Abstract
George F. Kennan was a prominent Cold War diplomat who is best known for his Long Telegram and X-Article, written in 1946 and 1947 respectively, that created and spread the containment policy that became the United States' primary strategy during the Cold War. As one of the few experts on Russian affairs and with decades of experience as a diplomat in Europe after World War I, Kennan was one of the most qualified to create the United States’ policy towards the USSR.[1] Kennan was serving in Moscow at the US embassy starting in 1944 and it was from this position where his reports to the United States shaped the relationship between the two states from one of allies to one of rivals.[2] This thought was already beginning to circulate within the government, but Kennan confirmed it and shared the sentiment with the public through his X-Article. While this article is the basis for the containment policy implemented throughout the Cold War, it was so misinterpreted by the public and the government that Kennan did not want to claim its creation.[3] Despite his own reservations, many heralded his policy, especially because of the eventual success of the United States against the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
About the Author:
This site was created by Ainsley McCaa for INST/HIST 282 - "Diplomatic History of the United States" taught by Professor Matthew Pinsker. Ainsley is an International Studies major in the Dickinson College class of 2025.