Historical Dictionary of United States Intelligence

– K –

KENNAN, GEORGE F. (1904– ).Renowned American diplomat and

historian, George F. Kennan was the architect of the containment

policy, first enunciated during the administration of Harry S. Tru-

man. Specifically, Kennan advocated a strategy of patient, long-term

“containment” of the Soviet Unionand a simultaneous all-out effort

to establish a stable balance of power by rebuilding Western Europe

and Japan. While in Moscow, he set down his views in a diplomatic

cable to Washington, which Foreign Affairspublished under the pseu-

donym “X.” In accordance with his philosophy, Kennan played a ma-

jor role in both the Marshall Plan and the rebuilding of Japan as well

as overall U.S. strategy toward the Soviet Union. He also espoused

giving the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) a covert actioncapa-

bility, something he later came to regret.

Over time, Kennan became increasingly skeptical about the direc-

tion of U.S. foreign policy. In his view, U.S. foreign policy suffered

from confusion, ignorance, narcissism, escapism, and irresponsibil-

ity. His disillusionment compelled him to leave the Department of

Statein the early 1950s to join Princeton University’s Institute for

Advanced Study and write and speak about American foreign policy

and the deleterious effects of the arms race. With the end of the Cold

War, Kennan argued that the United States should limit its foreign

policy to maintaining its alliances with Western Europe and Japan

and to addressing domestic problems.

KENNEDY, JOHN F. (1917–1963).The 35th president of the United

States between 1961 and 1963. John F. Kennedy, the scion of a politi-

cally connected New England family, entered politics after World War

IIas senator and served in that capacity until becoming Democratic

Party candidate for president in 1960. Voters in the 1960 presidential

election chose Kennedy, a relatively unknown politician with impec-

cable connections, over Republican challenger Richard M. Nixonbe-

cause they distrusted Nixon, not because they endorsed Kennedy.

President Kennedy brought in young political entrepreneurs with

new ideas to run his administration, and they infused a sense of energy,

renewal, and dynamism into American politics. The Kennedy adminis-

tration championed civil rights, space exploration, and economic

progress for everyone. President Kennedy’s foreign policy initiatives,

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