George F. Kennan

Date of Birth: February 16, 1904

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: March 17, 2005

Biography

George F. Kennan was an American diplomat and historian, best known for his influential role in the development of the U.S. policy of containment during the early stages of the Cold War. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kennan graduated from Princeton University in 1925 and entered the Foreign Service. Throughout his career, he held various diplomatic positions, including serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Kennan is perhaps most famous for his “Long Telegram” and the subsequent “X Article,” which laid out the framework for containing Soviet expansion. Beyond his diplomatic career, Kennan was a prolific author and historian, winning two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards for his works. He was also a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.

5 Interesting Facts about George F. Kennan

1. George F. Kennan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.

2. He wrote the “Long Telegram” in 1946, which became the foundation for the U.S. policy of containment against the Soviet Union.

3. Kennan was a key figure in the establishment of the Marshall Plan, which provided economic aid to Western Europe after World War II.

4. He was fluent in several languages, including Russian and German.

5. Kennan was a strong advocate for understanding Russian culture and history to better inform U.S. foreign policy.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George F. Kennan

1. “The greatest danger to our nation lies in the way we handle our relations with the rest of the world.”

2. “You have no idea how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”

3. “We must be gardeners and not mechanics in our approach to world affairs.”

4. “The best lesson we can learn from history is to be aware of the limits of our power.”

5. “A grave danger exists that our present political and economic system will lead us to disaster.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

George F. Kennan’s highest net worth is not publicly documented and is presumed to be modest, given his career in public service and academia rather than in business.