James Forrestal

James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was a Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense (1947–1949). He suddenly resigned the Defense position, took refuge in a mental hospital, and shortly thereafter committed suicide by throwing himself from the hospital window.

Forrestal's Death

Forrestal resigned on March 28, 1949, due to a "mental breakdown" and was checked into the Bethesda Naval Hospital. On May 22, his body was found on a third-floor roof below the 16th-floor room where he was staying. Officially ruled a suicide, reports of paranoia and of involuntary commitment to the hospital, as well as suspicions about the detailed circumstances of his death have fed a variety of conspiracy theories, ranging from Soviet agents to UFOs. Forrestal himself maintained that he was being tracked by Israeli security agents. It was later learned that Israeli agents, fearing that America was making secret arrangements with Arab nations, had indeed been observing his movements.

Related Topics:
March 28 - 1949 - Bethesda Naval Hospital - May 22 - Suicide - Paranoia - Conspiracy theories - Soviet - UFO - Israel - Arab

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His suicide note was an extract from Sophocles' tragedy Ajax:

Related Topics:
Suicide note - Sophocles - Ajax

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:Frenzy hath seized thy dearest son,

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:Who from thy shores in glory came

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:The first in valor and in fame;

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:Thy deeds that he hath done

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:Seem hostile all to hostile eyes...

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:Better to die, and sleep

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:The never waking sleep, than linger on,

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:And dare to live, when the soul's life is gone.

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He is also claimed to have said The Russians are coming prior to his suicide.

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