THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH-APRIL 2026 53 growing international reputation, Ladejinsky became a highly sought-after expert on land reform in Asia. His efforts and ideas significantly contributed to the success of land reform programs in Taiwan and South Korea. In 1950 USDA assigned Ladejinsky to the State Department to serve as the agricultural attaché in Tokyo. Like today, the attaché’s job was to expand the Japanese market for U.S. agricultural products, and Ladejinsky excelled in this role. During his time as the agricultural attaché, Japan became a major importer of U.S. agricultural products. Like many immigrants, he appreciated the opportunities his adopted country provided him. In a 1954 letter to James Russell, the farm editor of the Des Moines Register & Tribune, Ladejinsky noted: “I arrived in the states at the age of 22 without the knowledge of language, money, friends, etc. But I had the country to fall back on and all it has given to the generation of immigrants in the past. I have taken, and I have given in return to the best of my ability, with but one guiding thought in my mind—the welfare of the United States.” The McCarthy Era Scandal On September 1, 1954, agricultural attachés were transferred from the State Department to USDA’s newly created Foreign Agricultural Service, and Ladejinsky was set to return to USDA as the agricultural attaché in Japan. In early December, he attended a conference in Washington, D.C. Although he had recently received a security clearance from the State Department, USDA dismissed Ladejinsky during his visit to Washington. He was not given any notice of charges or a hearing. Initially, USDA claimed that Ladejinsky was being terminated because he lacked a farm background in the United States and wouldn’t be able to effectively represent U.S. agriculture abroad, despite having performed well in that role in Japan for several years. Later, USDA changed its explanation, stating he was being Wolf Ladejinsky’s story demonstrates that democracy is never guaranteed and that defending it requires individuals willing to speak out.
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