Michael Forrestal
Encyclopedia
Michael V. Forrestal was one of the leading aides to McGeorge Bundy
, the national security adviser of President John F. Kennedy
during the mid and latter stages of the Vietnam War (1959–April 30, 1975). He was seen as a pivotal figure in the changing of U.S. foreign policy, by which means he approved the coup d'état
that deposed the first president of South Vietnam
, Ngô Ðình Diệm
.
Following the arrest and assassination of Diệm, which was backed by the Central Intelligence Agency
, General Dương Văn Minh
was led to the incumbency of president of South Vietnam in November 1963. This event and the John F. Kennedy assassination
, which occurred later in the month, led Forrestal to eventual retirement from government service in 1965—speculated to be because of his decreasing influence in the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson
, who had replaced Kennedy in December of that year.
Other than his political life, Forrestal was a senior partner in Shearman & Sterling
and a legal adviser to the state-owned Algerian oil company, Sonatrach
during the 1970s. Forrestal also had roles in the National Security Council
, the German-based Allied Control Council
and the U.S.–USSR Trade and Economic Council, 1978–80.
to James
& Josephine Forrestal; his father later becoming the first United States secretary of defense of 1947, whose inauguration ceremony had taken place earlier than scheduled. At the age of 18, he received a naval commission after graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy
, an independent boarding school
in Exeter, New Hampshire
, in 1946. He later became President of the Board of Trustees of that institution and remained in that position until his death. His naval commission meant he was appointed an assistant naval attaché in Moscow
under Ambassador Averell Harriman. He later attended Princeton University
for a brief period of time, before later going on to read law at Harvard University
for four years until 1953. This qualification enabled him to gain entrance into Shearman & Sterling
, an international litigation and arbitrational body, becoming a partner seven years later in 1960.
McGeorge Bundy
McGeorge "Mac" Bundy was United States National Security Advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson from 1961 through 1966, and president of the Ford Foundation from 1966 through 1979...
, the national security adviser of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
during the mid and latter stages of the Vietnam War (1959–April 30, 1975). He was seen as a pivotal figure in the changing of U.S. foreign policy, by which means he approved the coup d'état
1963 South Vietnamese coup
In November 1963, President Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam was deposed by a group of Army of the Republic of Vietnam officers who disagreed with his handling of the Buddhist crisis and, in general, his increasing oppression of national groups in the name of fighting the communist Vietcong.The...
that deposed the first president of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, Ngô Ðình Diệm
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm was the first president of South Vietnam . In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the 1954 Geneva Accords, Diệm led the effort to create the Republic of Vietnam. Accruing considerable U.S. support due to his staunch anti-Communism, he achieved victory in a...
.
Following the arrest and assassination of Diệm, which was backed by the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
, General Dương Văn Minh
Duong Van Minh
Minh was born on 16 February 1916 in Mỹ Tho Province in the Mekong Delta, the son of a wealthy landowner who served in a prominent position in the Finance Ministry of the French colonial administration...
was led to the incumbency of president of South Vietnam in November 1963. This event and the John F. Kennedy assassination
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
, which occurred later in the month, led Forrestal to eventual retirement from government service in 1965—speculated to be because of his decreasing influence in the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, who had replaced Kennedy in December of that year.
Other than his political life, Forrestal was a senior partner in Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City with 20 offices located in major financial centers around the world founded in 1873. It is well known for both its litigation and transactional capabilities, especially in International Arbitration, Capital Markets, Finance, and...
and a legal adviser to the state-owned Algerian oil company, Sonatrach
Sonatrach
Sonatrach is an Algerian government-owned company formed to exploit the hydrocarbon resources of the country. Its diversified activities cover all aspects of production: exploration, extraction, transport, and refining...
during the 1970s. Forrestal also had roles in the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
, the German-based Allied Control Council
Allied Control Council
The Allied Control Council or Allied Control Authority, known in the German language as the Alliierter Kontrollrat and also referred to as the Four Powers , was a military occupation governing body of the Allied Occupation Zones in Germany after the end of World War II in Europe...
and the U.S.–USSR Trade and Economic Council, 1978–80.
Early life
Forrestal was born November 26, 1928 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to James
James Forrestal
James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
& Josephine Forrestal; his father later becoming the first United States secretary of defense of 1947, whose inauguration ceremony had taken place earlier than scheduled. At the age of 18, he received a naval commission after graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
, an independent boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
, in 1946. He later became President of the Board of Trustees of that institution and remained in that position until his death. His naval commission meant he was appointed an assistant naval attaché in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
under Ambassador Averell Harriman. He later attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
for a brief period of time, before later going on to read law at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for four years until 1953. This qualification enabled him to gain entrance into Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City with 20 offices located in major financial centers around the world founded in 1873. It is well known for both its litigation and transactional capabilities, especially in International Arbitration, Capital Markets, Finance, and...
, an international litigation and arbitrational body, becoming a partner seven years later in 1960.