Dr. Thanat Khoman
Among those who were deeply saddened by the tragic death of President Kennedy was Dr. Thanat Khoman, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who strongly believed in the ideals and vision of the young leader. On December 2, 1963, using his personal funds, Dr. Thanat established the John F. Kennedy Foundation of Thailand to honor President Kennedy and to further those ideals.Dr. Thanat spent much of his diplomatic career working toward many of the same goals as had John Kennedy, and his contributions are evident today. The regional organization known as ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was created in large part through his skill in diplomacy and determination to promote regional reconciliation and cooperation. His strong promotion of education contributed to the creation in 1959 of the SEATO Graduate School, which later became the Asian Institute of Technology, and in 1967, the establishment of the Prince of Songkhla University.
Beginning with only a modest operating fund the organization increased its principal through donations, bequests, interest and dividends, enabling it to support an expanding base of activities, and over the years has accomplished much within the educational and cultural fields.
The Foundation is approved by and its charter registered with the Ministry of Interior. It is non-political and has an all-volunteer Board of Directors. H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman and H.E. Ambassador Leonard Unger were the first Chairman and Deputy Chairman, respectively. The position of Honorary Secretary has been held by an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since the Foundation's inception.