Inside
the Sausage Factory of U.S. Foreign Policy-Making
An oft-cited Washington adage compares U.S. Foreign Policy to sausage making- two things you're better off not seeing how it's made. The White House, State Department, NSC, CIA, Congress, lobbyists, ambassadors (both foreign ambassadors in Washington and our Ambassadors overseas), and many others play roles, helpful or otherwise. Shaun Donnelly ('68) survived 36 years as a State Department Foreign Service Officer (FSO) and, ultimately, an Ambassador. Bob Suettinger ('68) had a 24-year career as a China analyst and policy-maker at the CIA, State Department, and NSC, then another 8 years as a contractor, aka "Beltway Bandit." The LU classmates will share experiences, war stories, opinions, and a few lingering frustrations from inside the Washington sausage factory.
Shawn Donnelly '68 Senior Advisor at the United States Council for International Business
Robert Suettinger '68
55th