|
  |
 |
 From the earliest days of the republic, Virginians have played important roles representing America's interests abroad or supervising its foreign policy. One of the first was Thomas Jefferson who, under the Articles of Confederation, was the minister to the court of Louis XVI at Versailles. Following the ratification of the U.S. constitution, a Department of State was created in 1789 to deal with foreign powers. During George Washington's presidency Thomas Jefferson was the first secretary of state. The office proved a stepping-stone to the presidency for Jefferson and his fellow Virginians James Madison and James Monroe. Diplomats represented the nation's political interests and reported on events in foreign capitals. Consular officials served American citizens living or working abroad who were in need of assistance. There were also sound commercial reasons to have competent consuls at major ports and industrial centers abroad. In 1924 the consular and diplomatic services were combined into the U.S. Foreign Service. The rationale for creating a professional Foreign Service was to separate the administration of American interests from partisan politics. However, diplomats and consular officers long were expected to have private wealth to support their status, and although the majority of ambassadors since World War II have been career Foreign Service officers, many top ambassadorial appointments still go to wealthy campaign supporters of successful presidential candidates. Although instantaneous communications—from the telegraph to the Internet—increasingly allow the White House to bypass diplomats and negotiate directly with foreign powers, consular officers are more and more needed to serve the interests of the number of Americans who travel and work abroad because of economic globalization and the mass tourism made possible first by steamships and now by air travel. The role of America's diplomats and consular officers continues to evolve, and Virginians continue to occupy a disproportionate number of important posts. 
|
