In 1815 , the Congress of Vienna settled many controversial issues related to protocol. The thorny problem of ambassadorial precedence, for example, was addressed. Previously, ambassadors had been ranked in accordance with the "power" of the state the represented. Not surprisingly this system created friction between states and their representatives. A nation's own idea of its power is usually inconsistent with that of other nations.
Stories have been passed down of carriage wheels damaged, horses lamed, and citizens run over as ambassadors galloped ahead of their colleagues to take the place at the conference dinner they thought they deserved. These seemingly petty rivalries sometimes resulted in duels being fought, treaties being broken and heads being lost. Fortunately for the United States, it was able to avoid such conflicts because just as it was beginning to emerge on the diplomatic scene, the Congress of Vienna decided that ambassadors would henceforth be ranked according to the time they presented their credentials in a country without regard to the size or power of the country. It was also agreed that signatures would be affixed to treaties alphabetically.
Presidents and First Ladies have traditionally been the "makers of manners." They are the ones who establish the ceremonies that seem second nature today. President George Washington, for example, who was his own Chief of Protocol, believed that official formality and dignified etiquette were needed to gain respect for the new government and to enhance its authority. Mr. Washington did not return any calls and, believing that the head of a nation should not be any man's guest, would never stay with others, but rented the best houses in New York and Philadelphia when he was in those cities.
While George Washington used protocol as a tool to give the new republic legitimacy, years later the President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy would use it to facilitate social change. Their move into the White house in 1961 marked a new era of entertaining. Their interest in history, culture, and the arts gave encouragement to creative people throughout the land. Mrs. Kennedy brought many changes to the social functions of the White House. She was the first President's lady to travel abroad on her own while her husband was in the White House, making a splendid ambassador of goodwill. Mrs. Kennedy introduced the practice of mixing men and women guests at coffee in the Green, Blue, and Red parlors after state dinners. The Kennedy's allowed guests to go with either the gentlemen or the ladies.
Each President and First Lady have their own distinctive way of entertaining and carrying out their duties. Some Presidents, very much aware of the importance to foreign Ambassadors of sitting at the same table as the President, make special efforts to entertain Ambassadors at dinner. Others use different methods of influencing and persuading. The increasing numbers of Ambassadors in Washington and the ever-increasing influence of the United States in the world toady, together with the fact that women are playing a far greater part in diplomatic and official life, make it necessary for many changes in protocol.
At first view protocol may seem both strange and cumbersome. The rules often may be just the opposite to what is done in everyday courtesy by persons not involved in government and diplomacy. For example, in an official receiving line, the husband precedes his wife. In private life, the wife normally goes first. In official life, a guest of honor is not always seated to the right of the host or hostess, as seating is determined by rules of precedence of the ranking official, far down the table. At a private home party, the honor guest is expected to stay until the last guest has departed. In official life, the honor guest, if he is also the ranking official, must leave first and others must not depart until he has done so.
The person experienced in official life knows that protocol serves as a useful guide on how to behave in official relations with people of different countries and national origins no matter how diverse their own national customs may be.
Any organization or society must, if it is to thrive, operate under certain rules if for no other reason than to prevent chaos. The same applies to relations between governments. It is necessary that contacts between nations be made according to universally accepted rules or customs and some form of planned organization. That is protocol.
One cautionary note: A gentle but sometimes confusing clashing of cultures may occur if visitors to the United States have studied and learned American customs and protocol and want to demonstrate that knowledge. They may surprise you with a bone-crushing handshake and split-second promptness simply because they have done their homework on American protocol, learned that firm handshakes and punctuality prevail here, and have decided to display their knowledge.
Under potentially confusing situations such as these, remember John Quincy Adam's advice that protocol should fundamentally be based on "common sense and consideration" and you will not go wrong.
We would like to acknowledge the authors of Protocol: The Complete Handbook of Diplomatic, Official and Social Usage Mary Jane McCaffree and Pauline Innis have made a valuable contribution to our web site. ( Pauline Innis and Mary Jane McCaffree. Protocol: The Complete Handbook of Diplomatic, Officail ans Social Usage. Devon Publishing Company Inc., Washington D.C., 1985)