Dean Rusk
Dean Rusk was an influential American diplomat who served as the Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Born in Georgia, he graduated from Davidson College and later studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Rusk's early career included military service during World War II and roles within the U.S. Department of State. As Secretary of State, he played key roles in critical events, including the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he advocated for a blockade of Cuba, contributing to the resolution of that tense situation.
Rusk’s tenure was heavily marked by the Vietnam War, where he staunchly supported U.S. involvement, believing in the nation’s commitment to South Vietnam. His position led to significant public opposition, including protests from his own son. Toward the end of the Vietnam conflict, Rusk acknowledged flaws in his approach, realizing he had underestimated both the determination of the Vietnamese forces and the limits of American public patience. After leaving office, he returned to academia, teaching international law and later published his memoirs, reflecting on his experiences and the complexities of U.S. foreign policy during his time in office. Rusk's legacy remains significant in understanding the intricacies of U.S. diplomacy in the mid-20th century.
Subject Terms
Dean Rusk
- Born: February 9, 1909
- Birthplace: Cherokee County, Georgia
- Died: December 20, 1994
- Place of death: Athens, Georgia
Secretary of state from 1961 to 1969, under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Rusk played an instrumental role in international relations, particularly U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Early Life
After spending his boyhood years in Georgia, (David) Dean Rusk attended Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1931. As a Rhodes Scholar, Rusk went to St. John’s College of Oxford University and earned a master of arts degree in philosophy, politics, and economics in 1934. Upon returning to the United States, Rusk taught at Mills College in Oakland, California. In 1937, Rusk married Virginia Foisie; they had two sons and a daughter. In 1940, Rusk was called to active duty from his position as an Army Reserve officer and served until 1946 in the Pacific theater and in Washington, D.C. From 1946 until 1951, Rusk was employed in various capacities by both the Department of State and Department of War. In 1952, Rusk became the president of the Rockefeller Foundation and remained in that position until 1961.
The 1960’s
Having spent much of his early career in the State Department (1946 to 1952), Rusk had the background as a diplomat and was a strong candidate for secretary of state. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Rusk secretary of state, a position Rusk would hold for eight years.
Under Kennedy, Rusk led U.S. foreign policymakers through two crises involving Cuba. The first was the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. Rusk opposed the invasion of Cuba but voiced his concerns to Kennedy only in private meetings and on nonmilitary grounds and deferred to the decision made by the president and his other advisers. The second problem involving the island nation in which Rusk played a role was the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. On October 19, after five days of debate, Rusk, along with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, advised Kennedy to order a partial blockade of Cuba. Kennedy followed their advice, coupling the blockade with the threat of military force, and the Soviet Union removed the missiles from Cuba.
In 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson retained Rusk as his secretary of state. Under Johnson, Rusk’s time and energy was consumed by the escalating conflict in Vietnam. Rusk believed that the United States had committed to helping South Vietnam and was determined that the United States would fulfill its promise. Rusk continually defended the nation’s Vietnam policy to Congress and the American public. As the war lingered into the late 1960’s, Rusk became the target of antiwar protesters, including his estranged son, Richard Rusk, at public appearances. Despite his earlier stance of remaining dedicated to U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Rusk recommended in March, 1968, that the United States stop enlarging its forces in South Vietnam and slow its bombing of North Vietnam.
Later Life
Soon after Richard M. Nixon was sworn in as president in 1969, Rusk left the Department of State. He took a teaching position at Athens Law School at the University of Georgia in 1970 and taught international law there until he retired in 1984. Following his retirement, Rusk wrote his memoir, As I Saw It (1990), with the help of his son Richard, with whom he had reconciled after the end of the Vietnam War. Looking back on the Vietnam War, Rusk said his policy was flawed in two ways. First, he believed he had underestimated the resolve of the Viet Cong (South Vietnamese Communists) and the North Vietnamese in fighting for an independent and unified Vietnam. Second, he felt that he overestimated the patience with which the United States public would wait for an eventual victory.
Impact
Rusk, one of the leading advocates for continued U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, helped prolong the nation’s tour of duty in Southeast Asia. Although initially reserved in providing his opinion to Kennedy, he had no problem voicing his position on U.S. foreign policy during his tenure under Johnson. His recommendations to both presidents affected the United States’ world position during the following decades.
Additional Information
Warren Cohen’s Dean Rusk (1980), volume 19 of The American Secretaries of State and Their Diplomacy, provides deeper insight into Rusk and his policies.