The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2008

62 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 0 8 that independent judgment and the courage to express it were the very essence of what their country needed from them, American diplomacy would suffer. Only a fewmonths after Bill’s death, at Enid’s urging, a groupof his friends began working to create the William R. Rivkin Award to stimulate young ForeignService officers to bring fresh and creative think- ing to the practice of diplomacy. The orig- inal committee included Vice President Hubert Humphrey, WilliamMcCormick Blair, W. Michael Blumenthal, Angier BiddleDuke,OttoKerner, IrvingKupcinet, Newt Minow, Adlai E. Stevenson III and Jack Tuthill. Mike Blumenthal wrote to Enid that he “couldnot thinkof amore fit- ting tribute to Bill’s spirit and devotion to public service.” JosephBech, former primeminister of Luxembourg and one of the founding fathers of theEuropeanUnion, was among thosewho sent congratulations to the com- mittee for its work to institute an award worthy of thememory of such a “dynam- ic personality.” Jack Tuthill, then U.S. ambassador to Brazil, predicted that the annual awardwouldbe an enduring “sign to the great young people in the Foreign Service that the road to success in any real meaningof the termrequires courage, deci- siveness and commitment.” Tuthill added that “the awardmay help to open the eyes of those confused critics of the American ForeignServicewhohave reached themis- taken conclusion that we seek the safe, the cautious and the uncommitted.” With suchdistinguished support, Enid had little trouble convincingAFSA that the award should be established. At first, the William R. Rivkin Award honored intel- lectual courage and“creativedissent.” This was later redefinedas “constructivedissent” tobetter express its character andpurpose. The award is presented to a mid-level Foreign Service officer who has demon- strated “extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity and intellec- tual courage in the context of constructive dissent.” It includes a cashawardof $2,500 and a framed certificate, and is funded by the Rivkin family. The first award ceremony on April 18, 1968, was attended by Vice President Humphrey, Secretary of StateDeanRusk, Under Secretary of State Nicholas Katzenbach, Eugene Rostow, Averell Harriman, Sol Linowitz and the entire lead- ership of the Department of State. Humphrey, who was godfather to Bill Rivkin’s sons, presented the award and observed: “I have known no one who has been really and truly,morewilling to serve. If ever there was a volunteer, if ever there was a patriot, if ever there was aman who wanted to give his life tohis country, it was Amb. William Rivkin.” Secretary of StateHenryKissinger pre- sented theRivkinAwardonSept. 14, 1973. Just before he took the stage, he asked our mother about the award’s origins. In response toher explanation,Kissinger raised aneyebrowandexclaimed: “YoumeanI’m presenting an award to someonewho dis- agreed with me?!” Bill Rivkin believed that loyal dissent reflects true patriotism. Constructive dis- sent has played a vital role in our nation’s history, andover the past 40 years has been institutionalized as a critical aspect of the American diplomatic process. In fact, as Ambassador EdwardPecknoted in a 2002 FSJ article, more than 60 percent of the seniorofficerswhowondissent awards later achieved the rank of ambassador. Enid presented the RivkinAward each year until her death in 2002. It has hon- oredmany of the ForeignService’s best— people like Tom Boyatt, Anthony Quainton, Tex Harris, Ryan Crocker and JosephWilson—on the key foreign pol- icy issues of our time, including Vietnam, the Iranian hostage crisis, Lebanon, the desaparecidos of Argentina, and Iraq. Our family is proud to have helped estab- lishAFSA’s program, andwe are honored to support both the William R. Rivkin Award and the United States Foreign Service. o A F S A N E W S Rivkin • Continued from page 59 AFSA NEWS BRIEFS AFSA President Checks in with Retirees AFSA President John Naland recently visited Foreign Service retiree groups in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Los Angeles and San Francisco. During the Los Angeles stop, he met with the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times to discuss the need for more resources for diplomacy and development assistance. Having visited with seven Foreign Service retiree groups in five states across the nation, Naland applauds the role these groups play as an active extension of the Foreign Service as they work in their local areas to explain the value of diplomacy and develop- ment assistance to fellow citizens, the news media and members of Congress. They also provide their members with marvelous opportuni- ties to keep in touch with others who learned first-hand the unique demands of a Foreign Service career. Retirees who do not participate in one of the 18 Foreign Service retiree associations around the nation can find contact information on the nearest group in AFSA’s 2008 Directory of Retired Members, or at www.afsa.org/retiree/retassoc.cfm. For information on recent AFSA advocacy of issues of concern to retired members, please see www.afsa.org/retiree/012608update.cfm and www.afsa.org/retiree/040308update.cfm. Events for FS Families Returning to the U.S. Foreign Service High School Cross-Cultural Re-Entry Program. Saturday, Aug. 23. A half-day interactive course for FS high school students who have spent an extended period overseas. Professional trainers will guide students through the transition process and provide strategies for a successful re-entry into American life and American schools. A panel of students who have re-entered in the last year or two will share their experi- ences and answer questions. The cost is $10, with lunch provided. Sponsored by the Foreign Service Youth Foundation in partnership with the Transition Center, Foreign Service Institute. For more information or to register, e-mail fsyf@fsyf.org or visit www.fsyf.org and click on the high school calendar of events. Annual FS FamilyWelcome Back Potluck Picnic, Sunday, Sept. 21, 4-6:30 p.m. at Nottoway Park, 9601 Courthouse Road, Vienna, Va. Sponsored by the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. All Foreign Service families are invited. Norma McCaig, founder of Global Nomads International, will speak on “Resilience and the Foreign Service Child” and what parents can expect in the re-entry process. A pro- gram for teens on adjustment/transition will be offered, as will activities for the younger children. Please RSVP to fsyf@fsyf.org. Reservations are requested by Sept. 19.