Diplomacy and Design

Washington International Center

At the end of World War II, the United States was truly a global power and found itself in a position to help facilitate international understanding and peace. Responding to this impulse, the U.S. Department of State greatly expanded its international exchange programming, with a focus on inviting citizens from Germany and Japan to visit the U.S. and learn about American culture and democracy. As the number of international visitors to the country grew, the American Council on Education—a nonprofit higher education association behind the creation of such initiatives as the Fulbright scholarship program and UNESCO—recommended in 1949 that these visitors should receive a brief cultural orientation to American customs and institutions at the beginning of their travels in the country. They argued that “a foreign visitor’s understanding of the setting to which he comes is powerfully aided if a guided and welcoming hand is extended to him on his arrival.” 1 The State Department accepted this proposal, and thus the Washington International Center was born.

From the beginning, the Washington International Center’s core function was educational. Believing that understanding other cultures and adjusting to new environments are educational processes, 2 the Center developed privately administered orientation programs and similar services for international visitors invited by the U.S. government. Most were grantees under the International Cooperation Administration’s Technical Cooperation program and selected visitors under the International Educational Exchange Service program. All participants were adults, as no youth programs had been designed yet. They pursued short-term, focused programs of study, training and observation that would grow their professional skillsets in order to contribute to their country’s development. At the beginning of these programs, the Washington International Center, then based at 1720 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest, would extend a warm welcome to the visitors with a series of educational and cultural opportunities that allowed them to engage directly with American life and society.

The Center’s early services to visitors included regular weekly programming, such as an overview called “Introduction to the United States,” a five-day program of high-level lectures, discussions, films and tours that covered topics such as government and politics, the economy, health and welfare issues and civil liberties and race relations. Experts from the government, universities and the private sector led the discussions, and to complement these informative seminars, the Center maintained a library collection of notable books and articles on the American cultural and political landscape. 3 In addition to these formal programs, the Washington International Center also became known for its citizen-to-citizen approach to cross-cultural learning. Every Tuesday featured an “Open House” program, Preceding spread welcome to washington Meridian President and CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday gives remarks at the September 2017 Welcome to Washington reception, a Meridian event that occurs two to three times a year to honor newly appointed ambassadors to the United States. Photo by Stephen Bobb. Facing introduction to the united states A group of African visitors mingle with American tourists on the steps of the National Archives building. These visitors were enrolled at Washington International Center for an orientation course as preparation for attending colleges and universities in various parts of the United States.

“Those who participate in ‘citizen diplomacy’ will gain the real satisfaction of helping to mold a little of the cement which may eventually make the foundations of the world order firm and enduring.”

—Robert B. Knapp, Assistant Director for Educational Programs, Washington International Center

fireside chats, then and now Left Ambassador Joseph John Jova (right), who served as president of Meridian International Center during the 1980s, speaks with guest Mr. Willy Desaeyere, a member of the Belgian Parliament, in the Meridian House library. Right The Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez (left), former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Chairman of the Meridian Board of Trustees, speaks with current U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross at a Meridian event in February 2018 that briefed more than 75 ambassadors and senior members of the diplomatic community on recent tariffs that had been imposed on China. Photo by Stephen Bobb.

“Meridian is the last ball of its kind. It is a survivor of a bygone era, a vision of Washington less as it is today and more as it would like to imagine itself: elegant, serious, sophisticated and united for important issues and causes.”

—Roxanne Roberts, The Washington Post

meridian ball, 1969 Scenes from the first annual Meridian Ball, which featured dancing in the Meridian House gallery and a belly dance performance at one of the pre-Ball dinners. The first Ball was chaired by Jane Sloat Ritchie, who later chaired the 50th Meridian Ball in 2018, demonstrating the event’s emphasis on tradition. Following spreads meridian ball today Guests mingle and dance on the White-Meyer terrace and linden courtyard during the 2017 and 2019 Meridian Balls, respectively. Photos by Stephen Bobb.