The Foreign Service Journal, December 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2019 27 FSJ: Congratulations on receiving AFSA’s lifetime contribu- tions to diplomacy award, which is well deserved. You’ve had a fascinating career, both inside and outside government. I under- stand you decided to apply to the Foreign Service in 1953, while you were still an undergraduate at City College. What was the impetus for that decision? HJC: My favorite subjects were “Theory of International Rela- tions” and “Comparative European Governments.” My professor for both courses was Bernard E. Brown. He encouragedme to take the Foreign Service examination, arguing that hardly any City Col- lege graduates were in the Foreign Service. In any event, I wanted to have a career in the international sphere, possibly in business or journalism. When I was informed that I had been successful in the examination, I decided to pursue a career in the State Department. FSJ: What were your impressions of the Foreign Service application process? Did it involve both a written exam and oral assessment at that time? HJC: It was quite a comprehensive and very long exam in those days. It lasted three days, with lots of essay writing. There was also an oral assessment. Unlike today, the retired FSOs who administered the oral examination did not have a script. They asked whatever questions they considered suitable for each individual. For example, they asked me major league baseball questions, including who played third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They also asked me to describe the differences between the British Labor Party and the British Conservative Party. I expressed the view that there was virtually no difference. This set off a rather heated discussion among the examiners. In general, they appeared to appreciate my “American-ness.” FSJ: What were your impressions of orientation and entry-level training? HJC: I considered the A-100 course to be quite comprehen- sive with respect to the varied functions of the Foreign Service. There was also a lot of practical advice on the side from the senior officers with lots of experience, during coffee breaks. The detail on consular work was particularly useful. Overseas Assignments FSJ: Your colleagues must have been jealous when you got assigned to Paris as your first Foreign Service posting. Was that because you were fluent in French? HJC: On the contrary. After several weeks of French training, I flunked the language examination. For that reason, I was sent to Paris to improve. Most of my colleagues went to Palermo and Naples to do refugee relief processing. Their jealousy was palpable. FSJ: Did your three years as a consular officer in Paris give you a good introduction to the Service? Hank Cohen (at right) and Secretary of State James Baker meet with President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia in 1990. COURTESYOFHERMANJ.COHEN