In addition to implementing U.S. foreign policy and expanding diplomatic relations, the State Department plays another very important role as…
China Invades Taiwan? No Chance!
“There is a sentiment that…we need to contain China to balance off its aggressiveness. That would be a disaster.” A…
From Armistice Day to Veterans Day: Honoring Veterans Who Became U.S. Diplomats
Annually, as a sign of respect, Americans observe a moment of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day…
Pan Am and the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978
In 1978, the Carter administration passed the Airline Deregulation Act, which deregulated the airline industry, stripping away federal control of…
October 14, 1960—JFK’s Call to Service and Diplomacy
John F. Kennedy inspired generations of Americans toward a life of service starting with a few impromptu lines not many…
Operatives of U.S. Diplomacy: Advocating for Foreign Service Officers Post-9/11
When disaster strikes, foreign service officers are called upon to support the U.S. government’s response. This was the case in…
State Department Response to the Holocaust—Jewish Refugees and Attempts to Enter the United States during WWII
In 1938, in the shadow of the Great Depression came rumblings from Europe of a great war and with it…
“Like Sixteenth Century Switzerland”—An American in Bhutan
In the 1960s, Bhutan allowed visitors only by royal invitation. The last independent outpost of Tibetan culture after the Chinese…
The Development Process is Never Static: Reorienting and Expanding Family Planning in Yemen
Even when the situation seems most dire, the development process is never static. Bottom-up, local efforts help make the process…
George Hermann “Christmas Time”
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” This part of a song would describe the Christmases spent by George…