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Peace Dove pin, designer Cecile et Jeanne, France; photographer John Bigelow Taylor.
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Sending Messages

Blue Bird Pin

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  • Title Blue Bird

    Date circa 1880

    Designer Anton Lachmann, Austria

    Materials 14kt Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel, Rubies, Diamonds

    Size 4.3" x 2"
    (10.9cm x 5.1cm)

PLANE SHOT DOWN BETWEEN CUBA AND FLORIDA, 1996

A blue bird pin reinforced Ambassador Albright’s approach to sending messages with her jewelry. On February 24, 1996, Cuban fighter pilots shot down two unarmed civilian aircraft over international waters between Cuba and Florida. In their official transcripts, the pilots boasted about destroying the cojones of their victims. Albright immediately denounced the murders, saying, “This is not cojones, it is cowardice.” She also wore her blue bird pin with its head pointing down, in mourning for the four Cuban-American fliers killed in the tragedy.

Albright Yasser Arafat and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Secretary Albright meets with Palestinian Territories Minister Yasser Arafat wearing the Blue Bird pin. Collection of the National Museum of American Diplomacy.

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