A Path to Democracy: Dialogues between Mario Soares and Ambassador Frank Carlucci

Ambassador Frank Carlucci arrives at Lisbon Airport in mid-January 1975. He gave a famous speech
Portuguese at his first press conference – unusual for an American diplomat at the time.

Ambassador Carlucci presents his credentials to Portuguese President Francisco da Costa Gomes
January 24, 1975. Declassified cables reveal that Mario Soares, then foreign minister,
helped expedite Carlucci’s accreditation, which otherwise would have taken several months. The
The credentialing process allowed Ambassador Carlucci to sign bilateral agreements on behalf of the United States government.

Ambassador Carlucci and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld meet President Costa Gomes and Prime Minister
Minister José Pinheiro de Azevedo. Rumsfeld had been Carlucci’s roommate in college and wrestling
Teammate at Princeton University. Rumsfeld was instrumental in Carlucci’s appointment
Ambassador to Portugal and assisted him in meetings with President Ford against Kissinger.

“I have to be sure that Portugal is part of the same team as it has been since 1951 and no more
We are going in a different direction, towards a different alliance.” – US President Ford to the Portuguese
President Costa Gomes at a private meeting at the White House, October 1974

Ambassador Carlucci, his wife Marcia and President Costa Gomes laugh next to the Soviet ambassador
Arnold Kalinin. Carlucci’s big test was to understand the extent to which the communists exercised control
about Portuguese politics and the likelihood of Portugal falling into the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence.
Historical review of the communication between Carlucci and Washington and his conversations with
Mário Soares revealed how worried Washington was about the threat of communism in Portugal.

Ambassador Carlucci met frequently with Mário Soares, first as leader of the Socialist Party, then as
Foreign Minister and finally as Prime Minister in this room, the “crow’s nest” of the ambassador
Residence. Reports like this one, which have since been declassified, show candid exchanges between two men
Discussion of local politics and US concerns about Portugal’s democratic future. Conversations such as
This gave Carlucci confidence that Portugal would not “succumb” to communism and that the United States should do so
Embrace socialists like Mário Soares, not alienate them.

The beginning of U.S. aid to Portugal was an important part of Ambassador Carlucci’s legacy. In
In addition to financial aid, such as this aid package signed with Finance Minister Henrique Medina
Carreira also worked closely with Carlucci with the Portuguese military to deviate from the fighting stance
Rebels in African colonies should better integrate into NATO’s Europe-centered mission.

The first of more than thirty “flash” messages that Carlucci sent back to Washington and reported on
Attempted coup by left-wing paratroopers in November 1975. The government’s defeat in the coup and the
The resulting political process is usually viewed as the end of the revolutionary period that began with the
Carnation Revolution in April 1974.

Ambassador Carlucci gives a speech together with Minister of Social Affairs Rui Machete. Carlucci
promised U.S. support for Portugal as it welcomed thousands of “retornados” – Portuguese citizens
had lived in African colonies and returned to Portugal after the end of colonization.

A heartfelt and personal letter from Ambassador Carlucci to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, retired
long-time friend since their college days at Princeton University, who tells him of his plans to marry Marcia Meyers.
He uses the opportunity to advocate for Portugal’s military integration into NATO, one of his tasks
Priorities during your stay in Portugal. The letter refers to a conversation with Alexander Haig, National Security
Advisor and future defense minister.

Ambassador Carlucci left Portugal in January 1977, just two years after arriving at the U.S. Embassy
Lisbon. This farewell telegram from Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, perhaps Carlucci’s boss
Antagonist in his mission to convince Washington that Portugal would not “succumb” to communism
Respect and remorse from the famously opinionated Kissinger.

This medal, the Order of Prince Henry (Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique), is an order of knighthood
awarded by the President of the Portuguese Republic – to nationals or foreigners, military or civilian – for
relevant services for Portugal and for services to expand Portuguese culture, its history and
his values. President Jorge Sampaio presented Carlucci with the medal on November 24, 2003.

George Washington University in Washington, DC awarded Mário Soares its Presidential Medal
December 1998. The medal recognizes individuals who have demonstrated courage, character and achievement
Leadership in their chosen areas. Other winners include the Nobel Prize winner and the President of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev, Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel Prize winner Shimon Peres and journalist Walter Cronkite.

On June 9, 2011, Ambassador Carlucci and Mário Soares met again in the now renovated “Crow’s”.
Nest” and former laundry room, where they met several times after the carnation
Revolution to discuss Portugal’s path to democracy.