FDR and Diplomatic Security, 1935

Today's post was written by David Langbart, archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. The October 1935 issue of The Atlantic Monthly included an article entitled "Worse Than Arnold" by Burton J. Hendrick.   That article was a preview from Hendrick's book The Lees of Virginia.  Hendrick, a graduate of … Continue reading FDR and Diplomatic Security, 1935

Presidential Holiday Greetings, 1933

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. {This is a revision of an earlier post.} In late October 1933, as the end of the first year of his Presidency drew near, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent the following note to Secretary … Continue reading Presidential Holiday Greetings, 1933

Watching Out for Your Friends: 1942 Guidance for U.S. Propaganda in the Pacific During World War II

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. As numerous scholars have demonstrated, World War II in the Pacific had a distinct racial aspect to it.[1]  The Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor reinforced a long-standing strand of American racial animosity towards … Continue reading Watching Out for Your Friends: 1942 Guidance for U.S. Propaganda in the Pacific During World War II

Memoirs of a Secretary of State: Cordell Hull

By David Langbart. In recent years, we have seen a spate of memoirs by high government officials, many of them controversial.  Among those publications are books by former Secretaries of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Colin Powell, George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, and Dean Rusk.  Perhaps the model for all of them is Cordell Hull, at least … Continue reading Memoirs of a Secretary of State: Cordell Hull

Remembering Pearl Harbor

By David Langbart In the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 71 years ago today, agencies of the U.S. government swung into action.  The Army and Navy immediately went on a war footing as did American diplomats in the Department of State and at embassies and consulates around the world.  Since the formal … Continue reading Remembering Pearl Harbor

Presidential greetings, c. 1933

By David Langbart The Great Depression had a serious negative impact on the situation of American diplomatic and consular officials overseas.  As the end of the first year of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency drew near, the President sent the following note to Secretary of State Cordell Hull: MEMORANDUM FROM           … Continue reading Presidential greetings, c. 1933