Eleanor Lansing Dulles

Introduction

Eleanor Lansing Dulles (1895–1996) was an American diplomat, economist, and author who played a key role in post-World War II European reconstruction. Sister of John Foster Dulles (Secretary of State) and Allen Dulles (CIA Director), granddaughter of John Watson Foster, and niece by marriage of Robert Lansing (both Secretaries of State), she was born in Watertown, New York.

Earning a Ph.D. in economics from Radcliffe (1926), she taught, wrote on international finance, and joined the State Department in 1942. She contributed to the Marshall Plan and Austria’s recovery, but her most notable work was as Berlin Desk head (1952–1959), securing funds to rebuild West Berlin, earning her the “Mother of Berlin” title. A trailblazing woman in diplomacy, she faced nepotism critiques but left a lasting legacy, later teaching and writing books like Berlin: The Wall Is Not Forever. She died at 101.

History

Eleanor Lansing Dulles held a variety of significant roles across academia, government, and diplomacy, focusing on economics and international affairs.

Economist and Researcher (1920s–1930s): Conducted research on international finance, publishing The Bank for International Settlements at Work (1932), and worked as an independent scholar analyzing European economic recovery post-World War I.

Academic (1920s–1930s, 1960s–1970s): Taught economics at institutions including Simmons College and Bryn Mawr College early in her career. Later, after government service, she held professorships at Georgetown University and Duke University, focusing on international relations and economic history.

Social Security Administration Economist (1936–1942): Worked on economic aspects of Social Security, applying her expertise to domestic policy before transitioning to international roles.

State Department Official (1942–1952): Served in the Office of German and Austrian Affairs, contributing to postwar reconstruction plans, including the Marshall Plan, and worked as an economic officer in Vienna (1945–1949), aiding Austria’s recovery under Allied occupation.

Head of Berlin Desk, State Department (1952–1959): Oversaw U.S. economic policy for West Berlin, securing funding for infrastructure and industry, pivotal to its revival as a Cold War democratic stronghold.

Author and Consultant (1960s–1990s): Wrote books like Berlin: The Wall Is Not Forever (1967) and The Wall: A Tragedy (1972), and advised on U.S.-European relations while speaking publicly on Cold War issues.

Marshal Plan

Eleanor Lansing Dulles played a significant role in the Marshall Plan (1948–1952), the U.S. initiative to rebuild Western Europe’s economies after World War II. From 1942, she worked in the Office of German and Austrian Affairs, focusing on postwar reconstruction. Her expertise in international finance and prior research on European economies informed her contributions to planning the allocation of Marshall Plan aid, particularly for Germany and Austria. Stationed in Vienna (1945–1949), she analyzed Austria’s economic challenges under Soviet and Allied occupation, advocating for aid to stabilize its economy and support its path to sovereignty, achieved in 1955. For Germany, she helped ensure funds supported industrial recovery and infrastructure, countering Soviet influence. Her work facilitated economic stability in Western Europe, strengthening U.S. Cold War alliances.