John Foster Dulles

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John Foster Dulles
United States Secretary of State
In office
1953–1959
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Personal details
Born(1888-02-25)February 25, 1888
Washington, DC
Died (1959-05-24) May 24, 1959 (age 64)
Wasington, D.C.
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican[1]
Spouse(s)Janet Avery Dulles[2]

John Foster Dulles (25 February 1888–24 May 1959) was a US Secretary of State between 1953 and 1959 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Biography[change | change source]

Dulles was born on 25 February 1888 in Washington, DC. He went to public school in Watertown, New York, and also went to three different colleges. In 1908, he graduated from Princeton University, went to the Sorbonne in Paris for two years, and after this learned law at the George Washington University until 1911. That same year, he became a lawyer in New York City.[1]

He was part of the US Army in World War I in 1917 and 1918. After the war, he served as part of many groups involved in world and economic issues.[1]

On 7 July 1949, he became part of the United States Senate after Robert F. Wagner left the Senate. Dulles was part of the Senate until 8 November 1949, when an election for the position was held and he lost. In 1950, he was made a US representative to the United Nations.[1]

In 1953, he became Secretary of State, and served as such until 15 April 1959, when he left the position because of colorectal cancer.[1][2] He died on 24 May 1959.[2]

Awards and honors[change | change source]

In 1954, Dulles was named the "Man of the Year" by Time Magazine.[3] He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1959, just before he died.[2] Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia is named for Dulles, as is the community of Dulles, Virginia

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "DULLES, John Foster, (1888 - 1959)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "John Foster Dulles". Arlington National Cemetery website. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  3. "THE NATION: Man of the Year". Time Magazine. 3 January 1955. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2010.