Townsend Hoopes (1922–2004)

Driven Patriot: The Life And Times of James Forrestal by Townsend Hoopes and Douglas Brinkley is a lifelong biography of the United States guest Secretary of Defense James Forrestal.

This is an outstanding biography that is not for everyone as it is over 600 pages and is detail packed on the life of James Forrestal (1892-1949) ending with his tragic suicide while being treated at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

He began his professional life in bond sales with Dillon Reed, later becoming a partner, show more vice-president, and later president of Dillon Reed.

James Forrestal served in World War I as a lieutenant. He later served under Frank Knox as Under Secretary of the Navy and later succeeded him as Secretary of the Navy. Attributed as the man responsible for creating the U.S. Navy, which fought World War II. He was a witness to the raising of the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima. Was Integral to introducing racial integration in the navy and was then party to the post-war demobilization.

The first Secretary of Defense, he valiantly tried to integrate the Armed services under one civilian authority, a plan he originally opposed as Naval Secretary. He was also an early champion of George Kennan and the policy of containment.

A man who died from suicide after being worn down by 8 years of service to his country and was laid to rest by Pallbearers, which included Herbert Hoover. Dwight Eisenhower, Fred Vinson, Dean Acheson, George Marshall, and Bernard Baruch.

A must-read for serious students of World War. show less