John Foster Dulles ( 25 February 1888 -- 24 May 1959 ) was a US Secretary of State between 1953 and 1959 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower . John Foster Dulles ( February 25 , 1888 -- May 24 , 1959 ) served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959 .