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Dean Acheson

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Dean Gooderham Acheson was born in Middletown in 1893. After gaining a reputation as an international lawyer, he served as undersecretary of state to three secretaries -- Cordell Hull, James F. Byrnes, and George C. Marshall. From 1949 to 1953, he served as secretary of state in the administration of Harry S Truman. Acheson played a major role in carrying out the Marshall Plan in Europe and implementing the Truman Doctrine in Greece and Turkey.

While in office, Acheson was heavily criticized by Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin and others for "coddling" Communists in the State Department and for "losing" China. After his public career, he returned to private practice. In 1964, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.