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RESEARCH PROJECT ON LEBANON

Roeder History

 

Everett Dirksen visited Lebanon and Syria, April 6-11, 1945.    The following pictures appear to be of that event and relate to the support given to Lebanon's Democratic process.  They were in the private collection of my parents, who were stationed at the United States Legation in Beirut.  I was born in Beirut in 1948.  What I am interested in knowing is who are in the pictures.  My Dad -  Larry Roeder - wasn't officially posted in Beirut until 1946/47; so I figure these were taken in Beirut enroute to taking his post in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.  Dad had been in Lebanon while serving in the American Field Service in World War Two, then again twice more at the US Legation in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

Dirksen had been given permission to to the Middle East as a Sub-Committee of One from the House of Representatives, thus giving him the right to a Diplomatic Passport. He was already planning a run for the Senate and this trip would figure in.  Accompanying him was John Young, who he and Mrs Dirksen liked a lot.  Young was a Naval Reserve Commander.  Dirksen also coordinated his trip with William Stevenson, head of British Intelligence in New York.  Dirksen's visit was to a number of countries.  While in Lebanon, he spent special time with the Foreign Minister, who President Roosevelt liked and was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Beirut.  The only description I have the Foreign Minister was that he had a lot of white hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Dirksen is on the front porch of the residence of the President of Lebanon in between two guards and John Young, who accompanied Dirksen and was with the Foreign Economic Administration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2) Dirksen  Not sure where or who person is to his rear.

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3) Not sure these folks are

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3) Is man in the middle with Fez Bechara El Khoury (President 21/9/43 - 19/9/52   Who is blind man to his left?  Others? Man in middle next to El Khoury is in picture 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4) Dirksen with President of Chamber of Deputies.  Mustache reminds me of what Emile Eddé wore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5) Dirksen with President of Chamber of Deputies and others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6) Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7)  unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8) Unknown.  Could be Bechara El Khoury with friends.  He was a President of Lebanon.  The fellow the far right and of El Khoury's left look like twin brothers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9) The man I think is El Khoury is in the background to the left.  Who is the man in the foreground and the woman next to him?
 

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10)  Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11)  Who is Blind man and others?   I think fellow in fedora is blind. See picture 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12) Who is the fellow in the Middle?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13)  Who is man in the middle and fellow shaking his hand?  Man in the Middle is in Picture 6 as well.  Is he Bechara El Khoury, not the fellow in picture 3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14)  Who is fellow to left.  Man in the middle looks like a British diplomat.  Fellow behind him with massive nose looks like a British General.  But the nose, perhaps French.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15) Who is fellow in the Middle?
 

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16) Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(17)  Who is the officer and who is he talking to?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19)  Man on extreme right is likely U.S. Minister Wadsworth.

 
 

 

(18)  Appears to man in Picture 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21)  Unknown
 

(20) Not sure the tall fellow is.  The shorter man in a fedora comes across as blind and reading a brail watch.  See also picture 3 and 11.   The tall guy reminds me sort of Charles Malik, one of the founders of the UN; but judging by the next photo, I doubt it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22)  Appears to be tall man from picture 20.  I wonder if he is an American.  He is walking into a US Army-Air Force plane.
 
 
 
 

 

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