This is great to see - thank you! My father, James R. Johnstone, was the U.S. State Department's Director for Foreign Buildings (FBO) during this time, and loving the architecture and speaking to so many Irish who loved it as well, worked diligently to obtain the funds necessary to build it. This meant going before such powerful, egotistical, and frankly difficult people as Congressman Hayes. He succeeded by keeping his eye on the prize, understanding that Hayes needed to be "stroked" often, liked to humiliate people, and have his power acknowledged often (really often). Things weren't going so well until, with the help of many others (Dean Rusk, Ambassador Stockdale, for instance), President Kennedy was asked to express his interest directly in the project. President trumped Congressman at that time, so work was begun, completed, and it's great to know it is still considered a great building today. My father's mother was born in Contae Laoise, so success of this project was particularly pleasing to him and his family. An excellent account of all this can be found in Jane C. Loeffler's "The Architecture of Diplomacy."
Getting excited for the Embassy 50 Exhibition Launch, at the Irish Architectural Archive! Here's a short video on the opening of the new Chancery building in 1964.
A big thank you for this posting.A family member who is now 86 worked on the construction of the building so it is extra special. Very well done.
This is great to see - thank you! My father, James R. Johnstone, was the U.S. State Department's Director for Foreign Buildings (FBO) during this time, and loving the architecture and speaking to so many Irish who loved it as well, worked diligently to obtain the funds necessary to build it. This meant going before such powerful, egotistical, and frankly difficult people as Congressman Hayes. He succeeded by keeping his eye on the prize, understanding that Hayes needed to be "stroked" often, liked to humiliate people, and have his power acknowledged often (really often). Things weren't going so well until, with the help of many others (Dean Rusk, Ambassador Stockdale, for instance), President Kennedy was asked to express his interest directly in the project. President trumped Congressman at that time, so work was begun, completed, and it's great to know it is still considered a great building today. My father's mother was born in Contae Laoise, so success of this project was particularly pleasing to him and his family. An excellent account of all this can be found in Jane C. Loeffler's "The Architecture of Diplomacy."
Oops! My apologies - the late congressman's name is spelled Hays, not Hayes.
Getting excited for the Embassy 50 Exhibition Launch, at the Irish Architectural Archive! Here's a short video on the opening of the new Chancery building in 1964.
Breithlá Sona Duit!! Happy 50th Birthday!
Here's to the next 50! #Embassy50
Today is our 50th birthday! Take a look at our 50 years in Ballsbridge, Dublin #Embassy50
Great video! Wonderful exhibit. God bless America :)
From your neighbors, at the Israeli embassy in Dublin
Go To Hell...