Henry Stimson: The Wartime Statesman

Abstract

The late political philosopher John Rawls defined the statesman as an ideal - an individual who exemplified outstanding insight, judgment, courage and leadership in office. The qualities of a statesman, however, did not end there. Such persons were not only capable of leading during times of trial and uncertainty, but also aimed for peace and the well being of future generations. Henry L. Stimson was one such man. His career in public service would span nearly forty years, taking him from the state level attorney up to the highest echelons of the United States (US) government. Though he was not without flaw, Stimson possessed a clear set of values and principles that consistently influenced the decisions that he made throughout his life. A man who was Secretary of War, once at the eve of the First World War and years later during the conflict of the Second World War, Stimson would face issues that would greatly challenge his moral compass and vision for peace. Yet in spite of the grim realities that surrounded him, Stimson led the US through one of the most turbulent times of its history with the heart of a true statesman. Accordingly, this paper will examine Stimson as a wartime statesman in addition to taking a closer look at the lesser-known aspects of his moral dilemmas during his tenure as Secretary of War. Henry L. Stimson, born on September 21st 1867, would spend most of his early years in New England. His Presbyterian upbringing along with his education at Yale University and Harvard Law School would be formative towards laying the foundation of his moral compass. As Sean Malloy explains, "While Presbyterianism provided the moral core of Stimson's worldview, it was not religious dogma but rather the law from which he drew both his livelihood and the intellectual framework that guided his approach to national and international affairs." In other words Stimson would "...embrace the law as a tool for the gradual evolution of human society towards a more perfect moral order." This viewpoint would govern the decisions that Stimson would make throughout his illustrious career and demonstrate the faith that he put in international law and order. After fifteen some years working at a New York corporate law firm, Stimson was tapped by president Theodore Roosevelt to become the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He would hold this office for three years, during which he continued to cultivate his beliefs in law and strong government. Following an unsuccessful bid for governor of New York, he was appointed in 1911 as Secretary of War in the Taft cabinet. Although Stimson was technically a Progressive and President Taft a Conservative, Taft knew that Stimson was "a middle-of-the-road progressive, not running to extreme radicalism on one side or to conservatism on the other." Accordingly, Stimson would fulfill his new role well by not only advocating for preparedness and successfully reorganizing the US army into a modern fighting force on a par with the emerging global power of the US, but also strengthening US policy towards the development of the various territories under American control such as the Philippines. As McGeorge Bundy wrote, these two years as Secretary of War under Taft "were the most important in his early public life," preparing him for the momentous time he would be Secretary of War once more.