreign service before retiring. He was appointed ambassador to Mali on December 10, 1970 and served until May 20, 1973 as a member of the Nixon administration. Blake served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.