The Forrestal Diaries

by James Forrestal, Walter Millis (Editor), E. Duffield

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: War, Biography, Politics, American History, Nonfiction

616 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 1951

Reviews

[Juliet McLean]

Yes, the Forrestal Diaries is a long dry account of James daily activities. Its difficult to get through but there is a great deal revealed that I never knew about WWII. I am surprised that Truman appointed Forrestal to this job because he was a bit unqualified for this position but, honestly so were several other appointments that Truman made. Since I began this book, the US Senate has forced US taxpayers into financing the 'war by proxy', ie; Ukraine vs. Russia, and again a second 'war by proxy', ie; Israel vs. Palestine. Clearly, I must assume that not many US taxpayers have read this book, very specifically members of the US Senate. Within this book Forrestal delineates exactly what Congress did beginning in 1946 regarding Israel. He also states exact conversations and conferences, etc., regarding how the US handled Japan after the war, terms and agreements with Stalin regarding things like the split of of Germany plus the rather forced land grabs by Russia in North Korea plus the US seizure of the land grab by the USA in South Korea from Japan. We have only had an effective and useful internet since 1994 and collectively both nationally and internationally since 1997. Prior to these dates it was customary for all politicians, ranking military personnel, etc. to write diaries like this book to keep track of exactly who they met with and actual words exchanged. Within this book he writes about world travels in short spans such as 19 days and having breakfast with one dignitary in a given country, lunch with someone else in another country and dinner with yet another dignitary in a third country. Without this extensive note taking much of what he reveals would have been lost and could have created international crisises.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

With only a casual interest in history, I found this book fascinating; not quite a "can't put it down" page-turner, but compelling enough to pick up and keep reading every day.
Most sections touch on the end of World War Two and the beginning of the cold war, at least mentioning and often quoting such characters as FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Stalin, Molotov, Chiang Kai-shek, Churchill, Tito, John Foster Dulles, Gen. Marshall, Gen. MacArthur, Gen. Bradley, Vandenburg, Admirals Nimitz, King, Leahy, Yamamoto, Averell Harriman, Bedell Smith, Vannevar Bush, Charles E. Wilson, Republicans Dewey, Taft, Stassen, Democrats Henry Wallace, Vinson, Pepper, Byrd and many more, in personal meetings, cabinet meetings, and elsewhere. If you recognize many of these names but don't know too much about them, reading the Forrestal Diaries is an entertaining way to learn more (as I did).
Much of Forrestal's worries centered around developing a unified service and an adequate military budget while watching hot spots around the world like China, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Korea, etc., as well as the Berlin blockade, European aide (Marshall plan), dealing with the Atomic bomb and whether/how to plan for it's use in war, and politics.
(Not quite a spoiler, but: It comes to a moving conclusion.) The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars: Heavy editing with many long editorial notes, which on the one hand makes it more readable than a bunch of diary entries often jumping between topics of different context, but on the other, leaves me wondering if the editors put their own spin on things or left out something interesting. Still very glad I read it.

[Alexander Bragman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would give it a five if it was not obvious that certain key parts of the book had been edited out by the author. Still there is some stunning facts in this book for sure, for example that Chamberlain considered the USA and World Jewry responsible for WW2.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was forewarned that this was not a bio but just a record of His diary during his time as sec of defense. And his diary or this diary was only a record of his involvement in his work, all the day to day meetings and such. so so very very boring. I remember about his suicide and thought this book would shed some light on that but did not in any way. I know far less about the man now than I did before reading this book. A total waste of time for me.