Long Telegram

United States history

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June 30, 2026

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The "Long Telegram" was a cablegram sent from Moscow in February 1946 by George F. Kennan, an American diplomat. This influential document articulated the policy of containment, which aimed to counter Soviet expansionism following World War II.2

Kennan argued that the Soviet Union, driven by a "neurotic view of world affairs" stemming from centuries of isolation and insecurity, perceived Western ideas as a threat to its power. He believed the Soviets would use any means to subvert and undermine the West. Kennan advised the United States to remain confident and healthy, avoiding actions that would make it resemble the adversary. This analysis became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.12

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20th-century international relations
The end of East–West cooperation
…responded with his famous “Long Telegram” from Moscow (February 22), which for years to come served as a primer on Soviet behaviour for many in Washington. The Kremlin’s “neurotic view of world affairs,” he wrote, was the product of centuries of Russian isolation and insecurity vis-à-vis the more advanced…
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…responded with his famous “Long Telegram” from Moscow (February 22), which for years to come served as a primer on Soviet behaviour for many in Washington. The Kremlin’s “neurotic view of world affairs,” he wrote, was the product of centuries of Russian isolation and insecurity vis-à-vis the more advanced…
Read More

George F. Kennan
…cablegram, known as the “Long Telegram,” that enunciated the containment policy. The telegram was widely read in Washington, D.C., and brought Kennan much recognition. Later that year he returned to the United States, and in 1947 he was named director of the State Department’s policy-planning staff.
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…cablegram, known as the “Long Telegram,” that enunciated the containment policy. The telegram was widely read in Washington, D.C., and brought Kennan much recognition. Later that year he returned to the United States, and in 1947 he was named director of the State Department’s policy-planning staff.
Read More