Oral history interview with Thomas R. Pickering, 2012
Oral history interview with Thomas R. Pickering, 2012
- Name
- Pickering, Thomas Reeve, 1931- (Interviewee)
- Farber, Myron (Interviewer)
- Title
- Oral history interview with Thomas R. Pickering, 2012
- Abstract
- 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.
- Collection Name
- Carnegie Corporation project. Part 3
- Subjects
- International relations; Ambassadors; Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations--Political activity; Endowments; Gregorian, Vartan; Pickering, Thomas Reeve, 1931-; Carnegie Corporation of New York
- Format
- oral histories
- Genre
- Interviews
- Date
- 2012
- Physical Description
- 117 pages. + index; 1 digital audio file (68 min.); 1 digital audio file (100 min.)
- Note (Biographical)
- U.S. Ambassador, retired ; Vice Chairman, Hills & Company; Trustee, Carnegie Corporation of New York.
- Note
- Interviewed by Myron Farber on July 27, 2012.
- Note (Provenance)
- Gift of Thomas R. Pickering
- Note (Copyright)
- Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, 2013.
- Language
- English
- Library Location
- Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content - Catalog Record
- 10494858
- Also In
- Carnegie Corporation of New York Digital Archive
- Copyright Status
- In Copyright
- Persistent URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-mk2h-4629
- Related URLs
- Transcript
- Available digital content for this interview.