[3]Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations at the time, went to the White House and advised President Roosevelt to go to war with Japan. [2] Truman chose to ignore his advice and gave the go ahead to drop the two bombs the United States had produced on urban targets in Japan. In 1936, Roosevelt had won an election with a campaign declaration of “I hate war.”[3]After Roosevelt had rebuffed his advice, Leahy continued his duties as Chief of Naval Operations and continued to expand America’s naval power. "That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done," he observed in his sturdy, salty manner. A son of Michael Arthur Leahy (1838-1921), a successful lawyer and Civil War veteran, William had wanted to attend West Point and follow in his father's footsteps. Generals Dwight Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur and Henry “Hap” Arnold and Admirals William Leahy, Chester Nimitz, Ernest King and William Halsey are on record stating that the atomic bombs were either militarily unnecessary, morally reprehensible, or both.
Leahy went to work, secretly gathering the fleet and waited every day for the declaration of war that Roosevelt had said was so necessary. In his memoirs he talked about the decision Truman faced. However the former secretary of the Navy, now turned President Roosevelt said to him: “Bill, if we have a war, you’re going to be right back here helping me run it.”[10]After Leahy’s retirement, President Roosevelt appointed him the governor of Puerto Rico. There were no appointments available, so he grudgingly went to the Naval Academy instead, a choice he would not regret later in his life.He graduated 14 out of a class of 47 in 1897. Out of all these legends, Leahy was the first military leader to be promoted to 5-star status of fleet admiral, and thus was the most senior of the whole list. [7] The advice that Roosevelt had spurned from Leahy in 1937, which had demonstrated Leahy’s foresight and tactical ability, must have played a role in the president’s decision to appoint him his chief war advisor.During and after the war, Leahy was described as “a deep water sailor unwillingly at a desk post.”[3, pg. According to Truman's Memoirs: Years of Decisions (1955), Leahy had stated in 1945 to President Truman: "That is … The Atomic Bomb and Admiral Leahy In December of 1944, Leahy was promoted as the United States Navy’s first Fleet Admiral.
American aid proved too little to buy French support over North Africa.
President Roosevelt and Admiral Leahy meeting with After the United States entered World War II, President Roosevelt decided he needed a senior military officer as personal adviser and point of contact with his three service chiefs, Admiral After the bomb was tested, Leahy was strongly opposed to its After mediating between the United States Navy and the Government of Puerto Rico over the involuntary transfer of part of the islands of Vieques and Culebra to naval authorities, Leahy resigned in March 1949, though as an officer with five-star rank, he technically remained on active service. He records in his book After the war, Leahy served as the head of the joint chiefs of staff for several more years before finally permanently retiring in 1949.
Left to right: From September 1939-November 1940, Leahy served as Governor of Puerto Rico. Roosevelt said that the country was just not “war minded” and he could not declare war on Japan because of it. "The bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives. According to Leahy, initially, Truman opposed the idea. [7,pg 196] This position is the most senior position in the United States military. The two met and became friends, and maintained a first name relationship up until Roosevelt’s death. 6] Despite his doubts in modern diplomacy, Leahy did well in his role as ambassador. Instead, he took the approach of trying to understand the local customs and ways of doing things before intervening. officers holding five-star rank never retire; they draw full active duty pay for life.
Leahy, like Dwight D. Eisenhower, was unable to persuade Truman against dropping the atom bomb on Hiroshima (6th August) and Nagasaki (9th August). He saw the attack as an opportunity to show the world there was a nation committed to fighting for peace. Leahy took his place as top military advisor to a second president.Another world-changing event he was involved in was the decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan. He took an open stance of not intervening directly in local politics, attempted to understand and respect local customs, and initiated various major public works projects in the island.
He was a man that demanded and deserved respect and was involved in many world-changing events. He attended United States Naval Academy, graduating 14th in his class of 47 in 1897. [6] His family moved to Ashland, Wisconsin for his high school years, and he considered Ashland to be his true home town. home page, click I was not taught to make wars in that fashion, and that wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.After mediating between the United States Navy and the Puerto Rican government over the involuntary transfer of part of the islands of Admiral Leahy served on active duty for 63 years (1893-1939, 1942-1959) and had one of the longest careers in the history of the U.S. Navy. Eleven days after the war in Europe broke out, he was recalled from his governorship and reinstated to the navy to be put in command of the naval forces in the Caribbean. [6] Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy died as a largely unsung hero of World War II,[9] one who had built up the United States Navy before the war, been a governor, ambassador, and top military advisor to two presidents. Leahy believed the atomic bomb would probably not work. Leahy’s opinion of the weapon was the Atomic bomb would not help the allies win the war against Japan, and that the Japanese were already beaten and ready to surrender because of the naval blockade and effective conventional