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David Kenneth Rush (January 17, 1910 – December 11, 1994) was aUnited States Ambassador who helped negotiate the groundbreakingFour-Power Agreement in 1971 that ended the post-war crisis overBerlin.[1]
Kenneth Rush was born David Kenneth Rush inWalla Walla, Washington, where his parents, from an oldTennessee family, had journeyed during a yearlong tour of the western United States. His father was a farmer inGreenville, Tennessee, and his mother a teacher. His father died when he was two years old.[1]After attending secondary schools in Greenville, Rush worked his way through the University of Tennessee by waiting on tables. He majored in history and was elected into thePhi Beta Kappa. In 1932, he enrolled inYale Law School, where he edited the law journal and earned an LL.B. degree.[2]
From 1936 to 1937, Rush joined theDuke University faculty as an assistant professor and taught law. It was here that he met to-be-PresidentRichard Nixon who was a student at the university. It was the beginning of their enduring friendship. In 1937, Rush accepted an offer to join theUnion Carbide and Carbon Corporation with the prospect of an executive position. He became a vice president in 1939 and was named president in 1966.[1]
Rush resigned from all private positions in 1969 to becomeUnited States Ambassador to West Germany. Rush was credited for playing a major role in rushing the successful conclusion of theFour Power Agreement on Berlin between theUnited States,Britain,Soviet Union, andFrance after 17 months of negotiations. The agreement ended more than two decades of east–west tensions over the divided former capital ofGermany; it improved ties between Washington and Moscow, reaffirmed the Western Allies' rights in the city and paved the way for the development of peaceful relations between East and West Germany.
President Richard Nixon appointed Rush asDeputy Secretary of Defense for 1972 underMelvin Laird,[1] then named himDeputy Secretary of State from February 1973 to May 1974, including a period from September 3 to September 22 when Rush served as interim Secretary of State between the terms ofWilliam P. Rogers andHenry Kissinger.[3] On May 25, 1974, he was appointed counselor to the president for economic policy.[4] From 1974 to his retirement on March 15, 1977, he served as Ambassador toFrance.[5]
Rush died at his home inDelray Beach, Florida, on December 11, 1994, at the age of 84. According to one of his sons, he was under treatment for heart and blood ailments.
In 1947, Rush married Jane Gilbert Smith. They had five sons and one daughter. Two of their sons died at a young age.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to West Germany 1969–1972 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to France 1974–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | United States Deputy Secretary of Defense 1972–1973 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Deputy Secretary of State 1973–1974 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Counselor to the President 1974 Served alongside:Anne Armstrong,Dean Burch | Succeeded by |
| Succeeded by | ||
| Minister Plenipotentiary |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
| Envoys to France (1776–1779) | | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministers Plenipotentiary to France (1778–1815) | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to France (1816–1893) | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France (1893–present) | ||
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