Pearl Harbor and Aftermath
Beginning in January 1940, he was Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet . At the time of his appointment, Richardson "was one of the Navy's foremost figures. Since his earliest days, after leaving Annapolis, he had made the study of Japanese warfare his life work. He was beyond question the Navy's outstanding authority on Pacific naval warfare and Japanese strategy." He held this position during a stressful period marked by the fleet's forward deployment to Pearl Harbor from its traditional base in San Diego, California.
Richardson protested this redeployment to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and to other politicians in Washington. He argued such a forward defense was not practical or useful, despite Japan's attack on China and whatever promises had been made to Britain to come to their aid if attacked. According to journalist John T. Flynn:
It was Richardson's belief – and indeed generally supported by the Navy – that the Fleet should never be berthed inside Pearl Harbor where it would be a mark for attack. This was particularly true in such troubled times when the airways of the East were hot with rumors of approaching conflict. What is more, Richardson held the belief that Pearl Harbor was the logical first point of attack for the Japanese High Command, wedded as it was to the theory of undeclared and surprise warfare.
On October 26, 1940, a White House leak to the Washington-based Kiplinger Newsletter predicted Richardson would be removed as CinCPac. He was replaced by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel in February 1941.
Upon his relief by President Roosevelt, "Richardson reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral and served as a member of the Navy General Board, and in the office of the Secretary of the Navy until to his retirement on October 1, 1942."
Transferred to the retired list with the rank of admiral in October 1942, he remained on active service with the Navy Relief Society, as senior member of a "Special Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee" on the reorganization of the national defense, and as a witness before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Released from active duty in January 1947, he thereafter resided in Washington, D.C.
Richardson died on 2 May 1974.
Read more about this topic: James O. Richardson
Famous quotes containing the words pearl harbor, pearl, harbor and/or aftermath:
“Pilot to crew. Take a good look at Pearl Harbor. Maybe it’s something you’ll want to remember.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)
“High on a throne of royal state, which far
Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand
Show’rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted sat, by merit raised
To that bad eminence; and, from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue
Vain war with Heav’n, and by success untaught,
His proud imaginations”
—John Milton (1608–1674)
“The disabusing a man strongly possessed with an opinion of his own worth is the very same ill office that was done to the fool at Athens, who fancied all the ships that came into the harbor were his own.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“The aftermath of joy is not usually more joy.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)