Q&A · 17:20-19:05

James Richardson's warnings about basing the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor

Admiral James O. Richardson is cited as a commander whose objections to keeping the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor deserve more attention.

Question

Which Pacific Fleet commander warned against keeping the fleet at Pearl Harbor but still received some blame for the later posture?

Short answer

Admiral James O. Richardson, who protested the basing policy and wanted the fleet returned to the West Coast.

Notes

Admiral James O. Richardson repeatedly sought to return the Pacific Fleet to bases on the US West Coast. President Roosevelt insisted on the Hawaiian deployment, so the later posture cannot fairly be attributed to Richardson alone. A later chat correction supplies his name after the initial answer could not recall it. His case separates a commander's professional warning from the political decision that overruled it.