Dean Rusk

Date of Birth: February 9, 1909

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 20, 1994

Biography

David Dean Rusk was an influential American statesman and diplomat who served as the United States Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Rusk was born in rural Georgia and showed academic promise from an early age, eventually securing a Rhodes Scholarship to study at St. John’s College, Oxford. Before his tenure as Secretary of State, Rusk had a distinguished career in both military and civil service, including serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and working at the U.S. State Department and the Rockefeller Foundation. As Secretary of State, Rusk played a pivotal role during some of the most significant events of the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement. A staunch advocate for American involvement in Vietnam, Rusk’s policies were both highly influential and controversial. After leaving office, he returned to academia, teaching international law at the University of Georgia. Rusk passed away on December 20, 1994, but his legacy as a key figure in 20th-century American diplomacy endures.

5 Interesting Facts about Dean Rusk

1. Dean Rusk was a Rhodes Scholar, studying at the University of Oxford.

2. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, reaching the rank of colonel.

3. Rusk was one of the longest-serving U.S. Secretaries of State, holding the position for eight years.

4. He was a key figure during the Cuban Missile Crisis, advising President Kennedy.

5. After his public service career, he became a professor of international law at the University of Georgia.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Dean Rusk

1. “The United States does not start wars. We will never be the aggressor.”

2. “While we are sleeping, two-thirds of the world is plotting to do us in.”

3. “We were eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.”

4. “When you solve one problem, you have to solve the next one.”

5. “We have to be prepared to make sacrifices in order to live up to our ideals.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Dean Rusk’s highest net worth was modest compared to modern standards of wealth for public officials, and is estimated to have been around $500,000 at the peak of his career, primarily from his government salary and later, his academic positions.