Motion Picture MP77-5
Administrative Information
Eric Sevareid interviews Dean Acheson, who talks about current and past issues. Subjects include the Marshall Mission to China; arms negotiations with the Soviet Union; Acheson's advice to Lyndon Johnson on the Vietnam War; the reasons for Truman's support for Israel; Acheson's relations with Truman; Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, and Kennedy; Dean Rusk, Joseph McCarthy, Alger Hiss; and Acheson's rating of recent world figures.
SD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are available for $20, and HD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are $50. Copies of motion pictures not already digitized will incur additional costs.
This item does not circulate but reproductions may be purchased.
To request a copy of this item, please contact truman.reference@nara.gov
Please note that this video belongs to a different video collection than the items available to be borrowed by teachers, from our Education Department.
Shot List
- Reel 1
| 0:00 | Dean Acheson walking in yard as Eric Sevareid gives a biography of him. | |
| 2:00 | “A Conversation with Dean Acheson” talks about Present at the Creation (Acheson’s book) and how Acheson defines the role of creation. | |
| 4:00 | Were there mistakes? Yes – Marshall’s mission to China (“China lost itself”). We should have known that the mission wouldn’t work | |
| 5:30 | Arms limitation? Russians definition of negotiation is different than ours. Theirs is war by different means – achieving goals without giving concessions. | |
| 7:30 | Viet Nam? If we cannot achieve peace in 20 years in Korea, we cannot do it in Vietnam. Talks about the war in Vietnam, including his advice to Lyndon B. Johnson, (extensive on LBJ). | |
| 18:10 | Should disarmament be linked with other political problems in international relations? Acheson – no – separated How account for Truman’s strong suggport of Israel? (1) We had over 100,000 displaced persons (mostly Jews) in camps. Needed place for them to go (expounds). (2) “Morally and emotionally moved” to support Zionism; result of association with Eddie Jacobson. | |
| 23:30 | Talks theoretically about foreign affairs. Pause and credits (Producer: Gene DePoris). | |
- Reel 2
| 0:00 | Opening comments by Sevareid; Acheson on his relationship with Congress. | |
| 2:30 | Miscellaneous comments on what is “right.” Truman and Acheson – basis for their relationship. Acheson recounts incidents and stories of their relations. Acheson compares Dwight D. Eisenhower and Truman as molders of foreign policy. Eisenhower signed paper presented by State Department – Truman made the final decision. | |
| 9:30 | Acheson on John F. Kennedy’s method of running the State Dept. (having a “little D. O. S.” within Executive Office.) | |
| 10:30 | Acheson’s role in selection of Dean Rusk as Secretary of State for Kennedy. | |
| 12:45 | Acheson on Rusk as Secretary of State. | |
| 14:30 | Eisenhower’s relation with Truman and Acheson. | |
| 14:40 | Why Acheson never hit back at McCarthy? Acheson didn’t want to play McCarthy’s game. | |
| 17:30 | Alger Hiss case; Acheson’s feelings about Richard Nixon, and their present relationship. | |
| 19:30 | How would you rate great figures of recent history and why? Churchill – greatest, fascinating; a great actor, but not a great man – poor judgement; Konrad Adenaur – a great man; Franklin D. Roosevelt – had a concept of himself same as European royalty (squire of Hyde Park). | |
| 23:00 | Is there anybody comparable today? No. The century of the common man is coming into its own. | |
| 25:15 | This will present grave problems; what are you going to do with the rest of your life? Probably write another book. | |
| 26:30 | Credits. |