George F. Kennan

About

He was the architect of America's Cold War 'containment policy' which sent the U.S. into third-world countries to oppose communism. He served as the US Ambassador to both Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.

Before Fame

The origin of his policy towards the Soviet Union came from an 8,000-word response by the Russians about their obstructionism at a meeting of the World Bank.

Trivia

He compared the Russian spreading of communism to a stream that fills up every crack, but which accepts barriers; the goal of his policy, he said, was to provide such barriers.

Family Life

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Kossuth Kent Kennan, a descendant of 18th-century Scotch-Irish settlers.

Associated With

He was appointed by President Harry Truman in 1951 to lead the negotiations with Russia over the policy in Korea.