September 11 fundamentally transformed United States foreign policy and shook the country as a whole. This transformation and shock was…
The Audio-Visual Program in Madras
The U.S. State Department is renowned for its diplomacy and foreign policy. However, it is recognized less for its educational…
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…
“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…
Deserted in the Panama Canal, Exploring the Rose City, and Travelling the Globe in Forty Days: Firsthand Accounts from George Hermann in the Foreign Service
Foreign Service Officers are posted to positions abroad for terms of one, two, or three years depending on locality, demand,…
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…
Eye on the World: A Life in International Service
“One of the most respected and versatile diplomats of his generation, four-time ambassador Anthony Quainton provides a detailed and colorful…
A Big Delegation For a Small Consulate: President Reagan visits Shanghai
With a presidential visit comes months of preparation and stress. While big embassies with hundreds of staff members are often…
Communist Containment in the Middle East: Emergence of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO)
The 1950s can be described as a decade filled with some uncertainties, but many prosperities. The Cold War had just…