Editing Warren Christopher (section)

==Deputy Secretary of State for Carter==
{{Main|Presidency of Jimmy Carter}}
Christopher was sworn in on February 26, 1977, as the [[Deputy Secretary of State]] and served in that position until January 20, 1981. As Deputy Secretary, he was involved in the successful [[Iran hostage crisis negotiations]], and the resulting [[Algiers Accords]] securing the safe release of [[Iran hostage crisis|52 American hostages]] in [[Iran]]. He also spearheaded the [[Sino-American relations]] with the [[People's Republic of China]], helped to win ratification of the [[Panama Canal]] treaties, and headed the first interagency group on [[human rights]]. President [[Jimmy Carter]] awarded him the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the nation's highest civilian award, on January 16, 1981.<ref name="SteinB"/>