Oral history interview with Antony "Tony" Blinken, 2020
Abstract
Antony Blinken discusses his contribution to the national security and foreign policy of the Obama administration, in which he served as national security advisor to the vice president from 2009 to 2013, deputy national security advisor from 2013 to 2015, and deputy secretary of state from 2015 to 2017. Blinken describes the internal debates and deliberations surrounding notable events with which h e was closely involved, including the strategy reviews for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the reset of the relationship with Russia, the administration's Asia rebalance, military intervention in Libya and Syria during the Arab Spring protests, and the raid on the Osama bin Laden compound. Blinken provides details about the structure and design of the administration's national security apparatus, and explains the importance of incorporating the vice president's advisory staff seamlessly into the National Security Council system. Also discussed are Obama's trip to the Middle East during the summer of 2008, Blinken's development of a "counterterrorism-plus" strategy with General James Cartwright during the Afghanistan review process, Biden's role as a devil's advocate during national security meetings, and the political aftermath of the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya
Presidents--United States; National security--United States; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Afghan War, 2001-2021; Arab Spring, 2010-; Benghazi Consulate Attack, Banghāzī, Libya, 2012; Syria--History--Civil War, 2011-; United States Foreign relations Russia; United States Foreign relations Asia; Libya History Civil War, 2011-; Blinken, Antony J; Bin Laden, Osama, 1957-2011 Targeted killing; Obama, Barack; National Security Council (U.S.); United States. Department of State
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
78 pages
Note (Biographical)
Antony Blinken is a government official and diplomat. Blinken served in various positions during the Obama administration, culminating in his appointment as deputy secretary of state from 2015 to 2017. He was the principal deputy national security adv isor from 2013 to 2015, and from 2009 to 2013 he served as national security advisor to the vice president and deputy assistant to President Obama. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Blinken was a staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During the Clinton administration, Blinken held the positions of special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs on the National Security Council, senior director for speech writing, and special assistant to the assistant secretary of state for European and Canadian affairs. At the time of the interview, Blinken is serving as secretary of state in the Biden administration
Note
Interviewed by Evan D. McCormick on April 22 and June 18, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Antony "Tony" Blinken, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023