The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1949-05-23
MRS. FORRESTAL, WHOSE HUSBAND
COMMITTED SUICIDEa y yesterday,
ARRIVES BY PLAN ETs FIR o I'M PARIS
Makes Trip I'm 10
Hours In White House
Plane Independence;
Accompanied by Son

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Josephine Forrestal, widow of
James v. Forrestal. who leapcd
Ca has death yesterday from a
history window in the Bethesda
Naval Hospital. arrived here this
morning from Paris in the White
fioase plane Independence. which
was turned over 10 her by Sec
rotary Of State Dean Acheson to
make the trip. She was accom-
panied by her son, Michael, a ma
va officer in World War ii. II
required 10 hours TO make the
TRIP.
Forrestal. who was the nations
firSt secretary of defense, had
been In the hospital since early
April Mrs. Forrestal had gone to
France 30. find a quiet place for
him to recuperate.
She was met at the National
Airport here by Secretary of De-
tense Louis Johnson and other
government officials.
James Forrestal was known
during World War ii as builder
and b0Ss Of the most aawsome
navy in history. After victory
had been won. he became head Of
on the nations armed forces as
Secretary of Defense.
The wiry, tight-lipped former
bond salesman whose Irish nose
was flaltened when he was an
amateur boxer, was called 10
Washington In 1910. President
Franklin d. Roosevelt had chosen
HIM Cor one Of the newly-created
pusts Of White House assistants
with a passion for anonymity"
forreStal met that qualification
perfectly. for he always had
sought 30 avoid the limelight. lie
nnes save his hobby as ''obscuri-
~" Fe
In responding 10 the call to
Washington. Mr.. Forrestal gave
up the presidency of the New
York Investment house of Dillon,
Read a Co. with which he had
started work as statistician
ahostly after leaving Princeton.
After functioning as a White
House liais0n man for about six
weeks, Mr.. Forrestal was made
the Nays first Under-Secretary,
= war-created post. As the right
hand man Of Secretary Frank
Knox. he served as department
supervisor. directing the building
of the new Navy and the pur-
chase Of all Navy supplies.
A Hard Barsainer
lie was not q man to lay his
money ON thea counter until he
knew exactly what he was going
to Get for II. One day an admiral
responsible for certain work
walked in with a batch of con-
tracts for Forrestars approval.
rs this a good deal?" Forrestal
asked. picking up the first one.
Il don't know" the admiral
replied.
"Aren't these your initials
here3"
"Yes sir"
We'll what do they mean?" .
Il can assure you that this is
legal" the admiral replied.
Whether il Is a good deal | can
not say"
The brisk efficient Forrestal
was a tough minded administra-
tor who wanted TO know whether
the government was getting its
moneys worth before he signed.
Once when the purchase of a
yacht was proposed at very fair
price, he rejected the deal.
why should we buy this
yacht al that price?" he asked.
Call the man up and offer him
81 Zoe H." The man took it.
Wanted Best UavY
When Secretary of the Navy
Knox died in 1914, Mr.. Eorrestal
succeeded him. He sometimes re-
moved admirals from top jobs,
bat on the other hand supported
Ia the fullest those he considered
efficient administrators.
And always he urged that the
United States build and keep the
greatest Navy in the world.
Should disintegration be permit