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U.S. Diplomacy Stories

Carl T. Rowan and Lyndon B. Johnson
Carl T. Rowan: From Journalist to Diplomat
 Carl T. Rowan: From Journalist to Diplomat 1024 1018
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The path to becoming a diplomat is not always obvious. For Carl T. Rowan, he paved his path with his storytelling. His many articles on racism in America and international affairs caught the attention of President John F. Kennedy, propelling him into multiple political appointments. In 1961, Rowan became the highest-ranking Black American in the…

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Frederick Douglass with The Commissioners to Santo Domingo
The Diplomatic Career of Frederick Douglass
 The Diplomatic Career of Frederick Douglass 1024 507
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“One of the duties of a minister in a foreign land is to cultivate good social, as well as civil relations, with the people and government to which he is sent.” In the mid-1800s, Frederick Douglass was known internationally as an activist, writer, and orator. But did you know he also served as an official…

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Ambassador Mari-Luci Jaramillo
The Diplomatic Skills of Ambassador Terence A. Todman
 The Diplomatic Skills of Ambassador Terence A. Todman 1024 663
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Diplomacy skills are not just any skills. They are the specific skills diplomats employ to succeed in their duties. To help the public demystify the skills of diplomacy, the National Museum of American Diplomacy categorizes these skills as informational, relational, and operational skill sets. One of the nine key diplomacy skills under operational is advocacy.…

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Sarah Parker Redmond Emancipation Proclamation
Sarah Parker Remond: Citizen Diplomacy and the Emancipation Proclamation as Foreign Policy
 Sarah Parker Remond: Citizen Diplomacy and the Emancipation Proclamation as Foreign Policy 1024 576
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When Civil War erupted in April of 1861, President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward’s official reason for the war was to preserve the union of states, not abolish slavery. In the end, emancipation did in fact become a war objective. What changed? How did the Emancipation Proclamation affect European nations’ refusal to…

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President Abraham Lincoln's 1861 Cabinet
The Trent Affair: Diplomacy, Britain, and the American Civil War
 The Trent Affair: Diplomacy, Britain, and the American Civil War 600 455
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In 1861, as the Civil War was beginning at home, U.S. diplomats faced a unique dilemma.  The United States needed to maintain relationships abroad. At the same time, the self-proclaimed Confederate States of America sought foreign recognition as an independent nation. Domestic politics and international relations became intertwined when Confederate diplomats were taken prisoner from…

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Ambassador Arnold Chacon
From Mentee to Mentor: Ambassador Arnold Chacon and Leadership in the Foreign Service
 From Mentee to Mentor: Ambassador Arnold Chacon and Leadership in the Foreign Service 1024 576
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Ambassador Arnold Chacon has served as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service for 40 years. His dedication to his career as a public servant began early through his years of volunteer service in Latin America as a teenager and young adult. Throughout his time as a diplomat, his mentors taught him valuable lessons and…

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Ambassador Carmen Cantor
Island Diplomacy, from Mayagüez to Micronesia: The Journey of Esperanza of Ambassador Carmen Gloria Cantor
 Island Diplomacy, from Mayagüez to Micronesia: The Journey of Esperanza of Ambassador Carmen Gloria Cantor 1024 732
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The word esperanza in Spanish means “hope” or “expectation.” This word, both in its promise and sense of duty, captures the career of Carmen G. Cantor, the United States Ambassador to Micronesia. Some people might say that hope or esperanza is the belief things will work, especially when it appears otherwise. Ambassador Cantor’s unique upbringing…

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Ambassador Mari-Luci Jaramillo
Ambassador Mari-Luci Jaramillo: The First Hispanic American Woman Ambassador
 Ambassador Mari-Luci Jaramillo: The First Hispanic American Woman Ambassador 457 380
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Mari-Luci Jaramillo was a renowned educator who served as Ambassador to Honduras under Carter’s administration from 1977-1980.  Jaramillo started her career as a teacher but quickly grew her leadership skills to push education reform and civil rights at a national and international level.  Her popularity in various communities led President Jimmy Carter to nominate her…

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Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez peru
Diplomacy through Many Storms: Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez
 Diplomacy through Many Storms: Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez 1024 777
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When Lino Gutiérrez joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1977, he found himself to be the only Latino in his class. At that time, Hispanic Americans comprised only four percent of the diplomatic corps. During his 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, Gutiérrez served in the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and Washington, D.C., including…

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Kellogg-Briand Pact Signing
The Kellogg-Briand Pact: The Aspiration for Global Peace and Security
 The Kellogg-Briand Pact: The Aspiration for Global Peace and Security 1024 793
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August 27, 2021 marks 93 years since the signing of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. The United States and France drafted the treaty, officially known as the General Treaty for Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy, in the decade following the end of World War I.  This historic treaty pursued the lofty goal of…

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