On the Fringes of the Cold War, Shangri-La, and American Consciousness: Lowell Thomas, Lowell Thomas, Jr., and Tibet, 1949 -- 1970

This dissertation examines Lowell Thomas's 1949 trip to Tibet, its political implications, what Thomas did to raise awareness for Tibet in the US, and how he helped Tibetans over the last few decades of his life. Lowell Jackson Thomas (1892-1981) became a household name as a newsman, writer, lecturer, explorer, and entrepreneur. His passion for exploration and public speaking led him to crisscross the globe in search of his next big story. One of Thomas's goals as an explorer was to visit Tibet. After decades of attempting to reach the mecca of travelers, he spent several weeks traveling to Lhasa with his son, Lowell Thomas, Jr., during the summer of 1949, on the eve of its invasion by communist China. Thomas and his son initially traveled to Tibet only to gather material for a new travelogue, but they became entangled in a relationship with the Tibetan people that would last for the rest of their lives.;During their time in Lhasa it became apparent that the Tibetan government invited Thomas to Tibet in the hopes that he would be able to convince the US government to come to the aid of Tibet and keep communist China at bay. Thomas and his son became unofficial ambassadors to Tibet and upon their return to the US they met with the highest level officials in the country. They also embarked on an extraordinary media campaign to raise awareness to Tibet's plight. They broadcast their story on the radio, traveled across America lecturing, produced films, and wrote articles and books concerning their Tibet experiences. After the Tibet Uprising in 1959, Thomas established one of the first Tibetan refugee organizations, the American Emergency Committee for Tibetan Refugees.;The Thomases helped shape how the American people viewed Tibet at a critical time in US history and they played a little known role in starting the Tibetan Independence Movement. The Thomases' efforts to help Tibet may not have gone as they planned, but ultimately they made a lasting contribution in aiding Tibet and Tibetans.