International Visitor Leadership Program

In 1940, Nelson Rockefeller was named the Coordinator of Commercial and Cultural Affairs for the American Republics. He initiated the exchange of persons program with Latin America, inviting 130 Latin American journalists to the United States and recognized as the first exchange under what would become the IVLP. In 1948 representative Karl E. Mundt and Senator H. Alexander Smith marshaled the Informational and Educational Exchange Act, also known as the Smith-Mundt Act which was passed by the 80th United States Congress and approved by President Harry S. Truman. During a time when Americans grew increasingly concerned about Soviet propaganda, the purpose of the Smith-Mundt was "to promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries, and to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries" though educational and cultural exchanges. From this legislation birthed the Foreign Leaders Program, which was eventually consolidated into the International Visitor Program (IVP) in 1952. In 2004, the IVP was renamed the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). == Goals ==

The purpose of the IVLP is to: • cultivate lasting relationships between current and emerging professionals around the world and their American counterparts • provides opportunities for foreign opinion makers to gain firsthand knowledge about U.S. society, culture and politics == Notable alumni ==

The following tables list the 339 current and former chiefs of state and heads of government who have participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program. East Asia and Pacific Europe North Africa, Near East, South Asia and Central Asia Sub-Saharan Africa Western Hemisphere == Agencies involved ==

The IVLP functions through a cooperative agreement with several National Program Agencies and Global Ties U.S., comprising organizations in 45 states, that arrange the itineraries for IVLP exchange participants. • CRDF Global • Cultural Vistas • FHI360 • Institute of International Education • Meridian International Center • Mississippi Consortium for International Development • American Councils for International Education • World Learning == References ==