James Hadley Billington_rhodes1950.jpg

James “Jim” Hadley Billington (Rhodes 1950)

Rhodes Scholar, Balliol College, University of Oxford. Bohemian Club. Council on Foreign Relations[7]. Bilderberg[8].

Dr. Billington (Rhodes 1950) received 42 honorary degrees, as well as the US Presidential Citizen’s Medal, the Russian Federation’s Order of Friendship, and the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.[4]

Statement from Mrs. Laura W. Bush: (Wife of President George W. Bush S&B 1968) “President Bush (S&B 1968) and I are saddened to learn that the United States has lost Dr. James Billington (Rhodes). Dr. Billington (Rhodes) served as our nation’s librarian for 28 years, leading the Library of Congress’ transition into the digital age. In 2001, he was instrumental in the creation of the National Book Festival, which has welcomed hundreds of thousands of book lovers to the National Mall and to the Library of Congress. Dr. Billington’s (Rhodes) lifelong passion for research and for preserving history ensures that America’s most prized literary treasures will be available to all for generations to come. President Bush (S&B 1969) and I send our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Billington’s (Rhodes) wife Marjorie, and to their four children. He will be missed.”[4]

At the 2011 National Book Festival, author David McCullough (S&B 1955) said: “We have had a number of eminent distinguished Librarians of Congress: Archibald MacLeish (S&B 1915), the famous poet, Daniel Boorstin (Rhodes), the scholar and historian …. But we have never had a more accomplished, productive, inspirational or far-seeing Librarian of Congress than James Billington (Rhodes 1950).[4]

2005 - Inspired by the success of the Global Gateway site, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington [Rhodes 1950] proposed a project called the World Digital Library. Its goal was to make available to anyone with access to the Internet digitized texts and images of “unique and rare materials from libraries and other cultural institutions around the world.” It was designed to be searchable in seven languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish (official languages of the United Nations), as well as Portuguese. In 2007 the Library of Congress and UNESCO signed an agreement to build a World Digital Library Web site, which was launched in 2009 with approximately 1,200 digitized exhibits, including books, maps, and paintings. In 2012, 161 partners in 75 countries provided content to the site. The library is also leading the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, a collaborative effort mandated in 2000 by Congress to preserve the country’s digital assets.[3]

1958 - He first visited Russia and accompanied the President and First Lady, Ronald [Bohemian. Freemason] and Nancy Reagan (VP George H. W. Bush S&B 1948), to Moscow in 1988 for Reagan’s summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev.[4]

1987 - Contributing author, “Diplomacy and the Soviet Union,” Diplomacy for the Future, edited by George C. McGhee (Rhodes Scholar. War Production Board). Washington, DC: University Press of America, in cooperation with the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown, University, 1987, pp. 35–48.

14 Sep 1987 to 30 Sep 2015 - Librarian of Congress by President Barack Obama, George W. Bush (S&B 1968), Bill Clinton (Rhodes 1968), George H. W. Bush (S&B 1948) and Ronald Reagan (Bohemian. Hon. Freemason. VP George H. W. Bush (S&B 1948 . Freemason. Boheminan. Delta Kappa Epsilon).

Preceeded by Daniel J. Boorstin (Rhodes 1934). Succeeded by David S. Maro (Acting)

1973 to 1987 - Director of Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

1964 to 1973 - Professor of History at Princeton University.

1953 to 1961 - President Eisenhower’s Office of National Estimates (CIA).[5]

U.S. Army.

Died 20 Nov 2018, from complications from Pneumonia. Age 89.

[1] - Rhodes Database - James Jim Hadley Billington (Rhodes 1950)

[2] - Wiki - James Jim Hadley Billington (Rhodes 1950)

[3] - Britannica - Library of Congress - Written by James Jim Hadley Billington (Rhodes 1950)

[4] - C-span.org - Video clip David McCullough S&B 1955

[5] - James Jim Hadley Billington (Rhodes 1950) - Obituary

[6] - Ref James Jim Hadley Billington (Rhodes 1950) membership of Bohemian Club