why is dean acheson famous

by Berneice Zemlak Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Dean Gooderham Acheson (pronounced /ˈætʃɪsən/; April 11, 1893 – October 12, 1971) was an American statesman and lawyer. As the 51st U.S. Secretary of State, he set the foreign policy of the Harry S. Truman administration from 1949 to 1953.

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Jan 14, 2020 · Why is Dean Acheson famous? As United States Secretary of State in the administration of President Harry S. Truman from 1949 to 1953, he played a central role in defining American foreign policy during the Cold War.

Who was Dean Acheson and why is he important in a Cold War study?

Dean Acheson, in full Dean Gooderham Acheson, (born April 11, 1893, Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.—died October 12, 1971, Sandy Spring, Maryland), U.S. secretary of state (1949–53) and adviser to four presidents, who became the principal creator of U.S. foreign policy in the Cold War period following World War II; he ...Apr 7, 2022

What was Dean Acheson role in the Korean War?

The Korean War (1950–53) dominated Dean Acheson's term as secretary of state. In fact, some people accused Acheson of being responsible for the war. In January 1950, in his first month as secretary, Acheson gave a speech to the National Press Club.

What did Dean Acheson believe?

Truman (1884–1973; see entry), Dean Acheson became one of the most influential individuals in the entire history of American foreign relations. He believed that the top concern of American foreign policy was to stop the Soviet Union in what he saw as an attempt to conquer the world.

How did Dean Acheson view the Soviet Union?

Although Acheson supported the containment of communism and the tenets of the Truman Doctrine, he was also a realist who recognized that the Soviet Union was not only an ideological opponent, but also a viable global power that had to be viewed as a serious geopolitical challenge to U.S. interests.

Why was Korea First divided?

In 1950, after years of mutual hostilities, North Korea invaded South Korea in an attempt to re-unify the peninsula under its communist rule. The subsequent Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, ended with a stalemate and has left Korea divided by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) up to the present day.

How did the Truman Doctrine affect the US?

The Truman Doctrine effectively reoriented U.S. foreign policy, away from its usual stance of withdrawal from regional conflicts not directly involving the United States, to one of possible intervention in far away conflicts.

How do you pronounce the last name Acheson?

Break 'Acheson' down into sounds: [ACH] + [I] + [SUHN] - say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.

Who was Truman's Secretary of State?

James Francis Byrnes was appointed Secretary of State by President Harry S. Truman on July 3, 1945, and entered duty on the same day. He left office on January 21, 1947. Byrnes led the Department of State during the significant transition from World War II to the Cold War.

Who signed the North Atlantic Treaty?

U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson signing the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949, as U.S. President Harry S. Truman (second from left) and Vice President Alben W. Barkley (left) look on. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

Believing that the Soviet Union sought expansion in the Middle East, he shaped what came to be known as the Truman Doctrine (1947), pledging immediate military and economic aid to the governments of Greece and Turkey. In the same year he outlined the main points of what became known as the Marshall Plan.

Introduction

Dean Gooderham Acheson served as Secretary of State from January 21, 1949, through January 20, 1953, and exerted significant influence on U.S. foreign policy during his tenure.

Rise to Prominence

Born on April 11, 1893, Acheson grew up in Middletown, Connecticut, and attended the Groton School, followed by Yale University and then Harvard Law School, where he was elected to the Harvard Law Review.

Influence on American Diplomacy

As Secretary of State, Acheson played an important role in shaping U.S. policy during the early Cold War. Acheson enjoyed a good working relationship with President Harry S. Truman, who often allowed Acheson to be the first official to speak on record about U.S. foreign policy decisions.

What was Dean Acheson's career?

Disillusioned by the smear campaign, Acheson returned to his private law practice. He also wrote several books on politics including Power and Diplomacy (1958), Morning and Noon (1965), Present at the Creation (1970) and The Korean War (1971). Dean Acheson died at Sandy Spring, Maryland, on 12th October, 1971. ▲ Main Article ▲.

Who was Dean Acheson?

After being educated at Yale University (1912-15) and Harvard Law School (1915-18) he became private secretary to the Supreme Court Justice, Lo uis Brandeis (1919-21). A supporter of the Democratic Party, Acheson worked for a law firm in Washington ...

Where was Dean Acheson born?

Dean Acheson was born in Middletown, Connecticut, on 11th April, 1893. After being educated at Yale University (1912-15) and Harvard Law School (1915-18) he became private secretary to the Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis (1919-21).

Who defeated Adlai Stevenson?

from Dean Acheson's cowardly college of Communist containment.". The election campaign of Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon was a great success and in November they easily defeated Adlai Stevenson by 33,936,252 votes to 27,314,922. Disillusioned by the smear campaign, Acheson ...

About

One of the key contributors to American Cold War policy, who advised four successive presidents on dealing with the spread of communism. He was appointed by Harry S. Truman as his Secretary of State in 1949 and he was central to the formation of the Truman Doctrine and the European Recover Program.

Before Fame

He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1918 after attending Yale College from 1912 to 1915.

Trivia

He was instrumental to the formation of NATO to counter potential Soviet military aggression in Europe, but his reputation suffered after the McCarthy hearings and the Korean War.

Family Life

He was born in Middletown, Connecticut; his father Edward Campion Acheson was a Church of England priest.

Associated With

He refused to fire his subordinates accused of communist sympathies, and famously said he would not "turn his back" on the accused spy Alger Hiss.

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