George F. Kennan

Date of Birth: February 16, 1904

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: March 17, 2005

Biography

George Frost Kennan was an American diplomat and historian, widely known for his influential role in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy during the early stages of the Cold War. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kennan joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1926 and became an expert on the Soviet Union. He is best known for his “Long Telegram” and the subsequent “X Article,” which laid the foundation for the U.S. policy of containment against Soviet expansion. Kennan’s career spanned several decades, during which he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. He also held various academic positions, including a long tenure at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Kennan’s extensive writings and analyses on international relations and Soviet affairs have made him one of the most respected figures in 20th-century American foreign policy.

5 Interesting Facts about George F. Kennan

1. George F. Kennan was a key architect of the Marshall Plan, which aimed to rebuild Western Europe after World War II.

2. He won two Pulitzer Prizes: one for History in 1957 for “Russia Leaves the War” and another for Biography in 1968 for “Memoirs: 1925–1950.”

3. Kennan was a vocal critic of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, believing it was a misapplication of the containment policy he helped to create.

4. He spoke fluent Russian, German, French, Polish, Czech, and Portuguese.

5. Kennan lived to be 101 years old, witnessing and analyzing nearly the entire span of the 20th century.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George F. Kennan

1. “We must be prepared to face the fact that our federal government is the greatest single obstacle to the advancement of the American Negro.”

2. “The greatest danger that can befall us in coping with the problem of Soviet communism is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping.”

3. “A democracy is more than a form of government; it is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience.”

4. “The readiness to admit mistakes, to confess ignorance, to try to profit by our errors is a token of strength and not of weakness.”

5. “The world has recovered from the great wars of the 20th century, but the shadow of those wars, particularly the cold war, still hangs over us.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

George F. Kennan’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as he was primarily a public servant and academic. His wealth was more intellectual and cultural than financial.

Children

George F. Kennan and his wife Annelise Sorensen had four children: Grace Kennan Warnecke, Joan Kennan, Wendy Kennan, and Christopher Kennan. Grace followed in her father’s footsteps to some extent, engaging in international work and writing.