John Foster Dulles Enters Duty as Secretary of State

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. John Foster Dulles became Secretary of State on January 21, 1953.  By the time he attained that position, Dulles had amassed considerable foreign policy experience both in and out of government.  The grandson of … Continue reading John Foster Dulles Enters Duty as Secretary of State

Dunkirk in the Department of State Records

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. World War II began in September 1939, with the German invasion and quick conquest of Poland.  Both Great Britain and France declared war on Germany in support of the Poles, but no major military … Continue reading Dunkirk in the Department of State Records

Poland Celebrates the Sesquicentennial of U.S. Independence, 1926: Part II

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Part I described the events in Poland to celebrate the sesquicentennial of American independence, which included the preparation of over 100 volumes of greetings from the people of Poland. Once the celebrations ended, the … Continue reading Poland Celebrates the Sesquicentennial of U.S. Independence, 1926: Part II

Poland Celebrates the Sesquicentennial of U.S. Independence, 1926: Part I

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In 1926, the United States marked the sesquicentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a major celebration. Surprisingly, so, too, did Poland. That country itself had regained its independence only in … Continue reading Poland Celebrates the Sesquicentennial of U.S. Independence, 1926: Part I

The Japanese Government’s Offer of Assistance to Help Find Amelia Earhart, July 1937

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Continuing their flight around the world at the equator, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred J. Noonan, on July 2, took off in their Lockheed Electra from Lae, New Guinea. They were headed for Howland Island, a dot … Continue reading The Japanese Government’s Offer of Assistance to Help Find Amelia Earhart, July 1937

Receiving Notification of President Kennedy’s Shooting: November 1963

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. On November 22, 1963, Secretary of State Dean Rusk was aboard a U.S. Air Force plane over the Pacific Ocean.  He was leading a delegation of Cabinet officials to Japan to meet with their … Continue reading Receiving Notification of President Kennedy’s Shooting: November 1963

The Dissent Channel of the Department of State

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In recent weeks we have seen and heard many media reports mentioning the DISSENT CHANNEL of the Department of State. Most stories note that it finds its origins in the controversies over U.S. policy … Continue reading The Dissent Channel of the Department of State

A Foreign View of Guns in the United States, 1928

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In September 1928, the U.S. consul at Fort William and Port Arthur, Ontario, submitted a report entitled "Canadian Press Comments Regarding Governmental and Individual Disarmament in the United States."  The report included the text … Continue reading A Foreign View of Guns in the United States, 1928

The President Says Thank You, 1948: The Marshall Plan

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. On June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall addressed the graduating class at Harvard University. In his speech, Marshall noted that World War II had caused "the dislocation of the entire fabric … Continue reading The President Says Thank You, 1948: The Marshall Plan

“In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in U.S. Diplomatic Representation Abroad After the Election of 1944

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. An earlier post discussed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision to request the formal resignation of all chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions overseas (ambassadors and ministers), both career and non-career, after the election of 1940 … Continue reading “In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in U.S. Diplomatic Representation Abroad After the Election of 1944