God's Cold Warrior

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When John Foster Dulles passed away in 1959, he received the largest American state funeral since FDR's in 1945. President Eisenhower hailed him as "one of the truly great men of our time," and the new airport near Washington, DC, was named Dulles International Airport in his honor. Although his reputation has diminished over the years, his impact on US foreign policy during the Cold War, particularly through the lens of American exceptionalism, remains significant. Dulles's Presbyterian upbringing shaped his worldview, which aligned with the anti-communist efforts of the mid-twentieth century. After attending the Oxford Ecumenical Church Conference in 1937, he recognized that "the spirit of Christianity" was essential not only for saving souls but also for addressing global issues. He believed America was divinely chosen to protect freedom against the tyranny of communism, a conviction he infused into his diplomatic and political endeavors. Dulles stands out among twentieth-century US officials for his integration of religious beliefs with public service, making his life and faith crucial for understanding the relationship between God and country in American foreign affairs.