James Forrestal

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 . Forrestal observed a famously punishing work schedule in the last years of his life, and rumors had circulated in the press as to his health. President Truman's unexpected decision to dismiss him as Defense Secretary on March 31, 1949 is said to have strained him to the breaking point, causing him to suffer a nervous breakdown. He was hospitalized on April 2, 1949. On May 22, 1949 he was found dead on the roof of a covered walkway below the window of a kitchen across the hall from his 16th floor room at Bethesda Naval Hospital , a bathrobe sash knotted tightly around his neck. The press reported that he had committed suicide and the local coroner and Navy officials agreed. The circumstances of the death were reviewed, however, by a committee convened by Rear Admiral Morton D. Willcutts, the head of the National Naval Medical Center . The committee released only a brief list of conclusions several months after it had completed its work. The conclusions noted only that Forrestal "died following a fall" and that the fall caused his death. The board did not speculate as to what might have caused the fall. The committee's full report was not released until 2004. In a review of the board's evidence and findings—solicited by the Navy and kept secret with the report until 2004—Chairman of the American Psychiatric Association Dr. Winfred Overholser concluded that Forrestal "came to his death by suicide while in a state of mental depression," but the report's own conclusions were seen to have been accurately reported 55 years earlier, that is simply that Forrestal died from the fall. Debate over the exact circumstances of Forrestal's unusual death continues today, with some critics citing the U.S. government 's withholding of the official report and autopsy results as well as possible signs of struggle in evidence photos as indicating foul play .

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 world's first supercarrier was named 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 Township, New Jersey .

He came from a very strict middle class Irish Catholic family. He was a successful financier on Wall Street. He became Undersecretary of the Navy in 1940. Roosevelt wanted him to take the lead in building up the Navy. He became Secretary of the Navy in May 1944, and the first Secretary of the newly created Defense Department in 1947. He was intensely hostile to the Soviet Union, fearing Communist expansion in Europe and the Middle East. He strongly opposed the creation of Israel because it would alienate Arab nations that were needed as allies. Forrestal was a supporter of naval battle groups centered on aircraft carriers . He tried to weaken the proposed Department of Defense for the Navy's benefit, but was hard pressed to run it in 1947-49 when Harry S. Truman named him Secretary of Defense. They were often at odds and Truman forced his resignation. His mental health was rapidly deteriorating and he underwent medical care for depression, and died after falling from a sixteenth floor window of his hospital, provoking rumors of murder. In 1954, the world's first supercarrier was named USS Forrestal in his honor, as is the James V. Forrestal Building , which houses the headquarters of the United States Department of Energy . He is the namesake of the Forrestal Lecture Series at the United States Naval Academy and of the James Forrestal Campus of his alma mater Princeton University . Office of the Secretary of Defense - Historical Office .

Forrestal came from a very strict middle-class Irish Catholic family. He was a successful financier on Wall Street before becoming Undersecretary of the Navy in 1940, shortly before the United States entered the Second World War . He became Secretary of the Navy in May 1944 upon the death of his superior, Col. Roosevelt requested that Forrestal take the lead in building up the Navy. In 1947, after the end of the war, President Harry S. Truman appointed him the first secretary of the newly created Department of Defense. Forrestal was intensely hostile to the Soviet Union, fearing Communist expansion in Europe and the Middle East. Marshall , he strongly opposed the United States' support for the establishment of the State of Israel , fearing that this would alienate Arab nations which were needed as allies, and whose petroleum reserves were vital for both military and civilian industrial expansion. Forrestal was a supporter of naval battle groups centered on aircraft carriers . He tried to weaken the proposed Department of Defense for the Navy's benefit, but was hard-pressed to run it from 1947 to 1949 after Truman named him Secretary of Defense. The two men were often at odds, and Truman forced Forrestal's resignation. Thereafter, Forrestal's mental health rapidly deteriorated, declining to the point in which he underwent medical care for depression. While a patient at Bethesda Naval Hospital , Forrestal died by suicide from fatal injuries sustained after falling out of a sixteenth-floor window. In 1954, the USN's new supercarrier was named USS Forrestal in his honor, as is the James V. Forrestal Building , which houses the headquarters of the United States Department of Energy . He is the namesake of the Forrestal Lecture Series at the United States Naval Academy and of the James Forrestal Campus of his alma mater Princeton University . Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office .

First United States Secretary of Defense 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 came from a very strict middle-class Irish Catholic family. He was a successful financier on Wall Street before becoming Undersecretary of the Navy in 1940, shortly before the United States entered the Second World War . He became Secretary of the Navy in May 1944 upon the death of his superior, Col. Roosevelt requested that Forrestal take the lead in building up the Navy. In 1947, after the end of the war, President Harry S. Truman appointed him the first secretary of the newly created Department of Defense. Forrestal was intensely hostile to the Soviet Union, fearing Communist expansion in Europe and the Middle East. Marshall , he strongly opposed the United States' support for the establishment of the State of Israel , fearing that this would alienate Arab nations which were needed as allies, and whose petroleum reserves were vital for both military and civilian industrial expansion. Forrestal was a supporter of naval battle groups centered on aircraft carriers . He tried to weaken the proposed Department of Defense for the Navy's benefit, but was hard-pressed to run it from 1947 to 1949 after Truman named him Secretary of Defense. The two men were often at odds, and Truman forced Forrestal's resignation. Thereafter, Forrestal's mental health rapidly deteriorated, declining to the point in which he underwent medical care for depression. While a patient at Bethesda Naval Hospital , Forrestal died by an alleged suicide from fatal injuries sustained after falling out of a sixteenth-floor window. In 1954, the USN's new supercarrier was named USS Forrestal in his honor, as is the James V. Forrestal Building , which houses the headquarters of the United States Department of Energy . He is the namesake of the Forrestal Lecture Series at the United States Naval Academy and of the James Forrestal Campus of his alma mater Princeton University . Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office .