James billington biography youtube

James billington biography James Hadley Billington (June 1, – November 20, ) [1] was an American academic and author who taught history at Harvard and Princeton before serving for 42 years as CEO of four federal cultural institutions.

James Billington

American historian, 13th Director of the Library of Congress
Date of Birth:
Country: USA

Content:
  1. James H. Billington
  2. Military and Intelligence Service
  3. Academic Career
  4. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
  5. Authorship and Diplomacy
  6. Librarian of Congress and International Initiatives
  7. Awards and Honors
  8. Legacy

James H.

Billington

Early Life and Education

James H. Billington, an American historian and the 13th Librarian of Congress, was born in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lower Merion High School as valedictorian and went on to Princeton University, where he also graduated with honors in Billington received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University.

Military and Intelligence Service

After serving in the U.S.

Army, Billington worked as an intelligence analyst for the CIA's Office of National Estimates.

Academic Career

From to , Billington taught history at Harvard University. He then joined the faculty of Princeton University as a professor of history from to

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

From to , Billington served as the director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

During his tenure, he founded the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies.

Authorship and Diplomacy

Billington authored several books on Russian history and culture. He made numerous trips to the USSR and Russia as part of U.S. congressional delegations. In , he accompanied President Ronald Reagan on his trip to the USSR.

James billington biography wikipedia James Hadley Billington was sworn in as the Librarian of Congress on September 14, He is the 13th person to hold the position since the Library was established in Billington was nominated by President Ronald Reagan, and his appointment was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate.

Billington is fluent in Russian.

Librarian of Congress and International Initiatives

In , Billington became the Librarian of Congress. He co-founded the U.S.-Russian Open World Program with Dmitry Likhachev, which brought over 14, young leaders from the former USSR to the United States.

Awards and Honors

Billington is a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and an honorary doctor of Moscow State University and Tbilisi State University.

He has received numerous awards and medals.

Legacy

As the Librarian of Congress, Billington played a pivotal role in the creation of the World Digital Library. His contributions to Russian history and diplomacy, as well as his dedication to international exchange, have left a lasting legacy.