Evening star., 1960-12-13
Rusk Chosen After Kennedy
Sifted List Led by FuIbright
BY MARY McGRORY
star stan Writer

The choice OF Dean RuSk AS
Secretary Of State followed as
much labor and soul searching
as President-elect Kennedy ex-
poets to have in the cabinet
making line.
A LIST of, possibilities for the
vital post was drawn up right
after the Kennedy victory on
November 8. The first roster.
according to Q Kennedy aide.
''included Just about every
body" N.ss-
After much conferring, tele-
phoiing and winnowins,, the
list was brought down to nine
several weeks ago. Top pros
poets were Paul Mite, John j.
McCloy, Adlai Stevenson. Rep
resentative Bowles. Democrat
Of Connecticut, Ambassador to
Germany David Bruce. Senator
Fulbright, Democrat Of Arkan-
sas. former Defense Secretary
Robert Lovett, Undersecretary
of State Douglas Dillon and
Supreme Court Justice william
o. Douglas.
Last week the field had mar
rowed down to three: Senator
Fulbright, Mr.. Rusk and Mr..
Bruce. sN
Manifesto Signer
Senator Kennedy's first
choice was Senator Fulbright,
whom he knows, likes and re-
spects as a Senate colleague
and chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee.
The minus in the case Of Sem
ator Fulbright was his stand on
segregation as represented by
his signing Of the Southern
Manifesto, a protest against the
Supreme Court decision on
sch ool desegresation. Most
Southern ofiice-hoiders signed
the document as survival insur-
ance. ss
Senator Fulbright, one Of the
Senate's leading intellectuals,
Is considered no racist. Several
members Of the Kennedy staff
argued that Senator Fulbright's
signature could be explained as
a political gesture. that the
Southern Manifesto Is not we'll
known in Africa and that his
performance in ofiice would
wipe away all reservations.
But Kennedy staff members
soon received strong indications
that the, appointment would be
most unfavorably received
among new African countries,
whose representatives reminded
Kennedy people that during the
campaign the Senator had made
his chief foreign policy pitch on
the hopes and aspirations of
the new nations Of the Dark
Continent. 8
Bruce Considered
Much consideration was given
to Mr.. Bruce, q senior career
diplomat, who was also former
ly ambassador to France. His
age. 50, was something of al
factor against him with the
youthful President elect, al
though not crucial. Another fac
tor. his identification with q
colonial power, France. which is
currently embroiled in. African
crisis. was more seriously re-
Garded. So was the fact that his
whole diplomatic experience was
derived from Europe. Hn
4 The name of Dean Rusk had
been put forward most persua-
siyely by former Secretary Of
Defense Robert Loyett, who, it
Is said, was offered his choice
Of cabinet posts by the Presi-
dent-elect, declined them all
but put in a strong argument
for Mr.. Rusk.
Finally, last Wednesday. Sem
ator Kennedy met Mr.. Rusk for
the first time. His age, 81, was
tight; he had no controversial
history and had a reputation In
tae State Department for stead
iness, foresight and industry.
The Kennedy-Rlsk meeting
apparently convinced the Presi-
dent-elect. that the former
Deputy Undersecretary for Po-
litical Affairs was someone he
could work with.
A thorough canvass OF Mr..
Rusk's former associates at the
State Department. his col
leagues ut the Rockefeller
Foundation, the members of
the Senate Foreign Relations