What is public diplomacy?
It’s an effort to promote and communicate America’s ideals and principles. Some will call that propaganda. How do you rebut them? Let me offer an example. Leonard Marks, LBJ’s public diplomacy chief, told me about the president meeting with young Egyptians who had traveled here. One said he had been scared to come and anti-American, but he realized that was the propaganda he had heard. When I return to Egypt, he said, I plan to tell people this is a freedom-loving nation. Mr. Marks replied, Mr. Sadat, I am so honored you came. That was Anwar Sadat’s first trip here. He saw everyday Americans, so when he had to choose later between the U.S. and the Soviets, he chose us. That’s one tool of public diplomacy. You can’t bring everyone here. So, we’re sending delegations abroad. .
