Stuart Symington

by Olson, James C.

• ISBN13: 9780826215031
• ISBN10: 0826215033
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-12-01
• Publisher: Univ of Missouri Pr

Summary

Stuart Symingtonis the first full-length biography of one of Missourirs"s most influential and effective twentieth-century political leaders. It tells the story of a remarkable man whose adult life was spent at or near the center of power in America, a man who was talented and ambitious, yet maintained a realistic touch that enabled him to connect with ordinary people. Symington was the first secretary of the air force and a four-term senator from Missouri. Prior to his long governmental career, he was a successful businessman in New York and St. Louis, developing a national reputation as a genius who could convert failing businesses to profitability. His most notable success was with Emerson Electric Company of St. Louis, which during World War II he turned into a large manufacturer of movable gun turrets for bombers. Known as "Harry Trumanrs"s Trouble Shooter," Symington was unanimously confirmed by the Senate for six major presidential appointments-a record. As assistant secretary of war for air, he represented the War Department in negotiations leading to the National Security Act of 1947, which unified the armed services into a single national military establishment under the secretary of defense. During his tenure as secretary of the air force, he steered that organization through a series of crises, including racial integration, as it developed into an independent entity within the Defense Department. Among his other administrative positions, he served as surplus property administrator, breaking up the aluminum monopoly; director of the National Security Resources Board, where he helped develop mobilization strategy for the Korean War; and director of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, where he reformed a badly managed operation. Highlights of his long Senate career include his confrontation with Joseph McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954; his conflict with President Eisenhower over the defense budget; his long, agonizing struggle over Vietnam as he changed from a leading hawk to a leading dove; and his role in uncovering information leading to congressional articles of impeachment against President Nixon. He was a serious candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1960, and for a time appeared to be Kennedyrs"s choice for vice president. Well written and exhaustively researched,Stuart Symington: A Lifeprovides a comprehensive portrait of Symington and his exceptional career, shedding new light on presidential administrations from Truman to Nixon, the Department of Defense, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The book also contributes to an understanding of the U. S. Senate, the political history of Missouri, and the relationship between business and government during and immediately after World War II.

Author Biography

James C. Olson is President Emeritus of the University of Missouri.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Beginnings	1	(15)
A Rapid Rise in Business	16	(13)
Turnaround in St. Louis	29	(12)
Five E's for Excellence	41	(13)
From Business to Government	54	(6)
The World's Largest Merchandiser	60	(13)
Assistant Secretary of War for Air	73	(14)
Unification	87	(34)
First Secretary of the Air Force	121	(13)
Integrating the Air Force	134	(8)
The Berlin Airlift	142	(10)
The Fight for Air Power (I)	152	(14)
The Fight for Air Power (II)	166	(12)
Showdown with the Navy	178	(16)
Reorganization and Resignation	194	(14)
Frustrated Mobilization Boss	208	(14)
Reforming the RFC	222	(10)
Beating the Odds in Missouri	232	(17)
Not Your Ordinary Freshman	249	(26)
Confronting McCarthyism	275	(22)
Defense---A Voice in the Wilderness	297	(8)
Into the Mainstream	305	(11)
Reluctant Favorite Son	316	(10)
The Missile Gap	326	(12)
Agriculture---The Other Big Issue	338	(10)
Half-Hearted Run for the Presidency	348	(13)
The Kennedy Years	361	(16)
Vietnam---From Hawk to Dove	377	(15)
Laos, Cambodia, and the CIA	392	(14)
Meanwhile, Back in Missouri	406	(10)
The Search for Peace	416	(12)
The Final Years	428	(9)
Abbreviations	437	(2)
Notes	439	(84)
Bibliography	523	(14)
Index	537