# Bakers Dozen **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [August 4, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173 "2010-08-04T17:56:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3395
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67888 "2019-09-11T18:24:23Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67889 "2019-09-11T19:00:47Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67890 "2019-09-11T20:14:09Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67891 "2019-09-11T20:16:05Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) 8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Vietnam War) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67892 "2019-09-12T04:40:32Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) 8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Vietnam War) 9. War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (Capt. Robert Jenkins’s loss of, well, you know) ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67893 "2019-09-12T11:13:48Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) 8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Vietnam War) 9. War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (Capt. Robert Jenkins’s loss of, well, you know) 10. Britain’s forced conscription of Americans to fight Napoleon (War of 1812) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67894 "2019-09-12T12:57:11Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) 8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Vietnam War) 9. War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (Capt. Robert Jenkins’s loss of, well, you know) 10. Britain’s forced conscription of Americans to fight Napoleon (War of 1812) 11. Argentina’s invasion of Falkland/Malvinas Islands, 1982 (Falklands War) ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67895 "2019-09-12T13:00:06Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) 8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Vietnam War) 9. War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (Capt. Robert Jenkins’s loss of, well, you know) 10. Britain’s forced conscription of Americans to fight Napoleon (War of 1812) 11. Argentina’s invasion of Falkland/Malvinas Islands, 1982 (Falklands War) 12. The Ems Telegram, 1870 (Franco-Prussian War) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67896 "2019-09-12T15:10:23Z")
Casus Belli 1. Mysterious explosion on the battleship USS Maine (Spanish-American War) 2. Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 (World War II) 3. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (World War I) 4. The Siege of Saguntum (Second Punic War) 5. Attack on Fort Sumter (American Civil War) 6. Invasion of Poland, Sept. 1, 1939 (World War II) 7. The Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran (The Six Day War) 8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Vietnam War) 9. War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (Capt. Robert Jenkins’s loss of, well, you know) 10. Britain’s forced conscription of Americans to fight Napoleon (War of 1812) 11. Argentina’s invasion of Falkland/Malvinas Islands, 1982 (Falklands War) 12. The Ems Telegram, 1870 (Franco-Prussian War) 13. The British Army’s attempt to arrest Patriot leaders and seize arms outside Boston, 1775 (American Revolution) More complicated than that, but that was the spark that started armed hostilities. Next category: Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67897 "2019-09-12T16:10:12Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67898 "2019-09-12T16:35:53Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67899 "2019-09-12T16:54:46Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67900 "2019-09-12T17:25:40Z")
1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67901 "2019-09-13T03:42:20Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67902 "2019-09-13T04:13:20Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” 7. Ken Taylor, Canadian ambassador to Iran, who facilitated the escape of six Americans from Iran in 1980 (aka the “Canadian Caper”) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67903 "2019-09-13T15:29:27Z")
1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” 7. Ken Taylor, Canadian ambassador to Iran, who facilitated the escape of six Americans from Iran in 1980 (aka the “Canadian Caper”) 8. U Thant, Burmese diplomat, longest-serving Secretary-General of the United Nations, helped avert catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67904 "2019-09-13T15:48:40Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” 7. Ken Taylor, Canadian ambassador to Iran, who facilitated the escape of six Americans from Iran in 1980 (aka the “Canadian Caper”) 8. U Thant, Burmese diplomat, longest-serving Secretary-General of the United Nations, helped avert catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis 9. Jimmy Carter - helped negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt in 1979 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67905 "2019-09-13T15:52:54Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” 7. Ken Taylor, Canadian ambassador to Iran, who facilitated the escape of six Americans from Iran in 1980 (aka the “Canadian Caper”) 8. U Thant, Burmese diplomat, longest-serving Secretary-General of the United Nations, helped avert catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis 9. Jimmy Carter - helped negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt in 1979 10. Charles Talleyrand - negotiated a surprisingly good deal for France at the Congress of Vienna ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67906 "2019-09-13T17:12:49Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted(sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” 7. Ken Taylor, Canadian ambassador to Iran, who facilitated the escape of six Americans from Iran in 1980 (aka the “Canadian Caper”) 8. U Thant, Burmese diplomat, longest-serving Secretary-General of the United Nations, helped avert catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis 9. Jimmy Carter - helped negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt in 1979 10. Charles Talleyrand - negotiated a surprisingly good deal for France at the Congress of Vienna 11. Joachim von Ribbentrop - negotiated Nazi Germany’s ‘Pact of Steel’ alliance with Italy, and the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop pact that set the stage for the invasion of Poland at the dawn of WW2 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/67907 "2019-09-13T18:39:25Z")
Notable diplomats 1. Benjamin Franklin, US minister to the French royal court (American Revolution) 2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish diplomat, author and economist, and second Secretary-General of the U.N. 3. Prince von Metternich, Austrian Diplomat, led the Congress of Vienna, architect of the “Balance of Power” in Europe that lasted (sorta-kinda) for a century. 4. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian prime minister who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. 5. Vidkun Quisling - Norwegian diplomat to the Soviet Union managing British diplomatic affairs, later executed by firing squad after being found guilty of embezzlement, murder, and high treason against the Norwegian state. 6. Carlos P. Romulo - Philippines, served as President of the UN General Assembly. When the Soviet delegate called him “just a little man from a little country,” Romulo replied “It is the duty of the little Davids here to fling pebbles of truth between the eyes of blustering Goliaths—and make them behave.” 7. Ken Taylor, Canadian ambassador to Iran, who facilitated the escape of six Americans from Iran in 1980 (aka the “Canadian Caper”) 8. U Thant, Burmese diplomat, longest-serving Secretary-General of the United Nations, helped avert catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis 9. Jimmy Carter - helped negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt in 1979 10. Charles Talleyrand - negotiated a surprisingly good deal for France at the Congress of Vienna 11. Joachim von Ribbentrop - negotiated Nazi Germany’s ‘Pact of Steel’ alliance with Italy, and the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop pact that set the stage for the invasion of Poland at the dawn of WW2 12. William H. Seward - US Secretary of State (1861-69); negotiated extraordinarily cheap purchase of Alaska from Russia [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173.md?page=3394) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173.md?page=3396)