Anna Chennault: Informal Diplomacy and Asian RelationsShe held few government posts, yet she was a strong influence on the course of U.S.-Asian relations in the last half of the twentieth century. She earned the respect of and held the ear of presidents and cabinet members in a time before women were generally accepted in such circles. The Chinese-born wife of General Claire Chennault of World War II Flying Tigers fame, Anna Chennault was a leader in America's informal relations with East Asia from 1950 to 1990. Informal diplomacy-exchanges between citizens of different nations outside of official institutional apparatus that seek to influence events or governmental attitudes-is an increasingly important avenue of international relations in the modern age. Professor Catherine Forslund's new book, Anna Chennault: Informal Diplomacy and Asian Relations examines Chennault's unique, multifaceted career as an exemplar of American informal diplomacy during the post-World War II era. Chennault carved a name for herself in her own right in this arena, establishing herself in Republican party politics, the international aviation industry, and in Washington and Asian social circles following her husband's 1958 death. She used her contacts on both sides of the Pacific to achieve informal diplomatic goals that coincided with American national policy: protecting "free" Asian nations from communism and expanding American influence in Asia. Later, Chennault directed her energies toward building ties between Taiwan, China, and the United States. The book presents a new analysis of Anna Chennault's role in the "October Surprise" of the 1968 presidential election. In addition, Forslund demonstrates how Chennault used gender as an advantage in the male-dominated worlds of foreign relations, politics, and business. A fascinating look at a woman before her time, this new book is an informative and engaging account of the complex nature of U.S.-Asian relations, diplomatic processes, and the role of women in foreign affairs. |
Contents
The Importance of Character | 1 |
A Model of Influence | 19 |
Young Republican | 39 |
October Surprise The Rise of an Informal Diplomat | 51 |
Mastering the Milieu Socializing and Politics in Foreign Relations | 83 |
The Business of Influence Aviation Connections to Asia | 101 |
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Common terms and phrases
administration Ambassador Ameri Anna Chen Anna Chennault Anna's anti-Communist Asia Asian aviation Beijing bombing halt campaign Chen's Chennault Papers Chennault's career Chiang Kai-shek China Lobby Chinese Americans Claire Chennault Claire Lee Chennault Communist congressional connections contacts diplomacy Education of Anna efforts election embassy ethnic Flying Tiger Lines Ford Fourteenth Air Force friends FTL's gender General's Hong Kong Ibid included influence informal diplomatic interview by author Japanese Johnson July Kissinger Korea LBJ Library leaders Liao mainland meeting military National Security negotiations NRHGC October surprise officials operations peace talks political position President presidential Reagan refugee reported Republican National Richard Nixon role Rostow Saigon Senator Sino-American relations social South Vietnam South Vietnamese Taipei Taiwan Thieu Thomas Corcoran tion trip U.S. foreign United Vietnam Washington Post White House woman women York
References to this book
Turf War: The Clinton Administration and Northern Ireland Timothy J. Lynch No preview available - 2004 |