Charles Frankel served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs between 1965 and 1967, a period defined by his efforts to reform international exchange programs. His professional life spanned high-level government diplomacy, law, and a long-standing academic career at Columbia University, where he held the position of Old Dominion Professor of Philosophy and Public Affairs.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Born in New York City in 1917, Frankel pursued his initial studies at Columbia University, earning a Bachelor of Arts with honors in English and philosophy in 1937, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in 1946. He joined the Columbia faculty in 1939, reaching the rank of full professor of philosophy by 1956. During this era, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1953 and a Fulbright Scholarship in 1954, which supported a visiting professorship at the University of Paris. His academic reach extended to other institutions including Trinity College Dublin, Bennington College, Bowdoin College, Ohio University, and the New York University Silver School of Social Work.
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In 1965, Frankel succeeded Harry McPherson as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. He used this platform to advocate for significant revisions to federal international cultural and educational initiatives, proposing the establishment of a specialized corps of education officers for overseas assignments. In 1966, he headed the American delegation to the UNESCO General Conference. He resigned from the State Department in December 1967 as a public protest against the Vietnam War, subsequently transitioning back to academic life and focusing on research at the Aspen Institute.
Contributions to Philosophy and the Humanities
Frankel authored several significant texts, including The Faith of Reason in 1948, The Case for Modern Man in 1956, and The Democratic Prospect in 1964. His work centered on value theory, social philosophy, and the philosophy of history. In his later years, he became the founding director of the National Humanities Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, in 1978. Additionally, he chaired the International Council on the Future of the University starting in 1973. Following his death in 1979, the National Endowment for the Humanities established the Charles Frankel Prize, which was awarded from 1989 to 1996 to recognize public contributions to the humanities before being renamed the National Humanities Medal.
Fast facts
- Born: 1917, New York City
- Died: 1979, Bedford Hills
- Education: Columbia University, Mercer University
- Key Role: Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
- Founding Director: National Humanities Center
- Notable Book: The Case for Modern Man (1956)
- Languages: English, French
Questions readers ask
Why did Charles Frankel resign from the State Department?
He resigned in December 1967 as a protest against the Vietnam War.
What was the Charles Frankel Prize?
It was an award granted by the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1989 to 1996 to individuals who made outstanding contributions to the public understanding of the humanities.
Achievements
- Held posts at Columbia University and United States Department of State
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