Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-15
InquiHng Fouestal Seeks Jap Policy
Navy Secretary Think Issue Out Citing Many Problems
By Raymond Brandt

for their great powers, when, as mat
general conditions or to the Govern
ment.
Called BOY Wonder"
Before he came to the White House,
Mr.. Forrestal was called "the boy wcn-
der" of Wall Street He was graduated
from Princeton in 1915, where he made
his own way, partly through editorship
of the Daily Princetonian. In the first
World War he joined the Navy as
seaman and came out a lieutenant,
Junior grade, in the Naval Air Force.
Discharged from the Navy, he rejoined
the Dillon, Reed Co. as a bond sales
man. Twenty years later he was presi-
dent of the organization and rich man.
His association with President Roose-
welt began In his boyhood His father
was contractor in Duchess County,
and as one of the few Democrats in that
section of squires he helped young
Franklin D. Roosevelt up the first rung
of the political ladder to State sena-
torship.
In his Duchess County days before
he went to Dartmouth and then to
Princeton, Forrestal worked on several
local newspapers and was correspondent
for the New York World. He has re-
tanned his interest in newspaper work
and newspapermen, but he shuns pub
Mcity, saying that his hobby is "ob-
scurity"
Named in 1910.
Forrestal was one of the few Wall
Street New Dealers and was a frequent
caller at the White House before he was
named an administrative assistant. His
explanation for this appointment is
that in 1910 President Roosevelt needed
few Democratic bankers around
Washington and that the White House
job was the only one open for him at
the time. He was moved in as Under
secretary of the Navy when that office
was created few months later.
The law says that the principal re-
sponsibility of the Undersecretary lis
the preparation and execution of con-
tracts for the procurement of the nee
essary facilities, supplies and equip
ment, and for the production thereun-
der"
Forrestal, 48 years old, was an ideal
man for this multibillion dollar task.
which required cooperation with I'm
dersecretary of War Robert w. Patter-
son and Robert A. Lovett, Assistant Sec
vetary of War for Air, as well as bust
nessmen and military and naval officers.
He turned to this governmental work
with the same vigor intelligence and
obscurity that had marked his Wall
Street career. He was tough-minded
administrator who ran his office like a
"taut ship"
He set out to learn the Navy, wher-
ever it might be stationed or fighting.
Within 10 days after the Marines made
their shoestring landing on Guadal-
canal in 1912, he was with them to see
what they needed. They needed sup
plies and the Undersecretary few back
to Washington and saw that they got
them.
Called Down by Bo'sun's Mate.
When he heard that task force was
going to invade the Marshall Islands,
he and his aid, Capt. John Ginrich,
again few to the Pacific They landed
with the troops on Namur Islet the sec
ond day of the assault
Forrestal wore the Marine green on
this trip and while watching the first
stages of the operation a boatswain's
mate stepped up to where he Was
standing bareheaded
Where's your cap, Buddy?" asked
Am supposed to wear one?" grinned
Forrestal.
You damn Marines" said the dis
gusted sailor. You're all alike"
When Secretary Frank Knox died,
Forrestal was his logical successor.
Those who had worked with him as
Undersecretary urged the promotion. AS
Acting Secretary he speeded up the
landing craft program so vital to the
European invasion.
His elevation to cabinet rank was
marked by change in his surroundings.
He moved into the Secretary's office on
the second floor of the sprawling Navy
Building Franklin D. Roosevelt built
when he was Assistant Secretary. Next
to j. Edgar Hoover, he now has the
most ornate Government Office in Wash
ington. The decorations were designed
by his wife, the former Miss Josephine
Ogden, whom he married in 1926, then
on the fashion staff of Vogue magazine.
The Grapes are heavy golden-yellow,
held to the valances by swords. In ad-
dition to a ship clock with bells, there
is beautiful grandfather affair. The
walls are covered with huge maps. Be-
hind Forrestal's chair is an oil paint
ing of Secretary Knox.
Helped Design Uniform.
Mrs. Forrestal helped design the
WAVES uniform and has been active in
WAVE recruiting drives. In 1943 she
was listed among the 10 best-dressed
women of the United States. The For
restals have two sons, Michael, 16 years
old, and Peter, IA. The family lives
quietly in large Georgetown house
and while they entertain extensively,
there is no publicity in the Washington
society columns.
Slim and hard as nails physically,
Secretary Forrestal could easily pose as
Marine captain or major. He was a
puny boy and decided to build himself
up In college he went in for tennis
and wrestling and his nose is still fat
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