A Short History of the Department of State

• Foundations of Foreign Affairs, 1775-1823
  • Origins of a Diplomatic Tradition
  • Diplomacy: A Key Component of the Revolution
  • Diplomacy under the Articles of Confederation
  • A New Framework for Foreign Affairs
  • A Diplomatic Tradition
  • American Diplomatic Style
  • Staffing and Administration
  • The Development of Foreign Policy
  • Diplomatic Gains in the Early 19th Century
  • Conclusion
• The Expansionist Years, 1823-1867
  • The World in the Early-19th Century
  • A Foreign Policy of Inaction
  • The Department Reorganized—Again
  • Consular Services Expands; Many Hardships
  • Congress Takes a Hand in Reform
  • Diplomatic Achievements
  • Secretary of State William Seward
  • Conclusion
• Rise to World Power, 1867-1913
  • The World in the mid-19th Century
  • Political Interference and Corruption
  • Problems in the Consular Service
  • Some Diplomatic Accomplishments
  • Departmental Organization—and Reorganization
  • The Practice of Diplomacy
  • 1898: The Birth of a Superpower
  • New Policies for Latin America, Asia
  • New Prestige, New Growth
  • A New Professionalism
  • Conclusion
• The Challenge of Global Conflict, 1913-1945
  • The World in 1914
  • America Enters the War; Wilson's Plan for Peace
  • New Challenges for the Department
  • Other Foreign Policy Advisors
  • Modernization of the Department
  • The Rogers Act
  • Incremental Reorganization
  • A Return to Isolationism
  • “Interventionist” Neutrality
  • Wartime Diplomacy
  • Embarrassment Brings Change
  • Conclusion
• Containment and Cold War, 1945-1961
  • The World in 1945
  • George Kennan and Containment
  • The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
  • Containment and Collective Defense
  • A Changing Role for the Secretary
  • A New National Security Structure
  • NSC-68 and the Korean War
  • Foreign Policy under President Eisenhower
  • "Wristonization"
  • New Secretary; New Quarters
  • Conclusion
• Superpowers Collide, 1961-1981
  • The World in 1961
  • Kennedy's Foreign Policy
  • The Cuban Missile Crises
  • Kennedy and the Department of State
  • Traditional Diplomacy Expanded
  • Domestic Upheaval and a New President
  • Johnson's Foreign Policy
  • Management of Foreign Policy
  • The Department addresses Inequality
  • President Nixon and the NSC
  • Nixon’s Foreign Policy
  • Kissinger Becomes Secretary of State
  • Carter's Foreign Policy
  • Jimmy Carter and Cyrus Vance
  • The Iranian Hostage Crisis
  • Landmark Departmental Reform
  • An End to the Hostage Crisis
  • Conclusion
• The End of the Cold War, 1981-1992
  • The World in 1981
  • The President and Secretary Haig
  • Secretary Haig and the Department
  • Reagan’s Foreign Policy
  • Secretary Shultz Takes Charge
  • The United States in Europe
  • Gorbachev and Perestroika
  • Management Fails the Department
  • Department Appointments Politicized
  • More Change for the Foreign Service
  • Embassies Subject to Violence, Spying
  • President Bush and Secretary Baker
  • Bush’s Foreign Policy
  • The Berlin Wall Falls and USSR Dissolves
  • New Global Problems Emerge
  • The First Gulf War
  • Conclusion