Early Life and Career
Johnson was born in the family row house located at 1st and East Capitol Street (now a part of the location of the United States Supreme Court) in Washington, D.C. He spent a part of his early life in Newkirk, Oklahoma and then Kildare, Oklahoma. He then returned to Washington to complete his schooling at Sidwell Friends School near 8th & I Street NW. He then went to George Washington University and pledged to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. In his freshman year he decided to take the Foreign Service Examination, claiming his residency as Oklahoma. Successful, he received an appointment to the Foreign Service of the United States as appointments were made based on one's home state. He spent his entire adult life in the service of his government. Although he specialized in China and the Far East, first as a student interpreter, then as consular officer, Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, next as Assistant Secretary of State, and then as Minister and Ambassador on assignments to China leading up to World War II and to Australia during World War II. .
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