Senator J. William Fulbright from Arkansas was the longest serving chairman in the history of the United States Committee on Foreign Relations. He is widely admired for the creation of the Fulbright International Fellowship Program in 1946 established to “increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. It is considered one of the most prestigious award programs and operates in 155 countries.”
Among the earliest participants were recognized leaders and academics from war ravaged Japan where in September of 1945 Douglas MacArthur began the work of rebuilding Japan. Those Japanese leaders came to America and returned with knowledge that would lead their country to future prominence.
In gratitude The JFMF Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund was established to return the favor by providing American Educators a similar experience designed to increase mutual understanding through the exchange of educational leaders. That’s how I found myself in Japan in 2005. That JFMF experience changed the course of my life though I wouldn’t know it for another decade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._William_Fulbright#U.S._Senator_(1945%E2%80%9374)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulbright_Program
