Rachel Thompson: George C. Marshall: Wartime General to Statesman

Discover the pivotal role of George C. Marshall in winning WWII and rebuilding Europe 80 years ago. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.

When George Marshall became Secretary of State in 1947, some questioned the choice of a career military man in this role. Marshall treaded the turbulent waters of international diplomacy throughout an entire world war and his collaboration with Dwight Eisenhower in planning the cross-channel invasion in 1944 was only one part of his delicate and complex negotiations with other leaders whose survival depended on the outcomes of war. Those experiences qualified him to take the lead in defining the crucial role the United States would play in post-war recovery through the Marshall Plan.

Join Historian Rachel Yarnell Thompson for a fascinating look at the impact of World War II on the statesmanship and leadership of George C. Marshall.

Rachel Yarnell Thompson is the Marshall Historian at The George C. Marshall International Center, located on the site of Marshall’s museum home in Leesburg, Virginia. She lectures extensively on various aspects of Marshall’s illustrious career as soldier and statesman. In 2009, Thompson curated the Marshall Center’s exhibition, “With Affection and Admiration: The Correspondence of George C. Marshall and Winston S. Churchill.” In conjunction with seminars sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Defense, Ms. Thompson also periodically conducts meetings at the Center linked to Marshall’s mid-twentieth century leadership roles.