"[I]t is more important than ever for countries such as ours, with our history of friendship and cooperation, our motility of interests, our similarities in heritage, and our common goals, to work together. Our consultations will not always result in similar evaluations. But it is important that each of our [...] governments be fully aware of the other’s outlook on the problems of our times and how to deal with them.”
Our Quote of the Week marks the 57th anniversary of Sargent Shriver’s appointment as US Ambassador to France. His statement highlights his deep belief that to tackle the biggest challenges of our time—war, poverty, and injustice—nations must work together “for the dignity of man.”
On May 8, 1968, Sargent Shriver presented his credentials to French President Charles de Gaulle and gave this statement to those in attendance at the ceremony. That day, he took on the role as the United States’ lead diplomat in France. It was a tumultuous time: protests were occurring at home as well as on the streets of Paris, as people demonstrated against racial and class discrimination and protested the war in Vietnam, which was continuing to escalate. In this context of increasing frustration, rage, and violence, Sargent Shriver arrived in Europe with a simple message: that at a basic level, if leaders work together to preserve dignity for all human beings, they could tackle even the most overwhelming challenges.
These were not just words for Sargent Shriver. As the founding director of the Peace Corps as well as the War on Poverty, he had seen first-hand how protecting human rights and expanding opportunity and safeguarding justice could transform the world, one community at a time.
Shriver served as France’s ambassador for less than two years, from May 1968 to January 1970. During that short time, he was responsible for a significant shift in US/France relations. When he arrived in France, the two countries were not on good terms: France was critical of the US’ actions with the Vietnam War, and the US was unhappy with France’s ties to China. The relationship between the two countries was fragile, but Sargent Shriver strengthened the bonds between them during this challenging time. He established Paris as a center for the Vietnam War peace negotiations, and although the war continued after the end of his tenure, Paris remained the home of the negotiations until the end of the conflict, culminating in the Paris Peace Accords of 1973. Sargent Shriver also laid the groundwork for a meeting between President Nixon and Charles de Gaulle. The meetings between the US and French leaders softened Nixon’s view of China and played play a substantial role in the president’s renewed relationship with the Asian nation—which to this day is considered one of Nixon’s foreign policy accomplishments.
As the United States drifts further and further away from a policy of working together with even its closest allies, we urge our fellow citizens to support leaders who pursue diplomacy, collaboration, and peace.
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