February 22, 1946#OTD February 22, 1946 | The Long Telegram 76 years ago, George Kennan, an American diplomat living in Moscow, sent an 8,000-word telegram to President Truman’s State Department.
Why did George Kennan write the Long Telegram?
George Kennan, the American charge d’affaires in Moscow, sends an 8,000-word telegram to the Department of State detailing his views on the Soviet Union, and U.S. policy toward the communist state. Kennan’s analysis provided one of the most influential underpinnings for America’s Cold War policy of containment.
When was George Kennan’s Long Telegram?
Kennan responded on February 22, 1946, by sending a lengthy 5,363-word telegram (sometimes cited as being more than 8,000 words), commonly called “The Long Telegram”, from Moscow to Secretary of State James Byrnes outlining a new strategy for diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.
Where did Kennan write the Long Telegram?
Moscow
The famous “Long Telegram” was a message sent by George F. Kennan, a high-ranking diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, that provided an assessment of the Soviet Union at the beginning of the Cold War.
What is the Long Telegram and why is it important?
Kennan’s Long Telegram spurred intellectual policy debate that formed the basis of American policy towards the Soviet Union for the next 25 years, including the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Kennan’s original February 22, 1946 telegram is part of the historic holdings at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.
What were the main points of Long Telegram?
Key Points
In the “Long Telegram,” Kennan emphasized that the Soviet Union did not see the possibility for long-term peaceful coexistence with the capitalist world and that the best strategy was to “contain” communist expansion around the globe.
Who was the person who sent the Long Telegram from Moscow in 1946?
George F. Kennan
One man who had first hand knowledge was a Foreign Service officer, George F. Kennan. In 1946, while he was Chargé d’Affaires in Moscow, Kennan sent an 8,000-word telegram to the Department—the now-famous “long telegram”—on the aggressive nature of Stalin’s foreign policy.
What was the Long Telegram and NSC 68?
The “Long Telegram” by George Kennan, charge d’affaires in Moscow and sent on Feb 22, 1946, attempted to reconcile intervention outside US borders with an isolationist tradition. National Security Council Memorandum No. 68, distributed Apr 14, 1950, proposed the US act as a dominant global power.
What was the purpose of George Kennan’s Long Telegram quizlet?
George Kennan’s telegram laid the foundation for what became known as the policy of “containment,” accroding to which the United States commited itself to preventing any further expansion of Soviet power.
Was the Long Telegram leaked?
Though the long telegram was a classified document, it circulated widely enough that a copy leaked out to Soviet intelligence. Stalin was among its readers and called on his American ambassador, Nikolai Novikov, to send a similar telegram from Washington to Moscow.
What was the Kennan plan?
Kennan, a career Foreign Service Officer, formulated the policy of “containment,” the basic United States strategy for fighting the cold war (1947–1989) with the Soviet Union.
What did Kennan suggest?
Kennan authored the concept of containment, according to which the United States should “contain” Soviet expansionism but should not use, or threaten to use, force to remove the communist regime. Kennan first raised the idea in what became known as “The Long Telegram,” sent on February 22, 1946.
What was the purpose of George Kennan’s Long Telegram quizlet?
George Kennan’s telegram laid the foundation for what became known as the policy of “containment,” accroding to which the United States commited itself to preventing any further expansion of Soviet power.
What did George Kennan argue in his Long Telegram from Moscow?
In 1946, as acting ambassador (charge d’affaires), Kennan drafted his now famous “long telegram” to Washington. He argued that the insecure Soviet leaders would relentlessly pursue expansionist policies to retain power and fulfil their communist dogma.
What did Kennan suggest?
Kennan authored the concept of containment, according to which the United States should “contain” Soviet expansionism but should not use, or threaten to use, force to remove the communist regime. Kennan first raised the idea in what became known as “The Long Telegram,” sent on February 22, 1946.
What was the significance of the Long Telegram quizlet?
The Long Telegram circulated widely in Truman’s administration. It gave rise to the policy of containment—keeping communism within its present territory through the use of diplomatic, economic, and military actions.
What best describes George Kennan’s Long Telegram in 1949?
The Long Telegram was George Kennan’s recommendation that the United States pursue a new foreign policy dubbed “containment,” which would allow the Soviet Union to maintain its sphere of influence but would not allow further expansion.
How did the Long Telegram shape American policy?
How did the Long Telegram shape American policy in dealing with the Soviets? It set the basis for the containment policy to keep Soviets and their communism contained so that it could eventually collapse.