Frank Knox
Frank Knox | |
---|---|
47th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
In office July 11, 1940 – April 28, 1944 | |
President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Preceded by | Charles Edison |
Succeeded by | James Forrestal |
Personal details | |
Born | William Franklin Knox January 1, 1874 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Died | April 28, 1944 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 70)
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Annie Reid |
Education | Alma College (BA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1898 1917–1919 |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | Spanish–American War • Battle of Las Guasimas • Battle of San Juan Hill World War I |
William Franklin Knox (January 1, 1874 – April 28, 1944) was an American politician, soldier, newspaper editor, and publisher. He was the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936 and Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt during most of World War II. On December 7, 1941, Knox, flanked by his assistant John O’Keefe, walked into Roosevelt's White House study around 1:30 pm EST, and announced that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor.
Born in Boston, he attended Alma College and served with the Rough Riders during the Spanish–American War. After the war, he became a newspaper editor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and state chairman of the Republican Party. He was a leading supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, the Progressive candidate for president in 1912. He advocated U.S. entrance into World War I and served as an artillery officer in France. The 1936 Republican National Convention nominated a ticket of Alf Landon and Knox, and they were defeated by Roosevelt and John Nance Garner in the 1936 election.
After World War II broke out in 1939, Knox supported aid to the Allies. In 1940, Roosevelt appointed him as Secretary of the Navy in hopes of building bipartisan support. Knox brought in James Forrestal as the under secretary. They presided over a massive naval buildup but were dissatisfied by the confused chain of command in Hawaii. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Knox brought in a much more aggressive admiral, Ernest J. King. Roosevelt worked closely with King and largely neglected Knox. During the war, Knox continued his supervision of the Chicago Daily News, while Forrestal expanded his role and supervised the nonmilitary aspects of the department in terms of contracts and recruitment.[1] Knox served as secretary of the Navy until his death in 1944, when Forrestal replaced him.
Early life
William Franklin Knox was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were both
He served in Cuba with Theodore Roosevelt's famous Rough Riders, the First Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.[4] He was a member of Troop D commanded by Captain Robert Huston. As a member of D Troop, Knox fought in Cuba at the Battle of Las Guasimas, and the Battle of San Juan Hill.[5]
Newspapers and politics
After the war, Knox became a newspaper reporter in Grand Rapids, which was the beginning of a career that included ownership of several papers. He changed his first name to Frank around 1900. He was state chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. In 1912, he was a key organizer for the presidential ambitions of Theodore Roosevelt.[6][7]
In late 1912, Knox helped found the Manchester Leader in New Hampshire. It was financed by Governor
During World War I, Knox was an advocate of U.S. military preparedness and then of participation in the war. When the U.S. declared war on Germany in 1917, he rejoined the Army. He reached the rank of Colonel and served as an artillery officer in France. After the war he returned to the newspaper business.
In 1931, Frank Knox became publisher and part owner of the
World War II
During
When a new naval officer on Knox's staff told him, "I'm no New Dealer," Knox replied, "I fought the President with every resource at my command. But now I've squared my politics with my conscience and I'm proud to serve under such a great man. At that," Knox added, "it's a good thing to have a couple of fellows around here who aren't New Dealers!"[9] He traveled extensively to Navy installations worldwide.
Internment of Japanese Americans
Knox had called for the
Death
Following a brief series of heart attacks, Secretary Knox died in
Posthumous honors and memorials
The Gearing-class destroyer USS Frank Knox (DD-742), commissioned in December 1944, was named in his honor.[13][14]
On May 31, 1945, he received posthumously the Medal for Merit from President Harry S. Truman.[15] He also received the Spanish Campaign Medal and the World War I Victory Medal for his previous military service.
In 1948, his widow, Annie Reid Knox (1875–1958) endowed the
Frank Knox School on the grounds of the
See also
- List of U.S. political appointees who crossed party lines
- Ed J. Davenport, handled public relations for Frank Knox, 1929–32
References
- ^ Lobdell, 1980.
- ^ J. Ernest Kerr, Imprint of the Maritimes, 1959, Boston: Christopher Publishing, p. 123
- ^ Fuller, George Newman; Beeson, Lewis (1986). Michigan History. Vol. 70–71. Lansing, MI: Michigan History Division, Michigan Department of State. p. 36.
- ^ a b "Who is Frank Knox?", Harvard University.
- ^ Theodore Roosevelt (1899). "Troop D Muster". Charles Scribner's Sons. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
- ^ Geoffrey Cowan, Let the people rule: Theodore Roosevelt and the birth of the presidential primary (WW Norton & Company, 2016) pp. 50, 127-133.
- ^ Steven Macdonald Mark, "An American Interventionist: Frank Knox and United States Foreign Relations' (University of Maryland, College Park ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 1977.7730543) pp 32-55.
- ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
- ^ Gunther, John (1950). Roosevelt in Retrospect. Harper & Brothers. p. 35.
- ^ Robinson, Greg. By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of Japanese Americans (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001), p. 77.
- ^ Niiya, Brian. "Frank Knox". Densho Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
- ^ "Burial Detail: Knox, Frank (Section 2, Grave 4961)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
- ^ "Frank Knox (1874–1944)", Online Library of Selected Images, NHC.
- ^ "USS Frank Knox", USN Ships, NHC.
- ^ Sec. of War Henry Stimson's diary and papers May 31, 1945 – June 6, 1945
Sources
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Department of the Navy.
- Beasley, Norman. Frank Knox, American: a short biography (1936) online
- Jordan, Jonathan W., American Warlords: How Roosevelt's High Command Led America to Victory in World War II (NAL/Caliber 2015).
- Lobdell, George H. "Frank Knox, 11 July 1940–28 April 1944." in Paolo E. Coletta, ed. American Secretaries of the Navy, Volume II, 1913-1972 (1980) pp. 677–728
- Lobdell, George Henry Jr. "A Biography of Frank Knox" (PhD dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 1954. 0009101).
- Mark, Steven Macdonald." An American Interventionist: Frank Knox and United States Foreign Relations' (PhD dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 1977. 7730543).
- O'Sullivan, Christopher D. "Frank Knox: Roughrider in FDR's War Cabinet" (2023) Palgrave-Macmillan Publishers.
External links
- "Frank Knox (1874–1944) – 47th Secretary of the Navy, 11 July 1940 – 28 April 1944". Online Library of Selected Images. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
- "USS Frank Knox (DD-742, later DDR-742 and DD-742), 1944–1971". USN Ships. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
- "Who was Frank Knox?". The Frank Knox Memorial Fellowships. Harvard University. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2007-12-29.