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Master Diplomat
From his early talks with Native Americans to his final negotiations with England and France, Franklin consistently employed a range of skillful tactics in his role as diplomat. Restraint, compromise, cunning, and vision were among the qualities Franklin brought to the table. He traced his diplomatic strategy back to his understanding of the game of chess. Reflecting on the American victory at Yorktown in 1781, Franklin wrote to Mme Brillon, "I never give up on a game before it is finished, always hoping that I shall eventually win." |