Paramount Chief Tuli Leiato (November 17, 1917 – October 5, 1983) of Fagaitua, was an American Fa'amatai leader and politician on the Islands of

Tutuila Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Au ...

, and Aunu'u in

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the International ...

. In addition to his Fa'a Samoa title he was sworn in on June 21, 1963, as the Secretary of Samoan Affairs under Governor

H. Rex Lee Hyrum Rex Lee (April 8, 1910 – July 26, 2001) was an American government employee and diplomat who was the last non-elected Governor of American Samoa. Lee served as governor from 1961 to 1967, and again briefly from 1977 to 1978. Governor Lee ...

. A letter written by Paramount Chief Tuli Le'ato on September 7, 1962, to President Kennedy is on permanent display in the

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and museum of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963), the 35th president of the United States (1961–1963). It is located on Columbia Point in the Dorchester neighb ...

. Immediately after Leiato's death, the Le'iato title was passed on to his son Tuli Tupua Le'iato. The royal title Le'iato is second only to King (Tui) of Manuʻa of American Samoa. Tuli Le'iato is the ancestor to many prominent Samoan figures including multimedia activist and award-winning filmmaker

Queen Muhammad Ali Queen Muhammad Ali (Queen Melé Le'iato Tuiasosopo Muhammad Ali) is an American Samoan award-winning film director, photographer, graphic design artist, multimedia activist, lecturer, television producer, humanitarian, writer, visual anthropolog ...

, and Oregon Duck's Football Linebacker Fotu T. Leiato II.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leiato, Tuli American Samoan chiefs 1917 births 1983 deaths American Samoan politicians