SOURCE: "John Foster Dulles and American Statecraft," in War, Politics, and Diplomacy: Selected Essays, Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, 1966, pp. 262-80.

In the following essay, originally delivered as a lecture in 1964, Craig surveys Dulles's qualifications and tenure as secretary of state. While acknowledging Dulles's faults, such as occasional lapses of precision or tact, Craig emphasizes his successes and particularly grants him "credit for the recovery of western unity and will."

It may be that some of what follows will arouse disagreement, for my subject makes this almost inevitable. Let me begin, therefore, with a statement that would be hard to contest: namely, that John Foster Dulles was not a popular man. Indeed, it would be difficult to think of an American Secretary of State who was less beloved during his term of office than Dulles. In his own country he was detested by liberals in general and the Democratic...