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'''Dean Gooderham Acheson''' (1893-1971) was an American statesman who dominated foreign policy making in the 1940sand early 1950s. A specialist in international law, he held top positions in the Treasury Department in 1933. For most of 1941-53 he was a senior official in the State Department, and more responsible than anyone else for many major policy decisions.  

'''Dean Acheson''' (1893-1971) was an American statesman who dominated foreign policy making in the 1940sand early 1950s. A specialist in international law, he held top positions in the Treasury Department in 1933. For most of 1941-53 he was a senior official in the State Department, and more responsible than anyone else for many major policy decisions.  

Acheson was primarily responsibly for shaping American foreign policy during the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administration in the early [[Cold War]] years, 1945-1952, including the implementation of the containment strategy.  He helped design and implement many important institutions, including [[Lend Lease]], the [[Truman Doctrine]], the [[Marshall Plan]], the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], and the [[World Bank]], together with the early organizations that later became the [[European Union]] and the [[World Trade Organization]]. His most famous decision was convincing Truman in June 1950 to intervene in the [[Korean War]].  Historians have argued, "Dean Acheson was more than 'present at the creation' of the [[Cold War]]; he was a primary architect."<ref> Randall Bennett Woods, "The Good Shepherd," ''Reviews in American History,'' Volume 35, Number 2, June 2007, pp. 284-288 </ref>  

Acheson was primarily responsibly for shaping American foreign policy during the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administration in the early [[Cold War]] years, 1945-1952, including the implementation of the containment strategy.  He helped design and implement many important institutions, including [[Lend Lease]], the [[Truman Doctrine]], the [[Marshall Plan]], the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], and the [[World Bank]], together with the early organizations that later became the [[European Union]] and the [[World Trade Organization]]. His most famous decision was convincing Truman in June 1950 to intervene in the [[Korean War]].  Historians have argued, "Dean Acheson was more than 'present at the creation' of the [[Cold War]]; he was a primary architect."<ref> Randall Bennett Woods, "The Good Shepherd," ''Reviews in American History,'' Volume 35, Number 2, June 2007, pp. 284-288 </ref>  

Acheson came under heavy attack for his policies in China and for his defense of State Department employees accused during Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]]'s anti-Communist investigations. Acheson was instrumental in framing U.S. policy toward [[Vietnam]], persuading Truman to dispatch aid and advisors to French forces in [[French Indochina|Indochina]], though in 1968 he finally counseled President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to negotiate for peace with [[North Vietnam]]. During the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], President [[John F. Kennedy]] called upon Acheson for advice, bringing him into the executive committee ([[ExComm]]), a strategic advisory group.  

Acheson came under heavy attack for his policies in China and for his defense of State Department employees accused during Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]]'s anti-Communist investigations in 1950-52.  

 

After he left office in 1953 he practiced law and advised presidents of both parties.  Acheson was instrumental in framing U.S. policy toward the [[Vietnam War]], persuading Truman to dispatch aid and advisors to French forces in [[French Indochina|Indochina]]. During the 1962 [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], President [[John F. Kennedy]] called upon Acheson for advice, bringing him into the executive committee ([[ExComm]]), a strategic advisory group. In 1968 he counseled President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to negotiate for peace with [[North Vietnam]].  

==Early career==  

==Early career==  

Acheson was born in Middletown, Connecticut, April 11, 1893. His father was the prominent Episcopalian bishop of Connecticut; both parents were Canadians and he had a slight British accent and demeanor that annoyed his Anglophobic critics. They accused him with some justification of having a pro-British bias.  Acheson attended [[Groton School]] and [[Yale College]] (BA 1915). At Groton and Yale he had the reputation of a partier and prankster; he was somewhat aloof but still popular with his classmates. Acheson's famous arrogance—he disdained the curriculum at Yale as focusing on memorizing subjects already known or not worth knowing more about—was early apparent. At [[Harvard Law School]] from 1915 to 1918, however, he was swept away by the intellect of professor [[Felix Frankfurter]] and finished fifth in his class.  

Acheson was born in Middletown, Connecticut, April 11, 1893. His father was the socially prominent Episcopalian bishop of Connecticut; both parents were Canadians and he had a slight British accent and demeanor that annoyed his Anglophobic critics. They accused him with some justification of having a pro-British bias.  Acheson attended [[Groton School]] and [[Yale College]] (BA 1915). At Groton and Yale he had the reputation of a partier and prankster; he was somewhat aloof but still popular with his classmates. Acheson's famous arrogance—he disdained the curriculum at Yale as focusing on memorizing subjects already known or not worth knowing more about—was early apparent. At [[Harvard Law School]] from 1915 to 1918, however, he was swept away by the intellect of professor [[Felix Frankfurter]] and finished fifth in his class.  

In 1917, during wartime service in the National Guard, he married Alice Stanley. She loved painting and politics and served as a stabilizing influence during their long, traditional marriage; they had three children: David, Jane, and Mary. [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] Justice [[Louis Brandeis]], a liberals, made Acheson his clerk for two terms from 1919 to 1921.<ref> Beisner (2006)</ref>  In private practice in Washington he specialized in international  law.

In 1917, during wartime service in the National Guard, he married Alice Stanley. She loved painting and politics and served as a stabilizing influence during their long, traditional marriage; they had three children: David, Jane, and Mary. [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] Justice [[Louis Brandeis]], a liberals, made Acheson his clerk for two terms from 1919 to 1921.<ref> Beisner (2006)</ref>  In private practice in Washington he specialized in international  law.