Cookie pusher facts for kids

The slang term cookie pusher is often used to describe diplomats. Diplomats are people who represent their country in other nations, working to keep peace and good relationships. The term has sometimes been used to make fun of diplomats, suggesting they only attend fancy parties and don't do much important work. However, it can also be used as a nickname for members of the United States Foreign Service, who are the official diplomats for the U.S. government.

What Does "Cookie Pusher" Mean?

The phrase "cookie pusher" suggests someone who serves snacks, like cookies, at social events. When used for diplomats, it implies they spend their time at formal receptions or parties, rather than doing serious work. This stereotype often ignores the difficult and important tasks diplomats actually perform around the world.

Where Did the Term "Cookie Pusher" Come From?

The term "cookie pusher" was first used by a U.S. diplomat named Hugh S. Gibson in 1924. This was recorded by the American Dialect Society, which studies how language changes.

How Was the Term Used in the Past?

Throughout the 1900s and into the 2000s, "cookie pusher" has been used in different ways. Sometimes it was meant as an insult, but other times it was just a casual nickname for American Foreign Service Officers.

For example, in 1950, a newspaper called The Christian Science Monitor published articles about the U.S. Foreign Service. These articles were subtitled "Alias Cookie Pushers." They praised the diplomats and talked about the tough situations they faced. This helped to challenge the idea that diplomats were just "striped pants Cookie Pushers from Harvard," meaning rich, fancy people who didn't do real work.

How Is the Term Used Today?

Today, the term can still refer to a junior diplomat who helps serve food at official parties. It suggests they are "pushing" appetizers on guests, even if the guests don't really want them. This idea still connects the term to the social side of diplomatic work.

What Do Diplomats Say About "Cookie Pusher"?

Many important U.S. diplomats and officials have spoken about the "cookie pusher" stereotype. They often try to explain that their work is much more important and challenging than the nickname suggests.

Former Secretary of State James F. Byrnes (1946)

James F. Byrnes, who was a top U.S. diplomat, spoke in 1946 about how diplomats were often treated unfairly. He said:

As to these 'striped-pants' fellows, I have to take off my hat to them. I have found that through the years they have been step-children in the (diplomatic) service, so far as compensation goes... I see in the service no inducement to a young fellow to leave home, enter the service, be sent all over the world... Perhaps he rarely gets a chance to see his family or friends. Because we never see him, we reward him by calling him a cookie pusher. And the fellow himself never has a chance to say anything."

He meant that diplomats work hard, often far from home, and don't get enough credit. Calling them "cookie pushers" was a way of ignoring their real efforts.

Former Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns also talked about this stereotype. He said that many people think diplomats are just "pin-striped cookie pushers." He felt it was important to show the public what diplomats really do and why their work is valuable.

State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Wendy Chamberlin

Wendy Chamberlin, another high-ranking State Department official, explained that diplomats are like "new gladiators" fighting international crime. She noted that the media often calls diplomats "cookie pushers" or the "stripe pants set." She wanted to show that diplomats are key players in solving global problems.

Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage

Richard Armitage, a former Deputy Secretary of State, pointed out that most people think of top leaders like Colin Powell when they think of the State Department. He said people often imagine "polite cookie-pushers in pinstripes." But he stressed that many State Department workers are actually fraud investigators or trainers, putting their lives at risk every day. He wanted people to understand that diplomats do much more than just attend parties.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell

Colin Powell, a very respected former Secretary of State, also got annoyed by the "pin-striped cookie pushers" comment. He gave examples of ambassadors like Zalmay Khalilzad in Kabul and John Negroponte in Baghdad, who faced dangerous situations to help their country. He said these diplomats and their teams work hard every day, often at risk to themselves and their families, and deserve respect.

American Foreign Service Association (2007)

In 2007, the American Foreign Service Association, which represents U.S. diplomats, spoke out during a time when some diplomats might have been forced to work in Iraq. They said that thousands of diplomats had already volunteered for dangerous assignments. They strongly stated, "We're not weenies, we're not cowards, we're not cookie pushers in Europe." This showed that diplomats are brave and willing to take risks for their country.