Llewellyn Thompson 1904–1972

Name ______Class ______Date ______The New Frontier and the Great Society Biography Llewellyn Thompson 1904–1972

WHY HE MADE HISTORY Llewellyn Thompson was one of the most respected diplomats during the Cold War. He kept the lines of communication open between the United States and the Soviet Union and helped prevent nuclear war.

As you read the biography below, think about the role that Llewellyn Thompson played

during the Cuban missile crisis. Did he save Time Life Pictures/Getty Images the United States from going to war?

In 1962 the United States and the Soviet Union nearly went to war. The United States learned that the Soviets had secretly supplied Cuba with nuclear weapons capable of hitting U.S. targets. A dangerous standoff between the countries began. Llewellyn Thompson helped keep the peace. Thompson decided to be a diplomat while growing up in Washington, D.C., in the early 1900s. After graduating from the University of Colorado in 1928, he attended the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. In 1929 Thompson received his first foreign service post in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. His next assignment was in Geneva, Switzerland. From 1944 to 1956, he worked for the state department in Europe and in Washington, D.C. President Harry S Truman sent Thompson to Vienna, Austria, in 1950. Austria and Italy both claimed control of the Adriatic port of Trieste. Thompson helped the nations reach an agreement returning control to Austria. For his work, Thompson earned the Distinguished Service Award. He also earned a reputation as a quiet diplomat. Thompson worked to get the job done without drawing much publicity. President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Thompson to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Soviet Union, in 1957. He helped arrange a summit between Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev and President John F. Kennedy. He earned the respect of his Soviet counterparts and was often complimented for his professionalism. During the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, Thompson was one of President Kennedy’s key advisers. The Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles on the island of Cuba, aimed at the United States. Thompson believed the Soviets wanted to bargain with the United States about other

Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. 4 The New Frontier and the Great Society Name ______Class ______Date ______The New Frontier and the Great Society Biography issues more than they wanted to threaten the country. As other presidential advisers pushed for air strikes and possibly an invasion of Cuba, Thompson was one of the advisers urging Kennedy to blockade the island instead. Believing that the Soviets were cautious, he advised Kennedy to respond the same way. In the end Kennedy agreed to the blockade and war between the superpowers was prevented. Thompson worked in Moscow during much of the Cold War and was U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1967 to 1969. After more than three decades in foreign affairs, Thompson retired in 1969. Just a few months later, President Richard Nixon asked Thompson to be a delegate to the strategic arms limitations talks. Thompson retired a second time in 1971.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN? 1. Summarize What role did Thompson play in U.S. relations with the Soviets?

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______2. Draw Conclusions How did Thompson’s cautious approach to working with foreign leaders help shape the Cold War?

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ACTIVITY The relationship between the United States and Cuba has been strained for more than 40 years. These tensions led to a U.S. embargo making it illegal for U.S. companies to do business with Cuba and for U.S. citizens to travel to that country. Conduct research into the history of the conflict between the United States and Cuba. Then write a short essay taking a position on the embargo. Should the embargo still be in place? Why or why not?