Second Jefferson Administration, The
Historian Peter Onuf explores Thomas Jefferson's strategy of using "aggressive commercial diplomacy" (in the form of an embargo and sanctions) as an alternative to war.
Language of International Diplomacy, The
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry talks about the need to speak "an entirely different language" as a State Department spokesperson. "While you're doing the briefing in English," Mr. McCurry explains, "...it's a peculiar variant called...
Politics of Diplomacy, The
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker recounts his experience joining with the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union to condemn the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Press Secretary Jobs
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry recalls his two press secretary jobs during the Clinton administration, and says that he greatly preferred his stint as State Department spokesman over his job as White House press secretary. "It was i...
Diplomacy (Part Two)
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the delicate negotiations he conducted with Eduard Schevardnadze, foreign minister of the Soviet Union, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. The issue at hand was an Iraqi ship steaming out o...
Diplomacy (Part One)
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker explains that private diplomacy is sometimes the most effective diplomacy. Secretary Baker adds that, "...the one thing that you don't want to do when you're trying to conduct diplomacy with somebody is to pu...