As he recalled in his autobiography , '' As I Saw It '' , Rusk did not have a good relationship with President Kennedy . The president was often irritated by Rusk 's reticence in advisory sessions and felt that the State Department was " like a bowl of jelly " and that it " never comes up with any new ideas " . Special counsel to the president Ted Sorensen believed that Kennedy , being well versed and practiced in foreign affairs , acted as his own secretary of state . Sorensen also said that the president often expressed impatience with Rusk and felt him under-prepared for emergency meetings and crises . Rusk repeatedly offered his resignation , but it was never accepted . Rumors of Rusk 's dismissal leading up to the 1964 election abounded prior to President Kennedy 's trip to Dallas in 1963 . Shortly after Kennedy was assassinated , Rusk offered his resignation to the new president , Lyndon B. Johnson . However , Johnson refused Rusk 's resignation and retained him as the secretary of state throughout his administration
Kennedy was assassinated
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Dean Rusk