Marc J. Susser

Dr. Marc J. Susser is a former historian of the United States Department of State. The Office of the Historian of the Department of State is responsible, by act of the United States Congress, for the publication of the official historical record of United States foreign policy. This is done via the Foreign Relations Series series of books.

Susser has a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He became the historian in January 2001.

In 2004, a U.S. State Department symposium was convened about the Six-Day War in response to the findings of the 2003 Moorer Commission and the 2004 release of Captain Ward Boston’s affidavit pertaining to the 1967 USS Liberty incident. As the State Department’s official historian, Susser spoke at the symposium. A. Jay Cristol (who had just released his first book excusing the Liberty attack), Michael B. Oren (a Middle Eastern historian and Israeli politician), and James Bamford (an author and Liberty advocate) also spoke. When several Liberty survivors, including former Petty Officer First Class Joseph C. Lentini and former Petty Officer Phillip F. Tourney, attempted to speak after the floor had been opened to questions, the State Department shut down the symposium.