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Oral history interview with Thomas R. Pickering, 2012.

Creator: Pickering, Thomas Reeve, 1931-
Project: Carnegie Corporation project. Pt. 3.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :transcript 117 pages. + index. sound recording 1 digital audio file (68 min.). sound recording 1 digital audio file (100 min.).
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

U.S. Ambassador, retired ; Vice Chairman, Hills & Company; Trustee, Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Scope and Contents

Career in Foreign Service 1959-2000: important contemporary people and documents, personal career path; association with Boeing Company 2001-2006; presidency of the Eurasia Foundation 1996-1997; trustee of Carnegie Corporation of New York beginning in 2003: prior philanthropic experience; interests and activities of trustees on board; leadership of Vartan Gregorian; role of Carnegie Corporation as grantmaking foundation; legacy of Andrew Carnegie: libraries in personal history; relationship between advancing knowledge and influencing public policy; evaluation of success in philanthropy; cooperation between foundations; co-chairmanship of Century Foundation report on Afghanistan: discussions of possibility for political settlement, role of U.S., role of Pakistan, attitude of Taliban; U.S. negotiations with Iran over nuclear weapons: attitude of U.S. and Iranian governments, critique of Kenneth N. Waltz, role of Israel in conflict and negotiations, political obstacles; Carnegie support for nuclear nonproliferation: treaties with Russia, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Track II negotiations: North Korea; Responsibility to Protect initiative; application of initiative in Syria: comparison with other countries, predicted outcome; involvement in Iran-Contra affair; advocacy of qualified veto in UN Security Council; ambassadorship to Russia: impressions of Boris N. Yeltsin; current condition of Russia: reelection of Vladimir V. Putin in 2012, popular movement for political change, role of Carnegie-supported programs; criticisms of Guantanamo Bay and extraordinary rendition; discussion of foreign policy principles and methods; value of Carnegie Corporation board service in personal life.

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, 2013. The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York hold a non-exclusive license to enable library activities.

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