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Dean Acheson
Acheson
Historical Figure
Nationality: United States
Year of Birth: 1893
Year of Death: 1971
Cause of Death: Stroke
Religion: Episcopalian
Occupation: Author of Non-Fiction, Lawyer
Spouse: Alice Caroline Stanley (1917–1971, his death)
Military Branch: United States National Guard
(World War I)
Political Party: Democratic Party
Political Office(s): U.S. Secretary of State
Fictional Appearances:
The Hot War
POD: November, 1950
Appearance(s): Bombs Away;
Fallout
Type of Appearance: Contemporary reference
Date of Death: 1952
Cause of Death: Atomic bombing
Political Office(s): U.S. Secretary of State

Dean Gooderham Acheson (April 11, 1893 – October 12, 1971) was an American statesman and lawyer. As United States Secretary of State in the administration of President Harry Truman from 1949 to 1953, he played a central role in defining American foreign policy during the Cold War. Acheson helped design the Marshall Plan and played a central role in the development of the Truman Doctrine and creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Acheson's most famous decision was convincing President Truman to intervene in the Korean War in June 1950. He also persuaded Truman to dispatch aid and advisers to French forces in Indochina, though in 1968 he finally counseled President Lyndon Johnson to negotiate for peace with North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Dean Acheson in The Hot War[]

Dean Acheson (1893-1952) was Secretary of State under President Harry Truman. He'd finalized the NATO treaty, which was invoked in February 1951, after the Soviet Union attacked Britain and France with atomic weapons.[1]

However, in the first months of World War III, Truman preferred to confide in Secretary of Defense George Marshall, who'd served as Secretary of State before Acheson.[2] Still, Truman did consult with Acheson, and made sure Acheson knew that he was not seeking re-election in 1952 before he announced it publicly.[3]

Acheson was among the many government officials killed by the atomic bomb the Soviet Union dropped on Washington, DC.[4]

Dean Acheson in Joe Steele[]

Joe Steele
POD: 1878;
Relevant POD: July, 1932
Novel or Story?: Novel only
Type of Appearance: Contemporary reference
Date of Death: 1953
Cause of Death: Plane crash
Political Office(s): U.S. Secretary of State

Dean Acheson (1893-1953) was the last Secretary of State of the United States under President Joe Steele. When Steele died in March 1953, his successor John Nance Garner collected the resignations of the entire Steele cabinet, save for Acheson and Secretary of War George Marshall. However, as Garner had also crossed Steele's aide, Vince Scriabin, both Acheson and Marshall died in short order. Acheson was on a flight to San Francisco that crashed, killing 47 people, including Acheson.[5]

References[]

  1. Bombs Away, pg. 89.
  2. Ibid., see, e.g., 55-67, 86-93, 133-137, 291-294, 387-389.
  3. Fallout, pg. 232, HC; loc. 3945-3987, ebook.
  4. Armistice, loc. 1753, not explicit, but most of the State Department is killed, and Acheson is never confirmed to be alive.
  5. Joe Steele, pg. 424, HC.
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