(Q325810)

Donovan could have chosen few better men to direct the most important OSS center outside Washington. The urbane Colonel Bruce was ideally suited to put at ease the leading figures in Britain’s war effort. His patrician style and understated air of competence provided just the tone needed to dispel their apprehensions about a ham-fisted, upstart American venture into clandestine operations. (English)

position held

member of the Maryland House of Delegates

0 references

1939

1945

National Gallery of Art

2 references

stated in

David K. E. Bruce, Diplomat, Dies

reference URL

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/06/archives/david-ke-bruce-diplomat-dies-the-new-york-times-david-kebruce.html

stated in

Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

reference URL

https://research.frick.org/directory/detail/809

United States Permanent Representative to NATO

17 October 1974

12 February 1976

0 references

member of the Virginia House of Delegates

1 reference

imported from Wikimedia project

English Wikipedia

United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom

start time

17 March 1961

end time

20 March 1969

0 references

United States Ambassador to France

start time

17 May 1949

end time

10 March 1952

0 references

Under Secretary of State

start time

1 April 1952

end time

20 January 1953

0 references

educated at

University of Virginia School of Law

1 reference

imported from Wikimedia project

English Wikipedia

member of political party

Democratic Party

1 reference

imported from Wikimedia project

Dutch Wikipedia

notable work

OSS against the Reich : the World War II diaries of Colonel David K.E. Bruce

subject has role

writer

1 reference

reference URL

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/906564468

archives at

Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe

0 references

award received

Presidential Medal of Freedom

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Benjamin Franklin Medal

point in time

1971

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depicted by

OSS against the Reich : the World War II diaries of Colonel David K.E. Bruce

1 reference

reference URL

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/906564468

quotation

Throughout his time in London, the wealthy and cosmopolitan Bruce, son of a former United States senator and himself president of the National Gallery of Art, moved confidently through the ruling strata of British society, dining with Mayfair’s smartest set and conferring with cabinet ministers, military chiefs, and heads of various secret agencies. If some of the influential figures with whom he made easy acquaintance were new faces, many more were old friends from less dangerous times, friends whose names filled the pages of Debrett’s and the rosters of the poshest clubs in St. James’s. Donovan could have chosen few better men to direct the most important OSS center outside Washington. The urbane Colonel Bruce was ideally suited to put at ease the leading figures in Britain’s war effort. His patrician style and understated air of competence provided just the tone needed to dispel their apprehensions about a ham-fisted, upstart American venture into clandestine operations. Bruce’s assuring presence could not guarantee the absence of friction, however. Despite their generous cooperation in the early days of the war, the British opposed OSS’s desire eventually to establish an intelligence network entirely free of their tutelage. These conflicting goals of control and independence made strife inevitable even among comrades-in-arms. (English)

described by source

David K. E. Bruce, Diplomat, Dies

0 references

Commons category

David K. E. Bruce

0 references