James Forrestal Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids James Vincent Forrestal


47th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office May 19, 1944 – September 17, 1947
Preceded by	Frank Knox
Succeeded by	John L. Sullivan
1st United States Secretary of Defense
In office September 17, 1947 – March 28, 1949
Preceded by	(none)
Succeeded by	Louis A. Johnson

Personal details
Born	(1892-02-15)February 15, 1892 Matteawan, New York, U.S.
Died	May 22, 1949(1949-05-22) (aged 57) Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Josephine Ogden Forrestal
Alma mater	Dartmouth College Princeton University
Profession	Politician
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Lieutenant Junior Grade
Battles/wars	World War I

James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense.

Forrestal was a supporter of naval battle groups centered on aircraft carriers. In 1954, the Navy's first supercarrier was named the USS Forrestal in his honor, as is the headquarters of the United States Department of Energy. He is also the namesake of the Forrestal Lecture Series at the United States Naval Academy, which brings prominent military and civilian leaders to speak to the Brigade of Midshipmen, and of the James Forrestal Campus of Princeton University, in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

Early life
Political career
Awards
Images for kids
See also

Early life

Forrestal was born in Matteawan, New York. He was an amateur boxer. After graduating from high school at the age of 16 in 1908, he spent the next three years working for a trio of newspapers.

Forrestal entered Dartmouth College in 1911, but transferred to Princeton University sophomore year. The senior class voted him "Most Likely to Succeed", but he left just prior to completing work on a degree.

Forrestal went to work as a bond salesman for William A. Read and Company (later renamed Dillon, Read & Co.) in 1916 and remained there until 1940, except for his service during World War I. He became a partner (1923), vice-president (1926), and president of the company (1937).

When World War I broke out, he enlisted in the Navy and ultimately became a Naval Aviator, training with the Royal Flying Corps in Canada. During the final year of the war, Forrestal spent much of his time in Washington, D.C., at the office of Naval Operations, while completing his flight training. He eventually reached the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Following the war, Forrestal served as a publicist for the Democratic Party committee in Dutchess County, New York helping politicians from the area win elections at both the state and national level. One of those individuals aided by his work was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Political career

President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Forrestal a special administrative assistant on June 22, 1940. Six weeks later he nominated him for the newly established position, Undersecretary of the Navy. In his nearly four years as undersecretary, Forrestal proved highly effective at mobilizing domestic industrial production for the war effort. He became Secretary of the Navy on May 19, 1944.

President Truman presents a Medal of Merit to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal in the Oval Office

Forrestal traveled to combat zones to see naval forces in action. He was in the South Pacific in 1942, present at the Battle of Kwajalein in 1944, and (as Secretary) witnessed the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. In 1947 President Harry S. Truman appointed him the first United States Secretary of Defense. Forrestal continued to advocate for complete racial integration of the services, a policy eventually implemented in 1949.

Forrestal's greatest legacy may have been an unrealized one. Forrestal, along with Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Under Secretary of State Joseph Grew, in the early months of 1945, strongly backed a softer policy toward Japan that would permit a 'face-saving' surrender. Had his advice been followed, Japan might well have surrendered before August 1945, before the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So strongly did he feel about this matter that he began negotiation efforts that some regarded as approaching insubordination.