Steely huntsman at helm of embattled U.S. Embassy in Venezuela amid standoff
CARACAS, Venezuela — In the normally genteel world of high diplomacy, the top U.S. envoy to Venezuela cuts an unusual figure.
Born in a small South Carolina town, James Story is an avid hunter and proud collector of memorabilia featuring iconic revolutionaries like Vladimir Lenin and Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Now the 48-year-old career diplomat at the helm of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas is on the mission of his life: keeping himself and a core group of committed American diplomats safe as the Trump administration ratchets up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to force him to cede power.
The standoff has thrust the Trump administration into a bizarre, diplomatic Twilight Zone.
Managing it all is Story — universally known as Jimmy — who begins each of his 16-hour marathon work days with a motivational message.
“He can deftly sip cocktails with the diplomats, but his heart is still somewhere duck-hunting in an early morning blind,” said John Feeley, a former U.S. ambassador to Panama and Story’s former boss at the State Department.
Already, Story has managed to walk things back from the brink, negotiating immunity and privileges for an additional 30 days for the handful of U.S. diplomats still in Venezuela.
Kimberly Breier, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western hemisphere affairs, called Story an outstanding leader who puts people’s safety and welfare first.
“He has managed a challenging situation skillfully and with creativity and perseverance,” Breier said.