American Diplomatic History: From George Washington to Barack Obama

Prof. Michael Rockland’s first career was in diplomacy, serving with American embassies in Argentina and in Spain as a cultural attaché. Now Chair of the Dept. of American Studies at Rutgers University, he has long taught the course, “The United States as Seen From Abroad.” In this lecture at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:00 pm, he will trace the evolution of the United States from a nation dedicated to George Washington’s argument in favor of “no entangling alliances” to a nation that has, in some instances, gone in the other direction. He will also touch on the issue of “American Exceptionalism” as part of the foreign policy.

Diplomacy has been both Prof. Rockland's vocation and his avocation for many years. Since leaving the diplomatic service, he has lectured abroad in 26 countries. He is also the author of a memoir, "An American Diplomat in Franco Spain," and there will be a short book signing after his talk. The book includes the day he spent alone with Martin Luther King in Madrid, another chapter on the day he spent with Teddy Kennedy, and a chapter on the disastrous situation when four U.S. hydrogen bombs fell on Spain (fortunately unarmed) and his involvement in that incredible world-shaking, Cold War story that dominated world headlines for three months.

This program is funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.