Background
Lilley, James Roderick was born on January 15, 1928 in Tsingtao, China. Son of Frank Walder and Inez (Bush) Lilley.
( James Lilley's life and family have been entwined with ...)
James Lilley's life and family have been entwined with China's fate since his father moved to the country to work for Standard Oil in 1916. Lilley spent much of his childhood in China and after a Yale professor took him aside and suggested a career in intelligence, it became clear that he would spend his adult life returning to China again and again. Lilley served for twenty-five years in the CIA in Laos, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taiwan before moving to the State Department in the early 1980s to begin a distinguished career as the U.S.'s top-ranking diplomat in Taiwan, ambassador to South Korea, and finally, ambassador to China. From helping Laotian insurgent forces assist the American efforts in Vietnam to his posting in Beijing during the Tiananmen Square crackdown, he was in a remarkable number of crucial places during challenging times as he spent his life tending to America's interests in Asia. In China Hands, he includes three generations of stories from an American family in the Far East, all of them absorbing, some of them exciting, and one, the loss of Lilley's much loved and admired brother, Frank, unremittingly tragic. China Hands is a fascinating memoir of America in Asia, Asia itself, and one especially capable American's personal history.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586483439/?tag=2022091-20
(From the INTRODUCTION: THIS little work is not only in...)
From the INTRODUCTION: THIS little work is not only intended as a guide to the particular art of china painting, but is especially designed to meet the needs of those who may be unaccustomed to the use of either brush or pencil. With this end in view, the strict attention which will be given to practical detail, and the careful instruction in the rudiments of the art may prove somewhat fatiguing to those who, already experienced in oil and water colors, desire only such instruction as will aid them in the use of mineral colors upon the glazed surface of hard porcelain. Let these amateurs in china painting remember that the most skillful artists have failed in attempts at china decoration through ignorance of a few secrets pertaining to this art alone, which, when learned, seem simple enough, but by their intelligent use enable the artist to produce results that add materially to our home decoration. First attempts are always more or less discouraging. Difficulties, unknown in oil painting, are here encountered at every step; but these difficulties, insurmountable by the uninitiated, are, after a little careful study, easily overcome. For the encouragement of beginners it may also be said that if obstacles are encountered in the first "manipulation" of the vitrifiable colors used in china-painting, so also are more agreeable results possible from the hands of the amateur than in any other branch of art; and articles in china, decorated by purely mechanical means, sometimes compare favorably with the valuable productions of accomplished artists. Success in this art depends greatly upon the patience and perseverance of the decorator, and a proper selection of colors, brushes, etc. It may also be added that perfect order and cleanliness are not only desirable but positively necessary in order to obtain satisfactory results. It would be hard to find an accomplishment more refined or elegant, or that will yield a better return for the time, labor, and thought expended on it, than china painting. Many beautiful and original modes of decoration, and, it may be added, many novel and interesting artistic ideas, which would otherwise lie dormant, may here find expression as the tyro in this branch of art becomes more proficient and better able to finish and perfect the work. Many persons in the great cities earn a comfortable livelihood by practicing this branch of art, and, in proportion as they excel, find both profit and delight in its pursuit.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1500150878/?tag=2022091-20
ambassador think-tank executive
Lilley, James Roderick was born on January 15, 1928 in Tsingtao, China. Son of Frank Walder and Inez (Bush) Lilley.
Bachelor, Yale University, 1951. Master of Arts, George Washington University, 1972.
Foreign affairs officer United States Department State, various East Asian posts, 1958-1975, deputy assistant secretary for East Asian affairs Washington, 1985-1986. National intelligence officer Central Intelligence Agency, 1975-1978. Senior East Asian specialist National Security Council, 1981.
Director American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei, 1982-1984. United States ambassador to Republic of Korea United States Department State, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 1986-1989, United States ambassador to China Beijing, 1989-1991. Assistant secretary United States Department Defense, Washington, 1991-1993.
Senior resident fellow American Enterprise Institute (Associated Electrical Industries), 1993—2009. Consultant Hunt/Sedco Oil Corporation, Dallas, 1979-1981, United Technologies, Hartford, Court, 1979-1980, Otis Elevator, Farmington, Court, 1984-1985, Westinghouse, Baltimore, 1984.
(From the INTRODUCTION: THIS little work is not only in...)
( James Lilley's life and family have been entwined with ...)
Author: Beyond MFN, 1994, (with Jeffrey Lilley) China Hands, 2004.
With United States Army, 1946-1947. 1st lieutenant United States Air Force Reserve, 1950-1967. Member Metropolitan Club (Washington), Royal Bangkok Sports Club.
Swimming, bicycling.
Married Sally Booth, May 1, 1954. Children: Douglas, Michael, Jeffrey.