J. Graham Parsons
Encyclopedia
James Graham Parsons was an American
career diplomat
who served as United States Ambassador to Laos
(1956–58), Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
(1959–61), and United States Ambassador to Sweden
(1961–67).
on October 28, 1907. He was educated at Groton School
, graduating in 1925, and Yale University
, receiving his B.A.
in 1929.
Upon graduation, he entered the United States Foreign Service
, and served from 1932 to 1936 as private secretary
to Joseph Grew
, United States Ambassador to Japan
. In 1934, he was on a train in the far north of China
in which he survived a shootout
between guards and bandits. He left Japan in 1936, upon being promoted to vice consul
, holding that position first in Cuba
, then in Manchuria
, then in Canada
.
Parsons spent 1943-47 at the United States Department of State
in Washington, D.C.
as part of the British Commonwealth Affairs Section.
Parsons returned to the field in 1947 as assistant to Myron Charles Taylor
, the Personal Representative of the President of the United States
to the Vatican
, a post he held until 1948. He then spent 1948-50 as Consul
in the American Embassy in New Delhi
and Kathmandu.
Returning to the U.S. in 1950, Parsons was posted at the National War College
, and then in 1951 became Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of European Regional Affairs.
In 1953, he returned to Japan
, serving as Minister and deputy chief of mission in Tokyo
until 1956.
In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
appointed Parsons as United States Ambassador to Laos
, head of the U.S. embassy in Vientiane
, with Parsons presenting his credentials on October 12, 1956. As ambassador to the Kingdom of Laos
in the midst of the Laotian Civil War, Parsons is identified with the Eisenhower administration's support of the Royal Lao Government
against the Pathet Lao
. His mission to Laos ended February 8, 1958. Parsons continued to support the administration's Laotian policy in 1959-61, during which time he served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
. (He assumed office on July 1, 1959, and relinquished office March 30, 1961.) Testifying to the United States Congress
in March 1961, Parsons said "the responsibility of the United States in Laos is indeed a very great one, and I hope there will be no misunderstanding of our firmness and steadiness." In his 1965 book A Thousand Days
, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. was highly critical of Ambassador Parsons' approach to Laos (Schlesinger favored American neutralism between the royalists and the rebels), saying that Parsons "drastically misconceived the situation". Parsons never publicly responded to this or other similar criticisms.
On March 15, 1961, President John F. Kennedy
named Parsons United States Ambassador to Sweden
, heading up the embassy in the Diplomatstaden
, Stockholm
. Closely identified with American policy towards Southeast Asia
, Parsons became the focus of criticism in Sweden as Swedish opposition to the United States' role in the Vietnam War
mounted throughout the 1960s. Parsons left his post as Ambassador to Sweden on April 17, 1967, and less than a year later, his successor, William Womack Heath
, was recalled to protest the participation of Swedish education minister Olof Palme
in an anti-Vietnam War protest. The U.S. would not appoint a new ambassador to Sweden until 1970.
Parsons served as deputy chairman of the U.S. delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
from 1970 until he retired from the Foreign Service in 1972. In his later years, Parsons lived in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
, and he died while visiting friends in Lyme, Connecticut
on October 20, 1991.
Parsons married Margaret Josephine Boulton in 1936. She died in 1987. Together they had two daughters, Margaret and Jane.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
career diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who served as United States Ambassador to Laos
United States Ambassador to Laos
This is a list of United States Ambassadors to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or Laos. The Embassy at Laos was established on August 22, 1950...
(1956–58), Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs within the United States Department of State. The Assistant Secretary guides operation of the U.S...
(1959–61), and United States Ambassador to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
(1961–67).
Biography
J. Graham Parsons was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 28, 1907. He was educated at Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
, graduating in 1925, and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, receiving his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1929.
Upon graduation, he entered the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
, and served from 1932 to 1936 as private secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to Joseph Grew
Joseph Grew
Joseph Clark Grew was a United States diplomat and career foreign service officer. He was the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Vienna when Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the United States on April 9, 1917. Later he was the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark 1920–1921 and U.S....
, United States Ambassador to Japan
United States Ambassador to Japan
The United States Ambassador to Japan is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States to Japan. Since the opening of Japan by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, in 1854, the U.S. maintained diplomatic relations with Japan, except for the ten-year period following the attack on...
. In 1934, he was on a train in the far north of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in which he survived a shootout
Shootout
A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups. A shootout often, but not necessarily, pits law enforcement against criminal elements; it could also involve two groups outside of law enforcement, such as rival gangs. A shootout in a military context A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups....
between guards and bandits. He left Japan in 1936, upon being promoted to vice consul
Vice Consul
A vice consul is a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consulate....
, holding that position first in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, then in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
, then in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Parsons spent 1943-47 at the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as part of the British Commonwealth Affairs Section.
Parsons returned to the field in 1947 as assistant to Myron Charles Taylor
Myron Charles Taylor
Myron Charles Taylor was one of the major figures in American life during the first half of the twentieth century...
, the Personal Representative of the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, a post he held until 1948. He then spent 1948-50 as Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
in the American Embassy in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and Kathmandu.
Returning to the U.S. in 1950, Parsons was posted at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
, and then in 1951 became Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of European Regional Affairs.
In 1953, he returned to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, serving as Minister and deputy chief of mission in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
until 1956.
In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
appointed Parsons as United States Ambassador to Laos
United States Ambassador to Laos
This is a list of United States Ambassadors to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or Laos. The Embassy at Laos was established on August 22, 1950...
, head of the U.S. embassy in Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
, with Parsons presenting his credentials on October 12, 1956. As ambassador to the Kingdom of Laos
Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was a sovereign state from 1953 until December 1975, when Pathet Lao overthrew the government and created the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Given self-rule in 1949 as part of a federation with the rest of French Indochina, the 1953 Franco-Lao Treaty finally established a...
in the midst of the Laotian Civil War, Parsons is identified with the Eisenhower administration's support of the Royal Lao Government
Royal Lao Government
The Royal Lao Government was the ruling authority in the Kingdom of Laos from 1947 until the communist seizure of power in December 1975 and the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic...
against the Pathet Lao
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group was ultimately successful in assuming political power after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists...
. His mission to Laos ended February 8, 1958. Parsons continued to support the administration's Laotian policy in 1959-61, during which time he served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs within the United States Department of State. The Assistant Secretary guides operation of the U.S...
. (He assumed office on July 1, 1959, and relinquished office March 30, 1961.) Testifying to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in March 1961, Parsons said "the responsibility of the United States in Laos is indeed a very great one, and I hope there will be no misunderstanding of our firmness and steadiness." In his 1965 book A Thousand Days
A Thousand Days (book)
A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House is a 1965 book written by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. about the politics and personalities in the cabinet of President John F. Kennedy. In 1966 it won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography and the National Book Award for History and...
, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. was highly critical of Ambassador Parsons' approach to Laos (Schlesinger favored American neutralism between the royalists and the rebels), saying that Parsons "drastically misconceived the situation". Parsons never publicly responded to this or other similar criticisms.
On March 15, 1961, President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
named Parsons United States Ambassador to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
, heading up the embassy in the Diplomatstaden
Diplomatstaden
Diplomatstaden is a neighbourhood in the Östermalm district in central Stockholm, Sweden.Diplomatstaden encompasses the area facing the Djurgårdsbrunnsviken bay which is located south of the eastern-most part of Strandvägen...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. Closely identified with American policy towards Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, Parsons became the focus of criticism in Sweden as Swedish opposition to the United States' role in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
mounted throughout the 1960s. Parsons left his post as Ambassador to Sweden on April 17, 1967, and less than a year later, his successor, William Womack Heath
William Womack Heath
William Womack Heath, , was an American lawyer, educator, and diplomat.-Background:William W. Heath was born in Normangee, Texas, to John Al and Runie Heath.-Career:...
, was recalled to protest the participation of Swedish education minister Olof Palme
Olof Palme
Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician. A long-time protegé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander, Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 to his assassination, and was a two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet...
in an anti-Vietnam War protest. The U.S. would not appoint a new ambassador to Sweden until 1970.
Parsons served as deputy chairman of the U.S. delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty refers to two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union—the Cold War superpowers—on the issue of armament control. There were two rounds of talks and agreements: SALT I and SALT...
from 1970 until he retired from the Foreign Service in 1972. In his later years, Parsons lived in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,947 at the 2010 census...
, and he died while visiting friends in Lyme, Connecticut
Lyme, Connecticut
Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,016 at the 2000 census. Lyme and its neighboring town Old Lyme are the namesake for Lyme disease.-Geography:...
on October 20, 1991.
Parsons married Margaret Josephine Boulton in 1936. She died in 1987. Together they had two daughters, Margaret and Jane.