William D. Leahy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William D. Leahy
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Leahy c. 1945
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| Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief | |
| In office 20 July 1942 – 21 March 1949 |
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| President | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Omar Bradley (as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) |
| United States Ambassador to France | |
| In office 8 January 1941 – 1 May 1942 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | William Christian Bullitt Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Jefferson Caffery |
| Governor of Puerto Rico | |
| In office 11 September 1939 – 28 November 1940 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Blanton Winship |
| Succeeded by | Rexford Tugwell |
| Chief of Naval Operations | |
| In office 2 January 1937 – 1 August 1939 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | William Harrison Standley |
| Succeeded by | Harold Rainsford Stark |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Daniel Leahy
6 May 1875 Hampton, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | 20 July 1959 (aged 84) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Relations | William Harrington Leahy (son) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1893–1959 |
| Rank |  Fleet Admiral |
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| Battles/wars | |
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William Daniel Leahy (1875–1959) was a highly important American naval officer. He was the most senior military officer in the United States during World War II. He held many important titles and had a big impact on how America handled foreign and military issues. As a fleet admiral, he was the first officer ever to reach a five-star rank in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Leahy graduated from the Annapolis in 1897. He served in many conflicts, including the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion in China, the Banana Wars in Central America, and World War I. He was the first in his class to become a high-ranking admiral. He led the Bureau of Ordnance from 1927 to 1931 and the Bureau of Navigation from 1933 to 1936. He also commanded the Battle Fleet from 1936 to 1937. As Chief of Naval Operations from 1937 to 1939, he was the top officer in the United States Navy. He helped expand the fleet and prepare for war.
After retiring from the Navy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Leahy as the governor of Puerto Rico in 1939. From 1940 to 1942, he was the United States Ambassador to France. His goal was to keep the French government from falling under German control. He later believed the U.S. should support Free France instead. He asked to be called back after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into the war.
Leahy returned to active duty in 1942 as the Chief of Staff to the President. He held this role for the rest of World War II. He was the highest-ranking active-duty military member. He was like the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing all American armed forces. He also led the American group at the Combined Chiefs of Staff meetings. Leahy was a key decision-maker during the war. He was second only to the President in power and influence. He was promoted to five-star rank in December 1944. He continued to serve President Harry S. Truman, helping to shape foreign policy after the war until he retired in 1949.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Daniel Leahy was born in Hampton, Iowa, on May 6, 1875. He was the first of seven children. His father, Michael Anthony Leahy, was a lawyer and a veteran of the American Civil War. His parents were from the United States, but his grandparents were immigrants from Ireland.
His family moved to Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1882, and then to Ashland, Wisconsin, in 1889. Leahy went to high school there. He broke his nose playing American football, and it stayed crooked because his family could not afford to fix it.
Leahy wanted to go to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. But he could not get a special appointment from Congress. His local congressman offered him a spot at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. This academy was less popular for boys from the middle of the country. Leahy passed the tests and joined as a naval cadet in May 1893.
He learned to sail on the USS Constellation during a summer trip to Europe. He graduated 35th out of 47 in his class in 1897. His class was very successful, with five members reaching a four-star rank during their careers.
Serving in the Spanish-American War
After graduating, naval cadets had to serve two years at sea before becoming officers. Leahy was assigned to the battleship USS Oregon. He was on board when the ship sailed around South America to join the Spanish–American War in 1898. The Oregon helped block and bombard Santiago de Cuba. Leahy was in charge of the ship's front gun turret during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3. This was the only naval battle Leahy saw in person.
Leahy later volunteered for the gunboat USS Castine, heading to the Pacific war. But he was called back to Annapolis for his final officer exams. He passed and became an ensign on July 1, 1899. After a short break, he joined the monitor USS Nevada, which sailed to the Philippines.
China and Philippine–American Wars
In 1900, Leahy's ship, the Castine, was in Shanghai for repairs when the Boxer Rebellion started in China. The ship stayed to help guard the city. Later, the Castine went to Amoy to protect American interests. After this, the ship returned to the Philippines in September 1900.
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The Philippine–American War was still happening. The Castine supported American actions. Leahy was given his first command, the gunboat USS Mariveles. His command ended when the ship needed repairs. He was then moved to the USS Glacier, a supply ship. While in the Philippines, he was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade, on July 1, 1902.
Leahy's time at sea was mixed with time on land. He was assigned to the training ship USS Pensacola in San Francisco. He was promoted to lieutenant on December 31, 1903. He met Louise Tennent Harrington and they married on February 3, 1904. Louise later encouraged him to become an Episcopalian.
Their only child, William Harrington Leahy, was born on October 27, 1904. Leahy was at sea and did not see his son for five months. He was in San Francisco during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. His family had to leave their home because of the fires.
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On February 22, 1907, Leahy returned to Annapolis as an instructor. On August 14, 1909, he went back to sea duty as navigator of the armored cruiser USS California. He found a mentor in Captain Henry T. Mayo, the ship's commander. Leahy was promoted to lieutenant commander on September 15, 1909. In January 1911, he became the fleet gunnery officer for the Pacific Fleet. In October, he served as a temporary naval aide to President William Howard Taft during a fleet review.
The Banana Wars
In 1912, Leahy's ship sailed to Nicaragua. He became the chief of staff for the expeditionary force and commander of a small base in Corinto, Nicaragua. He came under fire while moving supplies. He privately felt that the U.S. was supporting the wrong side in Nicaragua.
In October 1912, Leahy moved to Washington, D.C., to work on gunnery exercises. In 1913, he was assigned to the Bureau of Navigation. This office controlled officer assignments. Leahy became good friends with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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In 1915, Leahy took command of the gunboat, the USS Dolphin. The ship took part in the United States occupation of Haiti and the occupation of the Dominican Republic. Roosevelt sometimes used the Dolphin as his family yacht. Leahy was promoted to commander on August 29, 1916.
World War I Service
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, the Dolphin was sent to the United States Virgin Islands. In July 1917, Leahy became the executive officer of USS Nevada, the Navy's newest battleship.
In April 1918, Leahy took command of a troop transport, the USS Princess Matoika. He was allowed to make one trip across the Atlantic before becoming the Navy's director of gunnery. The Princess Matoika reached Brest on May 23, 1918. Leahy received the Navy Cross for his "distinguished service" in transporting troops through dangerous waters.
Leahy returned to the U.S. and was promoted to captain on July 1, 1918. He then went back to Europe to discuss gunnery practices with the Royal Navy. He visited London and Paris. He was shocked by the German use of a long-range gun to bomb Paris, seeing it as useless militarily and harmful to civilians.
Between the World Wars
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In 1921, Leahy commanded the cruiser USS Chattanooga, then the USS St. Louis in Turkish waters during the Greco-Turkish War. He worked to protect American interests and enjoyed the diplomatic role.
From 1923 to 1926, he served in Washington, D.C., as director of Officer Personnel. After this, he commanded the battleship USS New Mexico. His ship won all three competitions in gunnery, engineering, and battle efficiency in 1927–1928.
Becoming a Flag Officer
On October 14, 1927, Leahy became a flag rank officer, the first in his class. He returned to Washington as the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. In 1928, he bought a house in Washington.
After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, President Herbert Hoover cut the Navy's budget. Leahy was in charge of making these cuts, which meant about 5,000 workers lost their jobs. He was very upset by this.
Leahy did not like Hoover's policies. He faced personal financial difficulties during the Great Depression. His land could not make a profit, and his life savings were lost when a bank closed.
When Roosevelt became president on March 4, 1933, he nominated Leahy as the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Leahy handled personnel matters with care. He helped two midshipmen avoid expulsion from Annapolis, allowing them to have successful careers.
Leahy worked well with the new Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Henry L. Roosevelt. In 1936, Leahy was recommended to command the Battleships Battle Force. He was promoted to the temporary rank of admiral on March 30, 1936. He showed his belief in air power by moving his flag to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger.
In November 1936, it was announced that Leahy would become the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on January 1, 1937. As CNO, Leahy let the different Navy bureaus work as they always had. He often met with President Roosevelt. These meetings sometimes lasted for hours and were not always about Navy matters.
One important discussion was about the size of guns on new battleships. Leahy convinced Roosevelt that the new North Carolina-class battleships should have 16-inch guns. He also joined the President on a cruise to watch a baseball game.
The biggest issue was how to respond to the Japanese invasion of China. Leahy wanted a strong response, but American isolationist feelings were too strong. Roosevelt turned down a request for more cruisers to help Americans in Shanghai. Leahy always accepted the President's decisions, even when he disagreed.
After the USS Panay incident in December 1937, where a U.S. gunboat was sunk by Japanese aircraft, Leahy wanted a show of force. But Roosevelt, facing an election, accepted Japan's apology. This incident did push Roosevelt and Leahy to plan a large shipbuilding program. The Second Vinson Act in 1938 allowed for a 20 percent increase in warships. Leahy also pushed for the building of 24 oiler ships, needed for projecting American sea power.
On July 28, 1939, Roosevelt surprised Leahy by presenting him with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Roosevelt told him, "Bill, if we have a war, you're going to be right back here helping me run it." Leahy was kept on the active list for two more years. On August 1, 1939, Admiral Harold Stark replaced Leahy as CNO.
Government Service
Governor of Puerto Rico
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From September 1939 to November 1940, Leahy served as Governor of Puerto Rico. President Roosevelt appointed him to develop military bases and help with the extreme poverty on the island. Leahy was given a lot of money and freedom to spend it on the island. He also led the Puerto Rican office of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which controlled New Deal funding.
Locals called him Almirante Lija ("Admiral Sandpaper") because of his name. But Luis Muñoz Marín, a local leader, called Leahy "by far the best governor" sent to Puerto Rico. Leahy did not get involved directly in local politics. He tried to understand local customs and started big public works projects like roads. He also regulated prices in the coffee industry.
Leahy oversaw the building of military bases on the island. Construction began on the Naval Air Station Isla Grande in October 1939. Work also started on the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in 1941.
Leahy met with Roosevelt several times during this period. In October 1940, they discussed keeping the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor as a deterrent to Japan. Leahy agreed with Admiral James O. Richardson that Pearl Harbor was not ideal and was vulnerable. But he knew not to push Roosevelt when the President had made up his mind.
Ambassador to France
In November 1940, Leahy was appointed United States Ambassador to France. France had fallen to Germany, and American security was at risk. Roosevelt wanted Leahy to convince Marshal Philippe Pétain to keep France from joining Germany. Leahy's main goal was to keep France on the side of the Allies.
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Leahy suggested sending food and medical aid to France to gain their trust. He believed this would help Pétain resist German demands. Roosevelt convinced the British to allow these shipments.
However, American aid was not enough. In 1941, France agreed to give Germany access to military bases. They also gave Japan access to bases in French Indochina, which threatened the U.S. in the Philippines.
By this time, Leahy believed the U.S. should support Free France instead of the Vichy government. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Leahy wanted to be recalled. His wife, Louise, died in April 1942 after surgery. Leahy returned to New York in June. He arranged for her funeral and burial at Arlington National Cemetery. He felt her death greatly affected him.
Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief
His New Role
During World War II, the American military leadership had problems with planning strategy. Meetings were not regular, and decisions were not always recorded. In February 1942, General George C. Marshall suggested to Roosevelt that he appoint a chief of staff for all armed forces. He recommended Leahy for the job. On July 21, Leahy was called back to active duty. He became the Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy. Roosevelt said Leahy's role was to advise, not to be a supreme commander.
Leahy attended his first meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on July 28, 1942. The other members were Marshall, Admiral Ernest J. King, and Lieutenant General Henry H. Arnold. From then on, the JCS met regularly. Leahy acted as the chairman. He set the meeting agendas, led the discussions, and approved major decisions. He had a small staff to help him.
Leahy also chaired meetings of the Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS), where the JCS met with British military leaders. At his first meetings, the main topic was Operation Gymnast, a plan to invade French North Africa. Marshall and King did not like the plan, but Leahy told them Roosevelt insisted on it. Roosevelt formally approved the plan on July 25.
Leahy usually arrived at his White House office early. He reviewed copies of war reports and intelligence. He chose which documents to show the President. He met with Roosevelt every morning. This control over information gave Leahy even more power.
War Strategy and Conferences
Leahy traveled with Roosevelt to all the major Allied conferences, except for one time when he got sick. He supported Roosevelt's decision to invade North Africa. He also agreed with Marshall and King that a cross-Channel invasion of France was important for 1944.
At the Third Washington Conference in May 1943, Leahy argued with the British about reopening the land route to China. He felt this was important for the war against Japan and for the future. The British eventually agreed to an offensive in Burma.
In November 1943, Roosevelt, Leahy, and other leaders traveled on the battleship USS Iowa to Mers-el-Kebir. From there, they flew to Cairo and then to Tehran, Iran, for talks with Stalin. Leahy stayed with Roosevelt at the Soviet compound. At the conference, they agreed with the Soviets on the cross-Channel operation (Operation Overlord) and an invasion of Southern France.
Leahy and Harry Hopkins, another close advisor, worked well together. Over time, Leahy became Roosevelt's most trusted advisor. This was partly because Hopkins was often ill.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Leahy was in his hometown of Hampton, Iowa. This trip was a trick to make German agents think the invasion would not happen while such an important officer was away. The next month, he joined Roosevelt in Hawaii to meet with Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur.
They discussed invading Formosa or liberating the Philippines. Leahy hoped a blockade would make an invasion of Japan unnecessary. The JCS debated for months before deciding to liberate Luzon.
Leahy's role as a White House advisor grew. He attended the Second Quebec Conference in September 1944. He pushed for the British fleet to join the Pacific War, which was eventually accepted. They also discussed the American occupation zone in Germany.
Leahy was promoted to the new rank of Fleet Admiral on December 15, 1944. He was the most senior of the seven men who received a five-star rank that month. He went with President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in February 1945. At Yalta, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin decided how Europe would be reorganized after Germany's surrender.
On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died. Leahy attended the memorial service for his friend.
The Atomic Bomb and Post-War Years
On April 13, 1945, Leahy briefed Truman, who was now president. Leahy offered to resign, but Truman kept him as chief of staff. In June, Leahy met with Truman and other military leaders to discuss Operation Olympic, the planned invasion of Kyushu. Leahy was concerned about high casualties.
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According to Truman's memoirs, Leahy was doubtful about the atomic bomb at first. He reportedly said it would never go off. However, after the bomb was tested and exploded, the consensus was to use it. Leahy later wrote in his memoirs that using the bomb was like adopting "an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages". But historians note he did not oppose its use at the time.
In July 1945, Leahy went with Truman to the Potsdam Conference. Truman met with Stalin and the new British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. Leahy was disappointed with the conference results. He felt that proposals for lasting peace were weakened. He saw that the Soviet Union was a major power and the British Empire was declining.
Leahy continued to chair JCS meetings. He disagreed with war plans that focused too much on using nuclear weapons first. He also opposed combining the War and Navy departments into the Department of Defense. He feared the Navy would lose its air force and the Marine Corps. He also did not agree with making the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff a formal position, thinking it would give too much power to one person.
Leahy was involved in preparing speeches that marked the start of the Cold War. He helped write Truman's Navy Day address in October 1945. He also consulted with Churchill on his "Iron Curtain" speech in March 1946. However, Leahy's views on U.S. involvement in conflicts like the Greek Civil War and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict began to differ from Truman's policies.
In September 1948, there were reports that some White House advisors wanted Truman to remove Leahy. They saw him as "old-fashioned". After Truman won the 1948 election, Leahy asked to retire. He met with Truman as chief of staff for the last time on December 28, 1948. Truman officially accepted his resignation on March 2, 1949. As a five-star officer, Leahy technically remained on active service as an advisor.
In 1950, Leahy published his war memoirs, I Was There. The book was not very exciting or detailed, and it did not sell well.
Death and Legacy
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Leahy died at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, on July 20, 1959, at age 84. He was the oldest officer on active duty in U.S. Navy history at the time of his death. He received a military funeral and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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Leahy's papers are kept at the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Library of Congress. The ship USS Leahy (CG-16), the lead ship of the Leahy-class cruisers, was named in his honor. In 2014, a building at the Old Naval Observatory was renamed Leahy House.
Images for kids
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Ensign (O-1)
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Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)
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Lieutenant (O-3)
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Lieutenant Commander (O-4)
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Commander (O-5)
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Captain (O-6)
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Rear Admiral (O-8)
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Vice Admiral (O-9)
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Admiral (O-10)
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Fleet Admiral (Special Grade)
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Navy Cross ribbon
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon
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Sampson Medal ribbon
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Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon
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Philippine Campaign Medal ribbon
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Nicaraguan Campaign Medal ribbon (1912)
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Mexican Service Medal ribbon
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Dominican Campaign Medal ribbon
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World War I Victory Medal ribbon
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American Campaign Medal ribbon
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon
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European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal ribbon
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World War II Victory Medal ribbon
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Navy Occupation Medal ribbon
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National Defense Service Medal ribbon
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Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
