Diplomacy is more than meets the eye.
Discover Diplomacy
What does a ping-pong paddle have to do with diplomacy?
A historic diplomatic opening.
For over 20 years, there had been no diplomatic ties and few contacts between the United States and China. That began to change in April 1971, when a friendly encounter between two ping-pong players, one American and the other Chinese, at a championship in Japan led to an extraordinary invitation. When the U.S. team arrived in Beijing, they were greeted by officials.
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What does a ping-pong paddle have to do with diplomacy?
A surprising cultural exchange.
The U.S. team was invited to China to play exhibition matches against the Chinese team, but the trip included banquets and cultural tours. They visited some of China’s landmarks, including the famous Great Wall of China. There, the team posed for a group photo that would become an iconic image of their trip—and was featured on the cover of Time magazine.
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What does a ping-pong paddle have to do with diplomacy?
A trip with a lasting impact.
The U.S. team’s trip was the start of “ping-pong diplomacy,” which generated goodwill and provided a public face for serious diplomatic negotiations. President Richard Nixon visited China in February 1972. That April, the Chinese table tennis team toured the United States, starting in Detroit. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1979.
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How did passports protect Americans from capture?
An important official signature
In the early republic, just like today, diplomats overseas protected American travelers. But unlike today, diplomats then personally signed passports. Rufus King, U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1796-1803) signed this passport to permit safe passage to this American citizen under international law.
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Passports protected Americans
The dangers of 18th century Atlantic travel
David Hinckley, this passport’s bearer, was a wealthy Boston merchant who frequently traveled to London on business. Barbary corsairs captured him during an Atlantic crossing, holding him for ransom. The U.S. and Algiers negotiated a treaty in 1796 ending the practice, ensuring Americans would no longer be taken hostage. Hinckley likely carried this passport to prove his citizenship if Barbary corsairs intercepted his Atlantic travel again.
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When are firefighters diplomats?
Rescuing survivors in Nepal
When a powerful earthquake shook Nepal in 2015, killing more than 8,000 people, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) deployed Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel to Nepal to assist with recovery efforts. Working with Nepalese rescue crews, they freed 15-year-old Pemba Lama from the wreckage of a collapsed hotel parking garage.
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When are firefighters diplomats?
Disaster response and relief.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provides humanitarian aid and training to help countries respond to natural disasters. The Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California, fire departments are the only two units in the United States trained and authorized to deploy with USAID disaster response teams.
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Explore the museum
A Museum to Come
Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the National Museum of American Diplomacy tells the story of the history, practice, and challenges of American diplomacy.
Through exhibitions and programs, NMAD inspires the American public to discover diplomacy and how it impacts their lives every day.
About NMAD VisitingBrowse Diplomatic History
Explore Collections
Explore the vivid history of American diplomacy through our searchable collections database featuring a selection of items.
Start BrowsingFrom the Collection
First Base from U.S.-Cuba Baseball Game
This base was in play during the March 22, 2016 exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team in Havana, Cuba. The game occurred during Obama’s historic visit to Cuba after the two countries re-established official diplomatic relations in 2015.
From the Collection
Iran Hostage Blindfold
This piece of cloth was fashioned into a blindfold and used on U.S. diplomat Robert Blucker, who was serving at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979, Blucker was one of 52 who were ultimately held hostage for 444 days, in what became known as the Iran Hostage Crisis.
From the Collection
Kellogg-Briand Pact Signing Pen
This gold fountain pen was used by Secretary Kellogg and his 14 foreign counterparts to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact in France in August 1928. This historic treaty pursued the lofty goal of ending war.
From the Collection
Patti Morton’s Pistol Clutch Purse
In 1972, Patricia “Patti” Morton became the first woman to serve as a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent. At the time, Diplomatic Security did not issue gun holsters that could be worn practically by a woman. Morton found her own solution by using this clutch to carry her .357 magnum service weapon during protective detail assignments.
From the Collection
Bugged Brick from U.S. Embassy Moscow
This unusual looking device protruding from a brick is an electronic “bug”—essentially a microphone that could transmit conversations remotely. It was found in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in the 1960s by Diplomatic Security personnel.
FEATURED UPCOMING EVENT
Her Diplomacy: Women’s History Month Program
Celebrate Women’s History Month with NMAD on Wednesday, March 22, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm EDT for an afternoon of programming featuring our current temporary exhibit, Her Diplomacy.
Education at NMAD
Equip students with the diplomatic skills and knowledge required to tackle complex challenges using our teacher resources.
Diplomacy Simulations
Participate in immersive, skill-building scenarios based on real-world events.
Diplomacy Classroom Events
Join the museum for virtual programs highlighting a historical event, person, or contemporary global issue.
Education Videos
Explore topics such as wildlife trafficking, a freshwater crisis, or migration through our expert videos.
Classroom Activities
See our database of resources containing videos, diplomacy simulations, and more.
Stories of Diplomacy
What does it mean to live a life of foreign service and what impact can a diplomat make? Explore the stories of ambassadors, influential civilians, key diplomatic players, treaty negotiators, and more.
Story of Diplomacy
Race, Citizenship, and Red Scares: Robert Robinson and Foreign Service Officer Bill Davis
When U.S. citizens travel abroad with their official documents, like visas and passports, they expect to be able to travel freely. And they also expect…
Story of Diplomacy
1778 Treaty of Fort Pitt: U.S. Treaty-Making with the Lenape Nation
During the Revolutionary War, one of the United States’ earliest treaties was with the Lenape (Delaware) nation aimed at building an alliance against the British:…
Story of Diplomacy
Carl T. Rowan: From Journalist to Diplomat
The path to becoming a diplomat is not always obvious. For Carl T. Rowan, he paved his path with his storytelling. His many articles on…
Story of Diplomacy
The Fall of Saigon (1975): The Bravery of American Diplomats and Refugees
On April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, effectively ending the Vietnam War. In the days before, U.S. forces evacuated thousands of Americans and South Vietnamese. American diplomats were on the frontlines, organizing what would be the most ambitious helicopter evacuation in history.
Collection Highlights
Ping-Pong Diplomacy: Artifacts from the Historic 1971 U.S. Table Tennis Trip to China
In April 1971, nine players from the U.S. Table Tennis team took a historic trip to China, becoming the first delegation of Americans to visit…
Story of Diplomacy
“Tie a Yellow Ribbon:” The Origin of the National Response to the Iran Hostage Crisis
In November 1979, 52 Americans in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage by Iranian students. Everyone, from the most junior staff members to…
Story of Diplomacy
How Secretary Albright Advocated to Expand NATO
Secretary Madeleine Albright was a trailblazer as the first woman Secretary of State. One of her most significant accomplishments was helping to expand NATO to include more countries in the 1990s. Why was expanding NATO so important to global security? And what role did Secretary Albright play in achieving this diplomatic milestone?