Everett F. Drumright

Everett Francis Drumright (September 15, 1906 - April 24, 1993) was an American diplomat who served in a variety of posts, including as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan).[1]

Everett F. Drumright
United States Ambassador to Taiwan
In office March 8, 1958 – March 8, 1962
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Karl L. Rankin
Succeeded by	Alan G. Kirk
Personal details
Born	September 15, 1906 Drumright, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	April 24, 1993 (aged 86) Poway, California, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery

Early years

Drumright was born in Drumright, Oklahoma. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in business administration in 1929.[2] After graduation, Drumright briefly worked for his father's business while studying for the Foreign service exam.

Foreign Service career

On January 2, 1931, Drumright began his diplomatic career as a Vice-consul in Juarez, Mexico. He held a variety of posts with the United States Department of State, including as a language officer in China and Tokyo.[3] In 1945, he was named as the chief of the U.S. Division of Chinese Affairs.[4]

From 1948 to 1951, Drumright was station in South Korea, participating the establishment of the U.S. Embassy Seoul.[5] From 1951 until 1953, he worked overseas with posts in Embassy New Delhi, and Consulate General Bombay.[6][7] In 1953 he was named Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, and served in that post for several years.[8][9][10]

United States Ambassador

Ambassador Drumright, rear, along with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President Chiang Kai-shek during the former's visit to Taiwan in 1960.

In 1958, Drumright was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of China on Taiwan. He was subsequently confirmed by the United States Senate.[11] Drumright continued to serve in the role throughout the early years of John F. Kennedy's presidency.[12][13]

Signing ceremony of the fourth Surplus Agricultural Commodities Agreement, signed by Ambassador Drumright (right) and Foreign Minister Shen Chang-huan (left).

In 1960, Drumright worked to establish the fourth Surplus Agricultural Commodities Agreement between the Republic of China and the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, the government of the Republic of China would purchase surplus agricultural commodities and pay the United States in New Taiwan dollars. The United States agreed to then allocate those dollars towards mutual defense projects and educational exchange programs.[14]

During his tenure in Taiwan, Drumright worked closely with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and President Chiang Kai-shek during the crisis over Quemoy and Matsu, two islands off the China coastline. The islands were the target of takeover attempts and a propaganda campaign by the Communist Government in Beijing.[15]

While Ambassador, Drumright resided in the building that is now known as the Taipei Film House. Drumright retired from government service in 1962.[16]

Personal

Drumright was married to Florence Teets Drumright in 1953. He served on the Board of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.

He died in 1993 at the age of 86 at Pomerado Hospital in Poway, California.[17]

Legacy

Drumright's public papers now belong to the diplomatic archives collection at the University of Oklahoma.[18][19]

After his death, a scholarship fund was established in Drumright's name to support international students at the University of Illinois at Chicago.[20]

See also

• China–United States relations

References

1. "Everett Francis Drumright - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
2. Service, New York Times News. "EX-U.S. ENVOY INVOLVED IN TAIWAN DISPUTE". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
3. "Memorandum by Mr. Everett F. Drumright | Teaching American History". Retrieved 2019-04-07.
4. Saxon, Wolfgang (1993-04-27). "Everett F. Drumright, 86, Is Dead; Envoy to Taiwan in Tense Period". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
5. "Foreign Affairs Oral History Project: AMBASSADOR EVERETT DRUMRIGHT". The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST). 1988-12-05. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-04-13.
6. "Overview of the Everett F. Drumright Letters". oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
7. Rapport, Aaron (2015-05-07). Waging War, Planning Peace: U.S. Noncombat Operations and Major Wars. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801455636.
8. "Everett F. Drumright". www.nndb.com. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
9. Oyen, Meredith (2016-02-19). The Diplomacy of Migration: Transnational Lives and the Making of U.S.-Chinese Relations in the Cold War. Cornell University Press. p. 110. ISBN 9781501701474. everett drumright.
10. "EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OF THE SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
11. "1960 - Principals and Chiefs Chronological Listing - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
12. Connecticut, Thomas G. Paterson Professor of History University of (1989-02-16). Kennedy's Quest for Victory : American Foreign Policy, 1961-1963: American Foreign Policy, 1961-1963. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 9780198021483.
13. F, Kennedy, John (1962-01-01). Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961. Best Books on. ISBN 9781623768997.
14. "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXII, Northeast Asia - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
15. "Interview with Everett Drumright". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
16. "BRIEFING OF THE HONORABLE EVERETT F. DRUMRIGHT | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
17. "Obituaries : Everett F. Drumright; Envoy to Taiwan During Crisis". Los Angeles Times. 1993-04-28. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
18. "Diplomatic Archive". www.ou.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
19. "Drumright, Everett Francis Manuscript Collection | lib". lib.ou.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
20. "Everett and Florence Drumright Scholarship | Office of International Affairs". Retrieved 2019-04-07.