Who was Allen Dulles? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Allen Welsh Dulles

Died At Age: 75

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Clover Todd

father: Allen Macy Dulles

mother: Edith

siblings: Eleanor Lansing Dulles, John Foster Dulles

children: Allen Macy Dulles, Jr.

Diplomats Government Officials

Died on: January 29, 1969

place of death: Washington, D.C., United States

Notable Alumni: George Washington University Law School

: Pneumonia

Cause of Death: Influenza

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: George Washington University Law School, Princeton University, Phillips Exeter Academy

awards: 1966 - James Madison Award

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Childhood & Early Life

Allen Dulles was born on April 7, 1893 in New York to Edith Dulles and Allen Macy Dulles, who was a minister. He had four other siblings.

Allen hailed from a family with a strong political background. His maternal grandfather John Foster, as well as uncle Robert Lansing had served as the secretaries of state of the United States.

Dulles completed his education from the prestigious Princeton University. During his days at the University, Dulles was an active participant of the ‘American Whig Clisophic Society’, which was an association of students who used to indulge in political and literary activities, as well as debates.

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Career

Dulles was appointed to the American Diplomat Service in 1916. It’s claimed that while he was posted at the U.S Embassy at Istanbul, Turkey, Dulles had apparently exposed the infamous document ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’, a text which glorifies the atrocities of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

Dulles changed career from diplomacy to that of a lawyer in 1926. He pursued a degree in Law from ‘George Washington University Law School’. After finishing his graduation, Dulles took up a job at the firm ‘Sullivan and Cromwell’ based in New York.

Dulles worked as a legal adviser to the delegation of arms limitations associated with the ‘League of Nations’, in the late 1920s. During his tenure, Dulles also interacted with great leaders of the world such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Dulles was disturbed by the cruelties against Jews in the Nazi dominated Germany, after he made a short visit to the country. He also initiated a movement to request the management of ‘Sullivan and Cromwell’ to shut their concern’s branch in Berlin. The company had no choice but to oblige to this demand.

Dulles was appointed to work with the American intelligence agency named ‘Office of Strategic Services’ at the time of World War-II. Dulles mission was to gather military intelligence from Germany’s war strategies from various anti-Nazi sources in the country.

Dulles was closely associated with the people who planned to assassinate Hitler. In 1944, these individuals also gave Dulles details regarding the ‘V1’ and ‘V2’ missiles which the dictator wanted to use during the war.

The highlight of Dulles career was the year 1950, when he joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as the Deputy Director of Plans. The same year he was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of Central Intelligence.

Dulles played a pivotal role in the project ‘Operation Ajax’, where he teamed up with Frank Wisner, the head of the Office of Strategic Services, to plan a coup against the then Iranian President Mohammad Mosaddegh. The leader was overthrown as a result of this effort by the CIA.

Post his CIA tenure, the American President at the time, Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Allen Dulles to be one of the panel members of the ‘Warren Commission’ in 1963. This team, consisting of seven members, including Dulles, was formed to investigate the death of President John F Kennedy.

Major Works

One of the works for which Dulles is remembered is his role in ‘Operation Sunrise’. The mission was to negotiate with German forces and convince their troops stationed in Northern Italy to surrender.

Based on his experience as an intelligence agent, Dulles published the book ‘The Craft of Intelligence’ in 1963. He has also edited another work called ‘Great True Spy Stories’.

Awards & Achievements

Allen Dulles was awarded the ‘James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service’ by his alma mater Princeton University’s American Whig-Clisophic Society’ in the year 1966.

Personal Life & Legacy

Dulles married Clover Todd in 1920. The couple had three children together, a son named Allen Macy Dulles Jr., and daughters Clover Jebsen as well as Joan Buresch.

Dulles also had a nephew ‘Avery Dulles’, who worked as the Cardinal of the Catholic Church. From 1998 to 2008, Avery Dulles taught at the Forindham University.

On January 29, 1969, Allen Dulles succumbed to Influenza, which was further complicated by Pneumonia. He was buried at the Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.

Trivia

The life of this former American diplomat and CIA officer has been portrayed in various movies - notable among these are ‘The Good Shepherd’ and ‘Nick and Jake’. Noted actor William Hurt had played the character based on Dulles in ‘The Good Shepherd’.

Allen Dulles Biography