Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-06

administration it seems clear that
on the big questions the policy
is made at the White House.
Mr.. Rusk won the Kennedy APP
pointment as Secretary Of Stats
because he was recommended by
several men whose opinions Mr..
Kennedy valued highly. These in
cluded Dean Acheson, under whom
Mr.. Rusk had served as an As
sistant Secretary for the Far East
during the Korean War. Mr..
Rusk's basic notions Of foreign
policy were formed at that time.
One Of these basic concepts Is
that problems which the United
States deals with should be re-
duced to their gut issues" By
this means, Mr.. Rusk found some
leeway in 1861 for possible ne
gotiations with Russia on West
Berlin. Another idea he developed
early Is that survival under the
threat Of nuclear war Is q major
challenge for goth century man,
and the United States particu-
larry must learn to live with
limited detectives.
Mr.. Rusk's associates through
out his career seem always to
have been impressed with his
brilliant mind. A State Depart
ment official said recently Mr..
Rusk has "the greatest capacity
have ever known to consider
all sides of any problem simultane-
ously." He reads swiftly and has
a highly retentive as well as
analytical mind.
His intellectual performance has
merited recognition from the be-
ginning Of his college years. He
was an honor student while work
ing his way through Davidson
College, a Presbyterian institution
in North Carolina, and o prize
scholar at oxford University In
England. where he went on Q
Rhodes scholarship.
Was College Teacher
In the 1sS0s he taught political
science at Mills College, Oakland,
ard studied law at the University
Of California. His World War II
experiences were concentrated In
the China-Burma- India theater.
During the Eisenhower admin
istration, Mr.. Rusk went back to
private life as president Of the
Rockefeller Foundation. His SAL
airy there has been estimated at
$4,000 to $4,000 a year over a
decade. But he has no personal
fortune.
Here, he and his wife, who was
one Of his students at Mills Col
lege, live modestly when they have
any choice in the matter. Most
evenings. however, they are swept
up in official activities. Mr.. Rusk
does his entertaining In the State
Departments respondent new re-
ception and dining rooms and has
earned reputation as q gracious
host to kings, presidents, prime
ministers and foreign ministers.
The anonymity" Of Dean Rusk
in spite Of his prominence derives
partly from the fact that he is
personally retiring-a quiet man
by choice. 1t spring also from his
working relationship with Presi-
dent K e dy, the confidential
nature Of which Rusk guards jeal-
ously. The relationship is now
much closer than 1t once was.
During Mr.. Rusk's first year
there were in the White House
and in the State Department It
self several men Of political stat
uTe-Adlai E. Stevenson,
Chester Bowles, G.. Mennen Will
liamS, Presidential Adviser
McGeorg Bundy and strong
willed men like Secretary McNa-
mara-all Of whom were better
known to the President or had
stronger political positions than
Mr.. RuSk.
As for the Future =.
Mr.. Rusk ended the first year
with a sweeping shakeup which
consolidated his power and dem
onstrated the extent to which he
had won Mr.. Kennedy's support
and confidence. Administration
officials now say they believe he Is
secure in his job for the whole Of
the Presidents first term al.
though he may wish to resign or
the President may decide to bring
in a new man if there Is a second
term.
One Of the best summaries Of
Mr.. Rusk's quiet effectiveness as
Secretary Of State-a quality that
undoubtedly appeals to the dy-
manic President he now serves
came foresightly from q Japa-
nese diplomat with whom Rusk
negotiated back in 1851.
without creating bad feelings"
the diplomat sad, "Rusk Is q man
who can achieve much"