Leahy, Admiral William D.

Leahy, Admiral William D. (1875–1959),US Navy officer who, during the First World War, struck up a lifelong friendship with Roosevelt, the then assistant secretary of the navy. Promoted rear-admiral in 1927, Leahy became chief of Naval Operations in 1937, at that time the US Navy's highest post, before retiring in 1939 to become governor of Puerto Rico. In 1941 he became Roosevelt's ambassador to Vichy in France and had the difficult and controversial task of trying to minimize the Vichy government's collaboration with Germany.

He was recalled in April 1942 and in July 1942 was appointed the president's chief of staff and chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. In these capacities he became one of Roosevelt's closest advisers and accompanied him to all the major Allied conferences (see Grand Alliance). He proved to be a skilled bureaucrat, a realist, and a moderating influence. Along with Roosevelt he disliked de Gaulle, but he also distrusted the president's policy of concessions to the USSR. After Roosevelt died, Leahy was retained by Truman but wielded less influence with him. He became the first fleet admiral in 1944 and retired in 1949.

Bibliography

Leahy, W. D. , I was There (New York, 1950).