Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2012-09-10

Duration: 00:27:26

Subjects: Thomas-Greenfield, Linda | United States Ambassadors | International relations | Women diplomats | United States. Foreign Service | Liberia | Rwanda | Rice, Condoleezza, 1954-

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Barnes, Liz Producer
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Thomas-Greenfield, Linda Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from September 10, 2012, features an interview with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield conducted by Beth Courtney. Thomas-Greenfield, a native of Baker, served as the United States Ambassador to Liberia from 2008-2012. In April 2012, she was appointed as the Director General of the Foreign Service for the United States Department of State. She discusses: growing up in Baker during the 1950s; her mentors; studying at LSU in the 1970s; her decision to study at the University of Wisconsin, which brought her to Liberia; her time spent with the Foreign Service in Africa; having her life threatened in Rwanda; what she enjoys about the Foreign Service; her personal life; meeting her husband in Liberia; working for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; taking her Louisiana roots with her around the world; her style of “gumbo diplomacy”; a typical day as ambassador; why the United States should invest money in other countries even though there are problems at home; and her upcoming assignment as Director General of the Foreign Service.