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With World War II on the horizon, Roosevelt brought in many prominent conservatives, including [[Henry Stimson]] at the War DepDepartment, and Acheson for a top job at the State Department, assistant secretary of state. In 1945 he was promoted to undersecretary of state, the number two position, holding it 1945-47 under President [[Harry S. Truman]].

With World War II on the horizon, Roosevelt brought in many prominent conservatives, including [[Henry Stimson]] at the War DepDepartment, and Acheson for a top job at the State Department, assistant secretary of state. In 1945 he was promoted to undersecretary of state, the number two position, holding it 1945-47 under President [[Harry S. Truman]].

==Cold War==

==Cold War==

As late as 1945 Acheson sought détente with the Soviet Union, which was FDR's wartime policy.  He switched to [[Containment]] policy in order to stop further Soviet expansion in the face of Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe and threats to Iran. When he realized the Soviets were working outside traditional diplomatic channels, Acheson became a devoted and influential cold warrior.

As late as 1945 Acheson sought détente with the Soviet Union, which was FDR's wartime policy.  He switched to [[Containment]] policy in order to stop further Soviet expansion in the face of Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe and threats to Iran. When he realized the Soviets were working outside traditional diplomatic channels, Acheson became a devoted and influential cold warrior.

Acheson promoted UNRRA and the [[Bretton Woods Conference]] and played a major role in designing the [[Marshall Plan]]. In 1946, as chairman of a special committee to prepare a plan for the international control of atomic energy, he wrote the Acheson-Lilienthal report.  He resigned as undersecretary of state, June 30, 1947, and resumed his law practice.  

Acheson promoted UNRRA and the [[Bretton Woods Conference]] and played a major role in designing the [[Marshall Plan]]. In 1946, as chairman of a special committee to prepare a plan for the international control of atomic energy, he wrote the Acheson-Lilienthal report.  He resigned as undersecretary of state, June 30, 1947, and resumed his law practice.  

===Secretary of State, 1949-1953===

===Secretary of State, 1949-1953===

On Jan. 7, 1949, Acheson was appointed secretary of state to succeed [[George C. Marshall]], who had failed to stop the loss of China to violently anti-American Communists.  Acheson operationalized containment in Europe by creating [[NATO]], a military alliance that in fact did end further Soviet expansion in Europe, He designed the Japanese peace treaty, signed in 1951.  

On Jan. 7, 1949, Acheson was appointed secretary of state to succeed [[George C. Marshall]], who had failed to stop the loss of China to violently anti-American Communists.  Acheson operationalized containment in Europe by creating [[NATO]], a military alliance that in fact did end further Soviet expansion in Europe, He designed the Japanese peace treaty, signed in 1951.  

===Korean war===

===Korean war===

Acheson's speech on January 12, 1950, before the National Press Club seemed to say that South Korea was beyond the line and that American  support for the new Syngman Rhee government in South Korea would be limited. Critics later charged that Acheson's ambiguity provided [[Joseph Stalin]] and [[Kim Il-sung]] with reason to believe the US would not intervene if they invaded the South. However, evidence from Korean and Soviet archives demonstrates that Stalin and Kim's decisions were not influenced by Acheson's speech.

Acheson's speech on January 12, 1950, before the National Press Club seemed to say that South Korea was beyond the line and that American  support for the new Syngman Rhee government in South Korea would be limited. Critics later charged that Acheson's ambiguity provided [[Joseph Stalin]] and [[Kim Il-sung]] with reason to believe the US would not intervene if they invaded the South. However, evidence from Korean and Soviet archives demonstrates that Stalin and Kim's decisions were not influenced by Acheson's speech.

He retired as secretary of state on Jan. 20, 1953. Eisenhower ignored him but he later served as a foreign policy adviser to Presidents [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] as well as his old antagonist  [[Richard Nixon]].  In 1970 he won a [[Pulitzer Prize]] for his memoirs.

He retired as secretary of state on Jan. 20, 1953. Eisenhower ignored him but he later served as a foreign policy adviser to Presidents [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] as well as his old antagonist  [[Richard Nixon]].  In 1970 he won a [[Pulitzer Prize]] for his memoirs.

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Acheson, Dean. ''Present at the Creation: My Years in the State Department''(1969), 816pp; highly revealing memoir; won the Pulitzer prize; [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0393304124/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and text search]

* Acheson, Dean. ''Present at the Creation: My Years in the State Department''(1969), 816pp; highly revealing memoir; won the Pulitzer prize; [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0393304124/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and text search]

* McLellan, David S., and David C. Acheson, eds. ''Among Friends: Personal Letters of Dean Acheson'' (1980)

* McLellan, David S., and David C. Acheson, eds. ''Among Friends: Personal Letters of Dean Acheson'' (1980)

====notes====

====notes====

<references/>

<references/>

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Cold War]]

* [[Cold War]]

*[[Korean War]]

* [[Korean War]]

*[[NATO]]

* [[NATO]]

 

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[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]

[[Category:United States Appointed Officials]]

[[category:diplomacy]]

[[category:diplomacy]]

[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]