Inside The Room: Attorney-Diplomats at work on U.S. Foreign Relations

On February 18th, 2021, the Washington Foreign Law Society hosted the first of a two-part interview series with Mark B. Feldman (adjunct professor at Georgetown Law and former deputy and acting legal advisory at the Department of State), and Jeffrey H. Smith (former head of Arnold and Porter's National Security practice and former General Counsel of the CIA), accomplished professionals and public servants with decades of experience in U.S. foreign policy.

For the first segment of the program, which is co-sponsored by the American Society of International Law and by the ABA International Law Section, Mr. Smith interviewed Mr. Feldman. During his remarks, Mr. Feldman touched upon some of the most relevant foreign policy issues he actively worked on while at the Department of State - such as the Vietnam war and the Iran Hostage Crisis - as well as his relationship with Henry Kissinger. Drawing from previously unreported personal anecdotes and direct involvement in consequential foreign policy decisions, Mr. Feldman provided a fascinating firsthand account of some of the major events that shaped U.S. and world history in the past fifty years.

The Washington Foreign Law Society wishes to thank Mr. Feldman and Mr. Smith for their invaluable contribution. The second part of the two-part interview series, during which Mr. Feldman will be interviewing Mr. Smith, will take place on March 18th.