The Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives were created by the Georgetown University Library in collaboration with Dr. Peter Krogh, Dean and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. The site includes more than two hundred episodes from three television series moderated by Dean Krogh between 1981 and 2005: American Interests, World Beat, and Great Decisions (the latter in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Association). By offering this collection to a worldwide audience, our goal is to illuminate — for teachers, students, and the general public — foreign policy issues that figured prominently toward the end of the 20th Century and to preserve the content for future generations. The programs, some of which feature leading foreign policy figures (e.g., King Hussein of Jordan, Henry Kissinger, and Zbigniew Brzezinski), cover topics that remain highly relevant, including nuclear proliferation, global warming, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, and international terrorism. As the famous popular historian, David McCullough, has observed: “There really is no such thing as the past.” The programs in the Archives underscore how right he is.
Television Program Details
American Interests
"American Interests" was a series of weekly half-hour television programs on American foreign policy produced by the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in association with corporate sponsors and distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service. The program was initially aired on WETA Channel 26 in Washington, D.C. in October 1981; but after three months, it was broadcast nationally by satellite. Featured guest speakers included leaders and notable individuals from academia, business, government and journalism. "The ambition of each program [was] to improve understanding of the American interest and thus of the policy options open to national leadership" (Reston, Va.: The Blackwell Corporation, publicity brochure, 1985/86). The series was moderated by Peter F. Krogh, Dean, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University from 1981-1987.
World Beat
"World Beat: Great Decisions in Foreign Policy" and World Beat Associates. 1989-1990. Series eventually titled, "Great Decisions." Also includes reports by World Beat Associates, the production company of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service which co-produced the program with the Foreign Policy Association and WETA-TV.
Great Decisions
"Great Decisions." 1989-2004 "Great Decisions" is a television series produced by the Foreign Policy Association. In 1988 production was awarded to Georgetown University. World Beat Associates, a production subsidiary of the university's School of Foreign Service, established in 1989 to produce quality television programming on foreign affairs, produced "Great Decisions" in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Association. Episodes were moderated by Peter F. Krogh, Dean, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. The series focused on American foreign policy issues. Permanent panelists were Madeleine Albright, Richard V. Allen and Karen Elliott House. A weekly special guest with topical expertise was also invited to each episode. Note: the series was also known as "World Beat: Great Decisions in Foreign Policy."
Rights and Permissions
American Interests
All rights to the American Interests television series are owned by The Blackwell Corporation, which has granted to Georgetown University the right to exhibit programs from the series in its own facilities and on its proprietary websites, specifically including the Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archive. Inquiries about any other usage should be directed to nealfreeman@blackwellcorp.com.
Great Decisions
Rights to Great Decisions programs are owned by the Foreign Policy Association. Permission has been granted to the Georgetown University Library to stream copies of all the episodes in their entirety and make the videos available online to a worldwide audience. For all reproduction information contact info@fpa.org.
Dean Peter Krogh Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Krogh was Dean of the School of Foreign Service from 1970 to 1995. His former positions include White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Associate Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He serves on the board of the Credit Suisse Mutual Funds and of several world affairs organizations. To see more about Dean Krogh, see his Curriculum Vitae.
Background Materials for the Krogh Archives
The Finding Aid provides access to the collection of research files used by Dean Krogh in preparation for the television series. Included are production funding and promotional files. The collection is available at the Booth Family Center for Special Collections.
Collaborators
The Foreign Policy Association
The Foreign Policy Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Founded in 1918, the Foreign Policy Association serves as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding of, and providing informed opinions on global issues. Through its balanced, nonpartisan programs and publications, the FPA encourages citizens to participate in the foreign policy process.
Production Acknowledgments
- Peter F. Krogh - Executive Producer
- Beth Campolieto Marhanka - Project Manager
- Timothy Cash - Video Digitization
- Shian Chang - Programming
- Stephen Fernie - Web Design and Programming
- David Gewirtz - Information Technology Coordinator
- F. Edgar Gilbert - Media Specialist and Consultant
- Luke Hillman - Video Digitization
- Per Hoel - Video Digitization
- Benjamin Johnson - Research Assistant and Author of Video Commentaries
- Susan Leister - Technical Services Coordinator
- Lisette Matano - Manuscripts Processing
- Susan M. Metz - Archival Coordinator, Office of the Dean Emeritus
- Wei Zhang - Metadata Librarian