Dean Rusk

David Dean Rusk (February 9, 1909 – December 20, 1994) was an American politician. He served as the United States Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Rusk is the second-longest serving U.S. Secretary of State of all time, behind only Cordell Hull and tied with William H. Seward.

Dean Rusk
Dean Rusk.jpg
54th United States Secretary of State
In office
January 21, 1961 – January 20, 1969
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byChristian A. Herter
Succeeded byWilliam P. Rogers
2nd Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs
In office
March 28, 1950 – December 9, 1951
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byWilliam Walton Butterworth
Succeeded byJohn Moore Allison
1st Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
In office
February 8, 1949 – May 26, 1949
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byPost created
Succeeded byJohn D. Hickerson
Personal details
Born
David Dean Rusk

(1909-02-09)February 9, 1909
Cherokee County, Georgia, U.S.
DiedDecember 20, 1994(1994-12-20) (aged 85)
Athens, Georgia, U.S.[1]
Resting placeOconee Hill Cemetery in Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Virginia Foisie Rusk
(m. 1937; his death 1994)
Children
EducationDavidson College
Oxford University
UC Berkeley School of Law
ProfessionProfessor, Soldier, Politician
AwardsLegion of Merit
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
RankUS-O6 insignia.svg Colonel
Battles/warsWorld War II

As Secretary of State he believed in the use of military action to combat communism. On March 24, 1961, Rusk released a brief statement saying his delegation was to travel to Bangkok and the SEATO nations' responsibility should be considered if peace settlements are not realized.[2]

In 1964, Rusk said the US would not be pushed out of the Gulf of Tonkin and that the prevention of it becoming a "communist lake" would be assured by the continued presence of American forces there.[3]

During his later years, Rusk showed his support of Richard Nixon and his handling of the Cold War.[4]

Rusk died of heart failure in Athens, Georgia on December 20, 1994, at the age of 85.

Dean Rusk Media

References