Kennan was in charge of long-range planning for the State Department following World War II. He developed the concept of “containment” as a strategy to keep Soviet influence from expanding, believing that the Soviet Union would eventually have to relinquish its grip on Eastern Europe and own its citizenry, and would change its foreign policies if the West would maintain a firm and consistent posture of opposition. Kennan also played a leading role in the development of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan.
This is his first diplomatic appointment, made as he entered the U.S. Foreign Service just after graduating from Princeton.
Document Signed, large folio, Washington, December 17, 1926, naming “George F. Kennan of Wisconsin a Vice Consul of career.” His initial overseas assignments were in Geneva and Hamburg. He was then selected for special training in Russian affairs in 1928 and served in Estonia and Latvia. In 1933, he traveled to the newly recognized Soviet Union with Ambassador William Bullitt, remaining there for about four years. By 1946, he was advising Truman and setting policy.