Office of the Month:

Following Protocol Is This Office's Charter

rchestrating the high-level visit to Washington, D.C., of a chief of state or head of government; accrediting newly designated ambassadors; providing local police with information on diplomatic immunity; and organizing functions hosted by the Secretary of State. These are just a few of the activities in the Office of the Chief of Protocol, a lively and exciting section of the Secretary's offices established 70 years ago, where no two days are alike.

Chief of Protocol Mary Mel French and Deputy Chief of Protocol David Pryor Jr. head a staff of almost 60 Foreign Service officers, Civil Service employees and political appointees assigned to divisions for visits, ceremonies, diplomatic and consular liaison, and administration.

The chief of protocol travels frequently on official business, including Presidential trips, to ensure that delegation members follow the rules of international protocol. Ambassador French has accompanied President Clinton to more than 75 countries, including China, Ireland and Russia.

In addition, Protocol supplies the President, Vice President, Secretary of State and their spouses with a variety of appropriate official gifts when they travel abroad, and tracks all gifts they and other individuals receive as representatives of the United States from members of foreign governments. A Protocol gifts officer also travels with the President to oversee the distribution of gifts to everyone from heads of state to chiefs of protocol.

The office also works with embassies, the regional bureaus, the White House and the Secret Service to develop and carry out programs for foreign dignitaries visiting the United States on official or personal business. Protocol has arranged historic events, including the 1993 Middle East Peace Accords, the funerals of former President Richard Nixon and Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, and the Summit of the Americas in Miami. Protocol is now working with the NATO summit staff to organize events honoring the 50th anniversary of NATO in Washington, D.C., in April.

During the Clinton administration, Protocol has planned more than 20 state and official visits for world leaders invited by the President--including South African President Nelson Mandela, the Emperor of Japan and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom. The chief or deputy chief of Protocol greets foreign dignitaries upon arrival at any of the Washington, D.C., regional airports, and the office coordinates customs clearance, baggage handling and ground transportation throughout the official portion of their stay in the United States.

State and official visits include a White House arrival ceremony, during which the chief of Protocol presents the visiting dignitary and spouse to the President and Mrs. Clinton. They, in turn, introduce the Vice President, Secretary of State and other officials. Following a 21- or 19-gun salute--21 for a chief of state on a state visit and 19 for a head of government on an "official visit"--and the national anthems of the United States and the visiting country, the two leaders review troops from the Military District of Washington, a ceremonial Army division, and make brief remarks before adjourning to meet in the Oval Office. Other components of most state and official visits include a formal White House dinner, a luncheon in State's diplomatic reception rooms hosted by the Vice President or the Secretary, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

The ceremonials staff plans and executes social functions hosted by the President and Vice President, the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of State and other government officials. State's diplomatic reception rooms, which can seat 200 guests, are popular for entertaining because of their beauty and the historic significance of their furnishings. These rooms showcase American furnishings from 1750 to 1820. Valued at over $90 million, the collection was acquired by private citizens, foundations and corporations.

Vice President Al Gore welcomes His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to the United States during his official visit last September.ÑWhite House Photo

Once an event has been scheduled, ceremonials officers develop a guest list, invite the guests and take their responses. The ceremonials division is responsible for every aspect of official functions, from coordinating flowers, tablecloths, china and decorations to arranging entertainment to selecting a seasonal and colorful menu that meets the personal and religious preferences and dietary restrictions of the guest of honor. The diplomatic reception rooms are also used for the swearing-in ceremonies of U.S. ambassadors to foreign countries and senior State officers, when the oath of office is administered by a senior Protocol representative. The division also coordinates the presence of the diplomatic corps at congressional sessions and inaugural activities.

Protocol's diplomatic and consular liaison division is responsible for the Department's program on the immunities and liabilities of foreign representatives in the United States. In performing the accreditation process, the staff reviews the appointments of diplomatic and consular personnel and issues identification cards to officers, spouses and qualifying dependent children. The division is the office of record for more than 100,000 foreign government representatives, staff and their family members. The assistant chief serves as the senior Protocol representative on State's accreditation review panel, which formulates policies on accreditating foreign government personnel in the United States and administering their rights, privileges and immunities.

Division representatives also investigate and act on cases of criminal violations involving individuals with diplomatic immunity. Staff members serve as mediators between foreign missions and private citizens in civil matters that would likely result in litigation were it not for diplomatic immunity, and the assistant chief occasionally is called upon to attest to the immunity of embassy and consular personnel in conjunction with judicial proceedings. The division also oversees submission of the annual Report on Criminal and Civil Cases Involving Immunity by the Secretary.

Another important consular liaison division function is providing information on immunity to foreign diplomatic and consular officials, law enforcement officers and the general public. The division recently collaborated with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Office of Foreign Missions on a video to help train law enforcement personnel on immunity principles and applications. Representatives participate in training sessions for local police officials throughout the United States and distribute a brochure to the diplomatic community on how to deal with local police.

>Republic of South Africa President Nelson Mandela, center, with the Protocol staff at Blair House. With him, from left, are Tanya Turner, Jessie Johnson, Mary Masseri, Kimi Weinman and Hillary Lucas.

In addition, the division of diplomatic and consular liaison coordinates the accrediting of ambassadors. Once White House approval has been granted, Protocol arranges to present credentials to newly designated ambassadors. Protocol staff members provide the Deputy Secretary with an original letter of credence, a letter of recall and written remarks to be presented by the President at a brief Oval Office meeting

Protocol is also responsible for coordinating delegations to represent the President in foreign countries at inaugurations, state funerals or other important events. Working closely with the U.S. Embassy in the country where the event takes place, a Protocol officer makes travel arrangements for the delegation, creates a detailed schedule, handles travel logistics and accompanies delegations, when necessary, to ensure that the trip runs smoothly.

Blair House Foreign guests of the President may stay at Blair House, a historic residence near the White House that's operated by State's Office of Protocol. Blair House consists of four historic interconnected townhouses that form a 117-room complex totaling 70,000 square feet. The original Blair House was built around 1824 by Dr. Joseph Lovell, the first surgeon general, and was purchased in 1836 by Francis Preston Blair, a close confidant of President Jackson's. Blair House has a long, interesting history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt used it for bilateral meetings and to accommodate guests. In 1942, the United States purchased the residence for $150,000 and spent $35,000 for furnishings. President Harry Truman occupied Blair House between 1948 and 1952, while the White House was being renovated. Blair House's Lee Study was the Oval Office of its day and has been renamed the Truman Study. The Lee Dining Room was the site of historic meetings that inspired the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Today, Blair House is used to host visiting foreign dignitaries and is the site of frequent luncheons and meetings hosted by the President, Vice President, Secretary of State and other government officials.