FOREIGN POLICY OF J. KENNEDY: THE PERSONAL FACTOR IN THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF STATE D. RUSK

DOI 10.17721/2521-1706.2024.17.7

Tetiana Klynina,

Ph.D. (History), Associate Professor, National aviation university, Kyiv, Ukraine
 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0334-9852
 

Abstract. The proposed article is devoted to the figure of Secretary of State Dean Rusk during the presidency of John F. Kennedy in 1961–1963, with special attention to the interpersonal relationship between him and the president.

The purpose of the work is to emphasize the importance of studying the interaction between the president and the secretary of state, which often plays a key role in the formulation and implementation of the foreign policy of the United States of America. The ability of the president and his secretary of state to listen to each other and communicate effectively can determine success or failure in implementing foreign policy initiatives and managing crisis situations.

The research methodology is based on a critical analysis of scientific literature, as well as on the application of problem-chronological and systemic approaches. The basic principles of the article are the principle of historicism, objectivity and scientificity. Comparative, historical-systemic, historical-genetic methods are used for scientific understanding of the proposed problem.

The scientific novelty of the article consists in drawing the attention of researchers to the figure of Dean Rusk, as well as in offering a different point of view on Dean Rusk’s place in the relationship with President J. Kennedy. Contrary to the prevailing view of Dean Rusk’s insecurity, mysteriousness, and modesty as the key to his failure as the president’s foreign policy advisor, we argue that these aspects became «victorious» in interaction with the president, acting as a certain «balancing factor» of J. Kennedy’s activism.

Conclusions. The relationship between John F. Kennedy and Dean Rusk was complicated and occasionally strained. J. Kennedy and D. Rusk had different views on foreign policy issues. J. Kennedy often avoided the opinions of D. Rusk, did not always fully trust him, or did not consider his opinion reliable. Wanting to be the main initiator of the foreign policy of the United States of America. The crises that the US faced in the early 1960s were partly the result of the politics of interpersonal attitudes: both Dean Rusk and J. Kennedy were individuals who did not correspond to the essence of America in the late 1950s and early 1960s (in the context of a globalized understanding of foreign policy), however, it is unlikely that Kennedy would have been able to find a better candidate for the position of Secretary of State than Dean Rusk (in the context of interpersonal relations).

Key words: Dean Rusk, USA, State Department, John Kennedy, foreign policy, interpersonal relations.

 Submitted: 14.03.2024

Завантажити 

References:

  1. Goncharenko, V. (2021). The formation of the foreign policy course of the US president J. F. Kennedy in relation to the Chinese national Republic (January – October 1961). Sumy historical and archival journal, XХХVI, 53–64. [In Ukrainian].
  2. Kovalskyi,S. (2021). The Greek factor of the US Mediterranean policy in the second half of the 1940s – end of the 1980s. American history and politics, 12, 34–43. https://doi.org/10.17721/2521-1706.2021.12.3. [In Ukrainian].
  3. Mikeladze, (2014). Relations between the United States and its NATO allies in the field of European security (1958–1961).International relations of Ukraine: scientific research and findings, 23, 146–170. [In Ukrainian].
  4. Ullah, P. E. (2018). The role of the USA in the «green revolution» in India (the second half of the 1960s). Collection of scientific works «History and Geography», 54, 73–[In Ukrainian].
  5. Ambrose, S. E. (1991). The Presidency and Foreign Policy. Foreign Affairs, 70 (5), 120–137. https://doi.org/10.2307/20045007. [In English].
  6. Cohen, W. (1980). Dean Rusk. Totowa, NJ: Cooper Square Publishers. [In English].
  7. Cohen, W. (1991). New Light on Dean Rusk? A Review Essay. Political Science Quarterly, 106 (1), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.2307/2152177. [In English].
  8. Henkin, L. (1987). Foreign Affairs and the Constitution. Foreign Affairs, 66 (2), 284–310. https://doi.org/10.2307/20043374. [In English].
  9. Henry, & Espinosa, W. (1972). The Tragedy of Dean Rusk. Foreign Policy, 8, 166–189. https://doi.org/10.2307/1147824. [In English].
  10. Ellison, R. (1983). Interview with Dean Rusk in 1981[1]. [Video/DVD] WGBH Boston. http://surl.li/szvrq. [In English].
  11. Ellison, R. (1983). Interview with Dean Rusk in 1981[2]. [Video/DVD] WGBH Boston. http://surl.li/szvrz. [In English].
  12. Kengor, P. (2000). The Vice President, Secretary of State, and Foreign Policy. Political Science Quarterly, 115 (2), 175–199. https://doi.org/10.2307/2657899. [In English].
  13. LaFeber, W. (1987). The Constitution and United States Foreign Policy: An Interpretation. The Journal of American History, 74 (3), 695–717. https://doi.org/10.2307/1902149. [In English].
  14. Lawrence,H. (1960, December 3). Rusk secretary of State, Bowles Under Secretary; Stevenson takes U.N. job. The New York Times. http://surl.li/szvrn. [In English].
  15. McKinley, S.P. (2013). Run for your life: Spectacle primaries and the success of «failed» primary candidates. Master’s Theses and Capstones. https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/175. [In English].
  16. Nuenlist, Ch. (2008). The quiet man: Dean Rusk and Western Europe, Journal of Transatlantic Studies, 6, 263–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/14794010802547968. [In English].
  17. Rusk, D. (1960). The President. Foreign Affairs, 38(3), 353–369. https://doi.org/10.2307/20029425. [In English].
  18. Rusk, D., Rusk, R., & Papp, D. S. (1990). As I saw it. New York: W.Norton. [In English].
  19. Schoenbaum, T. J. (1988). Waging peace and war: Dean Rusk in the Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson years. New York: Simon and Schuster.[In English].
  20. Sorensen, T. C. (1987). The President and the Secretary of State. Foreign Affairs, 66 (2), 231–248. https://doi.org/10.2307/20043371. [In English].
  21. Stern, S. M. (2012). The cuban missile crisis in american memory: Myths versus reality. Stanford: Stanford University Press.[In English].
  22. Newman, E. (1985). The Dean Rusk Tapes. U.S. Soviet Relationship. The Kennedy years: a time of crisis. Part II. [videorecording/ DVD]. The Southern Center for International Studies. Atlanta. [In English].
  23. Zeiler, T. W. (2016). Rusk, Dean 1909–1994. In J. Blum (Ed.), America in the World, 1776 to the Present: A Supplement to the Dictionary of American History, 2. http://surl.li/szvsg. [In English].
  24. Zoellick, R. (2020). America in the world: a history of U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy. New York: Twelve. [In English].