Dean Acheson

1893–1971 (age 78)

Diplomat

Photograph of Dean Acheson Photograph of Dean Acheson

Biography

Dean Acheson (1893–1971) was a distinguished American diplomat and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Harry S. Truman from 1949 to 1953. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Acheson became one of the principal architects of American Cold War foreign policy.

His tenure as Secretary of State was marked by pivotal decisions including the implementation of the Marshall Plan, the formation of NATO, and the response to the Korean War. Acheson's strategic vision and diplomatic skill helped establish the framework for American international relations that would endure throughout the Cold War era.