American Secretaries of State: George P. Schultz

he 60th Secretary of State, George Shultz, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and served from July 16, 1982 – January 20, 1989. Mr. Shultz was interviewed for the American Secretaries of State Project in March 2014 and again in February 2016 at Stanford University, during which he noted, “I think the first principle in any negotiation is to start with reality, describe it to yourself as best you can. That’s your starting point. Don’t kid yourself. Rose colored glasses don’t belong in your pocketbook.” It was Mr. Shultz’s clear-eyed vision that enabled him to progress the foreign policy that led to the successful conclusion of the Cold War and helped foster stronger relationships between the U.S. and China, Japan, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.