As part of its series shedding light on the diplomatic world, WorldBoston’s Chat & Chowder event welcomed Glen Johnson – former Strategic Communications Advisor to John Kerry – to share his experiences navigating the complexities of diplomacy. From Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Johnson sat across from Secretary Kerry on countless flights, glimpsing 93 countries and all seven continents from an airplane window. Serving a dual role in communications and photography, he captured pivotal moments throughout Secretary Kerry’s diplomatic engagements. The stories and photos he gathered traversing 1.35 million miles across the globe have been featured in his book, Window Seat on the World.
Johnson opened by recounting the story of his sudden recruitment. Receiving a call from Secretary Kerry, he was offered the opportunity to advance the Department of State’s web presence as Strategic Communications Advisor. Taking a leap of faith, Johnson accepted the role and soon found himself in rooms with some of the world’s most important officials. His existing security clearance and journalistic background gave legitimacy to his work, and he embraced this experience to document history and tell the American story. Seeing the interactions from local to international media, he understood the need to integrate multiple communication channels to reinforce the narrative of U.S. foreign policy for diverse audiences. One way he achieved this was by including local press in the room, in order to ensure that diplomatic interactions were also recorded and disseminated to local communities.
Johnson also spoke about the dangers of being a diplomat. He reflected on the incident in Kabul, Afghanistan, in which Anne Smedinghoff – an American Foreign Service officer – was killed in a terrorist attack.
Another insight Johnson shared was Secretary Kerry’s distinctive approach to diplomacy. Grounded in the belief that Boston could serve as an ‘informal-formal’ place of diplomacy, he championed ‘Hometown Diplomacy’ by inviting foreign officials to Boston, using his own home in Beacon Hill and notable locations around the city to build personal rapport. Johnson recalled how prior to an AUSMIN meeting, Secretary Kerry brought Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to tour the Boston Marathon finish line, knowing that she was an avid runner.
Johnson subsequently answered questions from the audience, reflecting on his transition from journalism to diplomacy and emphasizing the importance of managing flows of information to preserve international security. He shared his account of the Iran nuclear deal, highlighting the challenges of reaching consensus on nuclear capabilities.
Johnson also spoke about Secretary Kerry’s role as a former member of the military in the Vietnam War, explaining how these experiences grounded his diplomatic posture and shaped his view of war as a last resort. Johnson therefore described his trip to Vietnam with Secretary Kerry as particularly memorable, recalling how Kerry would show him battlefields in Mekong where he had once served. The visit was especially poignant as it allowed Johnson to experience political methodology in action while traveling through both North and South Vietnam, each shaped by distinct colonial and imperial influences.
Fundamentally, my understanding and appreciation for foreign service was deeply impacted by Johnson. His emphasis on service to the people, coupled with the global perspective he gained from his travels which he continues to use in his engagement with others, have fortified my respect for the diplomatic world. It was an honor to engage with him in such an intimate setting, to ask personal questions and connect with him before he spoke to the wider audience.
More importantly, as Johnson underscored, the evening’s greatest takeaway was the need to recognize the privilege of being in spaces that allow us to better understand the challenges faced by others around the world. As diplomats or leaders in adjacent fields, that privilege carries a responsibility to uphold the trust bestowed upon us, and to never lose sight of who we are.
