Evening star., 1951-06-28
ForrestuI
CONTINUED From First Pageo

correspondence turned over to his
lestate.
This vast accumulation of ma
Iterial was initially analyzed and
organized by Eugene s. Duffield,
assistant publisher of The Gin
|cinnati Enquirer. representing the
executors of the Forrestal estate.
Mr.. Dufheld's contribution to
publication of the diaries was
enhanced by his service as a
special assistant to Mr.. Forrestal
in 1942.45, when the latter was
Undersecretary and Secretary OF
the Navy.
The task Of editing the papers
in collaboration with Mr.. Duffield
was given to Walter Mills, author
and assistant chief editorial
writer Of the New York Herald
Tribune. Mr.. Mills. striving to
insure that the results would
appear "as James Forrestal's book
rather than as a book written
about him by Others" is reSpon-
sible for the final arrangement
of the material and the content
and wording of the comment
essential to link together the
quoted sections Of Mr.. Forrestars
diaries.
When Mr.. Forrestal left office
he made the unusual request that
his diary volumes together with
some important documents be de-
posted for safekeeping at the
White House. There they re-
manned from early in 1949 until
January. 1850.
The Is loose-leaf volumes were
then studied by representatives of
the Department of Defense, the
White House and the Forrestal es-
tate. Nine technical documents
prejudicial to national security
were removed, and the remainder
was turned over to the estate un-I
der agreement that nothing would
be published without prior clear
ance with the Defense Depart
ment for security. A few pas
sageS were deleted after editing
was completed. as directly viola
tive Of national security. But the
Department of Defense assumed no i
responsibility for the publication,
and its security screening in no
sense constituted an official stamp
Of approval ! ..@Egft
Comments on Men and Events.
The diaries comprise notes and
dictated memoranda of Important
meetings, casual conversations
with high officers. luncheon and
dinner interviews. copies of official
documents and often reflective
and revealing comments on men
and events.
The newspaper specialization will
shed new light on the conduct of |
and postwar affairs in
Washington, and the parts played
oy the Governments highest rep
resentatives who were in close and
constant touch with Secretary
ForreStal,
Mr.. Forrestal entered Govern
nent service in 1910 from a sue
'essful position in the investment
banking business. He was hand
picked by President Roosevelt to
'erve as one of his administrative
An early Naval aviator mo.
sd in World War I, Mr.. Forres-
al had served in the Office of
Naval Operations in Washington.
SIX weeks after he went to the
.apital in the early days of World ,
Var II. he was appointed to the !
lewly created post of Undersccre- /,
AIRY of the Navy. He became !
secretary Of the Navy in May,
.944. succeeding the late Frank 4
Knox.
When the armed services were
'eorganized in 1947, he became
he first Secretary of the Depart
nent Of Defense, with the colossalIt
ask of unifying the military
ranches. He resigned from Of
Ice in March. 1949, and shortly
hereafter entered the Bethesda
Naval Hospital, victim of occu- Is
'ational fatigue. He took his own /
lfe by jumping from a window at
he hospital. II
II