America’s First Public Diplomat

Abstract

The chapter examines the first year of Benjamin Franklin’s mission to France as a commissioner of the Continental Congress as an early example of US public diplomacy. This first case examines the different ways in which Franklin engaged with the French (and European) public to achieve both immediate and long-term foreign policy goals for the USA. The key findings of this case demonstrate how Franklin and the other appointed US commissioners valued representing the nation to the people of France; the methods used to engage with the people of France and their similarity to public diplomacy today; and the valuable role the engagement played in the American Revolution. The case also discusses some of the issues Franklin had with engagement, as they relate to the key problems identified in Chap. 1.

One Thing that he recommends to be done before we push our Points in Parliament, viz. removing the Prejudices that Art and Accident have spread among the People of this Country [England] against us, and obtaining for us the good Opinion of the Bulk of Mankind without Doors; I hope we have in our Power to do, by Means of a Work now near ready for the Press, calculated to engage the Attention of many Readers, and at the same time efface the bad Impressions receiv’d of us: But it is thought best not to publish it till a little before the next Session of Parliament.

Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Leech and Assembly Committee of Correspondence, London, June 10, 1758 ¹