ANNA CHENNAULT Informal Diplomacy and Asian Relations By Catherine Forslund, Rockford College Available Now • 180 pages with photos, bibliographical essay, and index Paper ISBN 0-8420-2833-1 $19.95 • Cloth ISBN 0-8420-2832-3 $60.00 #8 in the Biographies in American Foreign Policy series an imprint of Scholarly Resources SR BOOKS NEW! She held few government posts, yet she was a strong influence on the course of U.S.-Asian relations in the last half of the twentieth century. She earned the respect of and held the ear of presidents and cabinet members in a time before women were generally accepted in such circles. The Chinese-born wife of General Claire Chennault of World War II Flying Tigers fame, Anna Chennault was a leader in America’s informal relations with East Asia from 1950 to 1990. Informal diplomacy—exchanges between citizens of different nations outside of official institutional apparatus that seek to influence events or governmental attitudes—is an increasingly important avenue of international relations in the modern age. Professor Catherine Forslund’s new book, Anna Chennault: Informal Diplomacy and Asian Relations examines Chennault’s unique, multifaceted career as an exemplar of American informal diplomacy during the post-World War II era. Chennault carved a name for herself in her own right in this arena, establishing herself in Republican party politics, the international aviation industry, and in Washington and Asian social circles following her husband’s 1958 death. She used her contacts on both sides of the Pacific to achieve informal diplomatic goals that coin- cided with American national policy: protecting “free” Asian nations from communism and expanding American influence in Asia. Later, Chennault directed her energies toward building ties between Tai- wan, China, and the United States. The book presents a new analysis of Anna Chennault’s role in the “October Surprise” of the 1968 presidential election. In addition, Forslund demonstrates how Chennault used gender as an advantage in the male-dominated worlds of foreign relations, politics, and business. A fascinating look at a woman before her time, this new book is an informative and engaging account of the complex nature of U.S.-Asian relations, diplomatic processes, and the role of women in foreign affairs. Call 800-772-8937 for more information about this new book! SR BOOKS • 104 Greenhill Avenue • Wilmington, DE 19805-1897 • 800-772-8937 FAX 302-654-3871 • Outside the U.S., call 302-654-7713 • e-mail [email protected] • www.scholarly.com Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chronology Abbreviations 1. The Importance of Character 2. A Model of Influence 3. Young Republican 4. “October Surprise”: The Rise of an Informal Diplomat 5. Mastering the Milieu: Socializing and Politics in Foreign Relations 6. The Business of Influence: Aviation Connections to Asia 7. A Personal Rapprochement: Working Both Sides of the Taiwan Straits Conclusion Bibliographical Essay Index

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ANNA CHENNAULTInformal Diplomacy and Asian Relations

By Catherine Forslund, Rockford College

Available Now • 180 pages with photos, bibliographical essay, and indexPaper ISBN 0-8420-2833-1 $19.95 • Cloth ISBN 0-8420-2832-3 $60.00

#8 in the Biographies in American Foreign Policy series

an imprint ofScholarly Resources

SRBOOKS

NEW!

She held few government posts, yet she was a strong influence on the course ofU.S.-Asian relations in the last half of the twentieth century. She earned the respect ofand held the ear of presidents and cabinet members in a time before women weregenerally accepted in such circles.

The Chinese-born wife of General Claire Chennault of World War II FlyingTigers fame, Anna Chennault was a leader in America’s informal relations withEast Asia from 1950 to 1990. Informal diplomacy—exchanges between citizens ofdifferent nations outside of official institutional apparatus that seek to influence eventsor governmental attitudes—is an increasingly important avenue of international rela-tions in the modern age. Professor Catherine Forslund’s new book, Anna Chennault:Informal Diplomacy and Asian Relations examines Chennault’s unique, multifacetedcareer as an exemplar of Americaninformal diplomacy during thepost-World War II era.

Chennault carved a namefor herself in her own right in this

arena, establishing herself in Republican party politics, the interna-tional aviation industry, and in Washington and Asian social circlesfollowing her husband’s 1958 death. She used her contacts on bothsides of the Pacific to achieve informal diplomatic goals that coin-cided with American national policy: protecting “free” Asian nationsfrom communism and expanding American influence in Asia. Later,Chennault directed her energies toward building ties between Tai-wan, China, and the United States.

The book presents a new analysis of Anna Chennault’s role inthe “October Surprise” of the 1968 presidential election. In addition,Forslund demonstrates how Chennault used gender as an advantagein the male-dominated worlds of foreign relations, politics,and business.

A fascinating look at a woman before her time, this new book isan informative and engaging account of the complex nature ofU.S.-Asian relations, diplomatic processes, and the role of womenin foreign affairs.

Call 800-772-8937 for more information about this new book!

SR BOOKS • 104 Greenhill Avenue • Wilmington, DE 19805-1897 • 800-772-8937FAX 302-654-3871 • Outside the U.S., call 302-654-7713 • e-mail [email protected] • www.scholarly.com

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chronology

Abbreviations

1. The Importance of Character

2. A Model of Influence

3. Young Republican

4. “October Surprise”:The Rise of an Informal Diplomat

5. Mastering the Milieu: Socializing andPolitics in Foreign Relations

6. The Business of Influence:Aviation Connections to Asia

7. A Personal Rapprochement:Working Both Sides of the Taiwan Straits