Herter had been acting secretary during the last stages of Dulles’s illness. He was a mild-mannered gentleman, almost crippled by severe arthritis, and not nearly as hawkish as Dulles. Ike seemed reluctant to face the fact that Dulles was dying and said he would not “rush to a decision in the matter” of replacing him. But Dulles had made up his mind. On April 15 Eisenhower announced to the press that Dulles would resign his post. On May 24 he died.
