Knox & Stimson.

This is coolbert:

It should be understood too that Franklin Roosevelt [FDR] was not above bi-partisanship. Especially in those years just prior to Pearl Harbor, FDR appointing to high level civilian positions within the War Department [before it was called the Department of Defense] prominent Republicans, those in opposition, quite often very vocal opposition for that matter to FDR and his policies.

1. Frank Knox. Secretary of the Navy during World War Two [WW2].

Newspaper reporter, publisher, and newspaper owner. Also a man with a pretty extensive military background, AND IN 1936 THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET!

"William Franklin "Frank" Knox . . . was an American newspaper editor and publisher. He was also the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936, and Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt during most of World War II."

Knox volunteering for military service both during the Spanish-American War [1918] and the Great War [1917].

"During the Spanish-American War, he joined the Army, and served in Cuba with the Theodore Roosevelt's famous Rough Riders, the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment."

"During World War I, Knox was an advocate of U.S military preparedness and then of participation in the war. When the U.S. declared war on Germany, he rejoined the Army. He reached the rank of Major and served as an artillery officer in France."

"After the war, Knox became a newspaper reporter in Grand Rapids. This was the beginning of a career that included ownership of several papers."

Knox while in the capacity of Secretary of the Navy in constant contact with FDR, again all things naval of intense interest to the President.

"During World War II, Knox again was an advocate of preparedness. As an internationalist, he supported aid to the Allies and opposed isolationism. In July 1940, he became Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt; the Democratic president sought to create bi-partisan support for his foreign and defense policies following the defeat of France."

"As Secretary, Frank Knox carried out Roosevelt's plan to expand the Navy into a force capable of fighting in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He traveled extensively to Navy installations worldwide."

2. Henry L. Stimson. Secretary of War on two occasions, prior to WW1 and during WW2. A prominent Republican and a man surely in the political arena in opposition to FDR.

Also a man having a military backgournd and having seen combat during WW1. "Stimson served the regular U.S. Army in France as an artillery officer, reaching the rank of colonel in August 1918."

"Henry Lewis Stimson . . . was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk calling for war against Germany. During World War II he took charge of raising and training 13 million soldiers and airmen, supervised the spending of a third of the nation's GDP on the Army and the Air Forces, helped formulate military strategy, and took personal control of building and using the atomic bomb"

It has been suggested by some historians that FDR did have a worthy opponent during the election of 1940 [Wendell Wilkie], and these appointment of Knox and Stimson were in some measure an effort to assuage public opinion and ALSO to create that atmosphere of BI-PARTISANSHIP! Persons such as Knox and Stimson also men of high caliber and intellect and a significant plus to the FDR administration without doubt!

coolbert.