"The Sources of Soviet Conduct", commonly "X Article", is an article written by George F. Kennan and published under the pseudonym "X" in the July 1947 issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. It introduced
George F. Kennan in 1947, the same year Foreign Affairs published his piece "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" under the pseudonym "X"
Kennan's long telegram began as an analysis of Joseph Stalin's speech at the Bolshoi Theatre on February 9, 1946 (pictured).
Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal (left) was largely responsible for the spread of the "long telegram", extending its readership to US President Harry S. Truman (right), amongst others.
R. Gordon Wasson encouraged Kennan to write an article for Foreign Affairs after hearing him speak to the Council on Foreign Relations at the Harold Pratt House (pictured) in January 1947.
The Truman Doctrine is a U.S. foreign policy that pledges American support for U.S.-aligned nations against alleged authoritarian threats. The doctrine originated with the primary goal of countering t
X Article
…was strong in its anti-communism, introducing and outlining a basic theory of containment. The article was widely read; though it does not mention the Truman Doctrine, having mostly been written before Truman's speech, it quickly became seen as an expression of the doctrine's policy. Retrospective commentators dispute…
King George II of Greece (r. 1922–24, 1935–1947), whose rule was opposed by communist insurgents in the Greek Civil War
Truman Doctrine, 03 12 1947, Page 1