On June 12, Esther Coopersmith hosted an event to celebrate the National Museum of American Diplomacy. The event included a discussion with Executive Producer Debora Cahn of Netflix's new hit series, The Diplomat, and Ambassador Beth Jones, one of the real-life diplomats who inspired the series.
Debora Cahn and Ambassador Jones discussed the series at the event, attended by many other real-life ambassadors who had been interviewed as part of research for the show.
Coopersmith served as a public member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly during the Jimmy Carter administration and is now a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
This evening celebrated the National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD), the first-ever museum dedicated to telling the story of the history, challenges, and practice of American diplomacy. Supported through private donations and public funding, NMAD invites the public to discover diplomacy and its impact on everyday life. The occasion also highlighted the establishment of its Citizen Diplomacy Collection project, which will showcase the vital role private citizens can play in advancing diplomatic relationships.
The new Netflix political thriller, The Diplomat, follows the main character Ambassador Kate Wyler (portrayed by Keri Russell), as she is suddenly assigned to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and must defuse international crises while adjusting to her new place in the spotlight. How realistic is the show’s depiction of diplomacy, and what is the backstory of how it came about?
Debora Cahn is an American writer and producer of television and film. Before creating The Diplomat, she was an executive producer of the Showtime series Homeland as well as a producer of Grey’s Anatomy and as both writer and producer on The West Wing. Ms. Cahn has won two Writers Guild of America Awards and has received multiple nominations.
Ambassador Beth Jones is an American diplomat whose career has spanned some of the most consequential diplomatic issues over four decades. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, as well as Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia. Ambassador Jones designed U.S. policies for NATO and European Union countries, Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Other assignments included Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Germany and Pakistan, as well as Chargé d'Affaires in India.
00:00 Welcome by Esther Coopersmith and Janet Pitt
02:37 Opening Remarks by Michele Mannat
06:24 Remarks by DAS Nicole Elkon
10:20 Armchair Conversation with Debora Cahn and Amb. Beth Jones
29:56 Audience Q&A
7 авг 2024
