HUSBAND E. KIMMEL. Admiral Kimmel's Story. Pp. xvi, 207. Chicago: Henry Regnery Company, 1955. $3.75

• Author: W.D. Puleston
• Published date: 01 July 1955
• Date: 01 July 1955
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/000271625530000129
• Subject Matter: Articles

139
torial campaigns. The book is not for the
Harbor he as summarily relieved Kimmel
general reader, but for specialists, particu-
and then appointed the Roberts Commis-
larly those interested in techniques of
sion to ascertain any &dquo;derelictions of duty
newspaper analysis and their application to
or errors of judgment&dquo; leading to that
a quantitative study of the political proc-
military debacle. The Commission for-
ess.
The volume &dquo;is the first basic re-
mally exonerated the Secretaries of State,
search publication of the Governmental
War, and Navy Departments; the Chief of
Research Bureau&dquo; of Michigan State Col-
Staff of the Army; and the Chief of Naval
lege. It is premised on the assumption
Operations; and inferentially acquitted the
that such detailed, basic research is the
President from any blame by placing com-
essential initial step in an understanding
plete responsibility for the disastrous de-
of politics and in constructive political
feat upon Admiral Kimmel and his Army
action.
colleague General Short.
The authors are commendably cautious
Kimmel’s Story told in terse language is
in stating the limitations of their work.
as dramatic as any Greek tragedy. Unex-
They are likewise explicit in describing the
pectedly summoned to command our most
rather elaborate methods they have em-
powerful fleet he diligently prepared it for
ployed. Their conclusions are presented
its assigned tasks in the event of war,
with great restraint, and they admittedly
simultaneously striving to insure its se-
resist the temptation to speculate as to
curity in case of a Japanese surprise at-
their implications. This is a scholar’s book
tack.
Unjustly sacrificed with Short to
for scholars.
shield the shortcomings of the President
Certain major findings of more general
and High Command in Washington, who
interest do emerge from the data. The
as Stimson has revealed sought to entice
study reveals that policy issues figured in
Japan into striking...