How much blame does FDR deserve for Pearl Harbour?

Yesterday, of course, was yet another anniversary of the most stupid attack in the history of stupid attacks when Japan secretly snuck south down the Pacific and caught the US Navy with its pants down in Pearl Harbour.  As always after such an unmitigated disaster, there are oodles and oodles of blame to be shared around but, remarkably, one man seems to have dodged virtually all of it - Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  He, of course, was the President at the time and in my opinion any leader who is in receipt of the adulation of his population plus all the enormous perks and privileges of the office must take a fair share of the blame.

If memory serves - and these days it frequently fails to do so - it was my old e-pal, 'JK', who some years ago on this topic brought to my attention the history of the late Adm. James O. Richardson who in 1940 was C-in-C of the US Fleet.  He it was who, in a face-to-face meeting, warned Roosevelt that his order to move the US Fleet from San Diego to Pearl Harbour was a dangerous mistake because the site was too vulnerable and the Japanese were certain to use a surprise attack when they began the war.  His reward was to be dismissed!  Roosevelt's reward was to be remembered forever as a great, iconic leader!  To be fair, in many ways he was but Pearl Harbour is a stain that will - and should - remain with him forever.

 

 

Comments

[JK]

What David, you start using that turmeric in all your cooking like I tolt you? Or maybe go with Michael Adam's advice and the fish oil?

https://duffandnonsense.typepad.com/duff_nonsense/2011/12/courage-of-a-different-order.html

Damn David, that was seven years ago!

Or what now I'm recalling one of your more recent posts and sumpin Bob mentioned about "reminiscing about boinking to unconsciousness" ... you mix sumpin into the Memsahib's tea when she weren't looking?

Or she into yer'n?

[Andra]

I have always thought that FDR was aware that an attack on Pearl Harbour was imminent and he let it happen as it was the only way the American people would consider going to war again.

[FrankC]

Why were there no carriers at Pearl during the attack?

[JK]

Frank,

The Lexington was ferrying a flight of Marine Corp bombers to Midway, the Enterprise, a fighter group (Marine also) to Wake and the Saratoga was in San Diego to pick up multiple squadrons.

Kimmel's trial noting these *odd movements made sure to note naval strategy at the time was battleship/cruiser intensive. Strategic carrier strikes were, at dawn in Hawaii December 7th considered highly unlikely.

(I distinctly recall a past D&N post bearing a link showing how very brand new offensive carrier operations were - 'underway replenishment' too. I'll try to find it but no guarantees.)

[JK]

FrankC,

https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2011-12/pearl-harbors-overlooked-answer

I hope that helps Frank.

[AussieD]

G'day JK

That's an interesting article.

[JK]

Aye AD. And although this'un ain't in David's archives you'll probably find it interesting too.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2009-12/how-japanese-did-it

In the "hidey hidey heigh ho" sense of naval operations.

[AussieD]

Thanks JK.

Way back in the early '70's I was at a joint USN/RAN function which was addressed by a retired senior USN Officer who posited the same interpretation that the IJN had completely outsmarted both the US and British.

His opinion of the conspiracy theories was that people allowed an inbuilt concept of the inferiority of the Japanese to convince themselves that the Japanese could not outsmart them so therefore it had to be a conspiracy.

He had served through WW2 in the Pacific and was a fascinating speaker - especially to the junior officers present who had been fed the conspiracy ideas.