Robert Stinnett
Encyclopedia
Robert B. Stinnett is a former American
sailor who earned ten battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation
. He is the author of Day of Deceit
, regarding U.S. government advance knowledge of the World War II
Pearl Harbor
attack.
. In 1982 he read the book At Dawn We Slept which contained allegations challenging the official line about Pearl Harbor. He went to Pearl Harbor
to investigate and write a news story. After 17 years of further research, and a lot of requests to the United States Navy
under the FOIA
, in 1995 he uncovered a 1940 memo
discussing a plan Stinnett alleges was intended to entice Japan 'to commit an overt act of war' against the U.S., to crystallise public support for joining World War II. In actuality, Stinnett attributes to McCollum a position McCollum expressly refuted, and one contrary to President Roosevelt's own express objective, to aid Britain. Furthermore, McCollum's own sworn testimony also refutes it. Stinnett's claim this plan was adopted personally by Franklin D. Roosevelt
, and the truth was kept from Navy commanders in Hawaii, has proven baseless. Nor has evidence of the enormous conspiracy required to substantiate his claim, which has to number in the low hundreds, been uncovered. His evidence the memo went to Roosevelt is illusory. His promise to provide all his documents and recordings and thereby prove his allegations, made when Day of Deceit was published, as of 27 June 2009 remained unfulfilled.
He is currently a research fellow at the Independent Institute
in Oakland, California
.
In 1982 Stinnett was working as a sports photographer for the Oakland Tribune. With 4 seconds left in the Big Game (football game) between Cal and Stanford, Stinnett stationed himself behind the South End Zone in California Memorial Stadium, at Berkeley. As it happened, Kevin Moen and teammates Dwight Garner, Richard Rodgers, and Mariet Ford pulled off "The Play
", in which Moen fielded the Stanford kickoff, lateraled the ball, and five laterals later, received the final lateral, which he ran into the end zone through the Stanford Band. Stinnett was in perfect position for a famous photographic shot wherein Moen is on the zenith point of his leap, roaring in triumph, the football held high over his helmet, and about to land on Stanford trombone player Gary Tyrell. While Stinnett's work on the Pearl Harbor issue is of greater historical significance, the Big Game photograph of Moen and Tyrell of 11-20-82 is also of some historical import, particularly as it marked the final play in a century of University of California football.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sailor who earned ten battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)
The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
. He is the author of Day of Deceit
Day of Deceit
Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor is a book by Robert Stinnett alleging that the Roosevelt administration deliberately provoked and allowed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in order to bring the United States into World War II...
, regarding U.S. government advance knowledge of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
attack.
Biography
He participated in World War II as a Naval photographer in the Pacific theater, serving in the same aerial photo group as George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
. In 1982 he read the book At Dawn We Slept which contained allegations challenging the official line about Pearl Harbor. He went to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
to investigate and write a news story. After 17 years of further research, and a lot of requests to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
under the FOIA
Freedom of Information Act (United States)
The Freedom of Information Act is a federal freedom of information law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government. The Act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure...
, in 1995 he uncovered a 1940 memo
McCollum memo
The McCollum memo, also known as the Eight Action Memo was a memorandum, dated October 7, 1940 The McCollum memo, also known as the Eight Action Memo was a memorandum, dated October 7, 1940 The McCollum memo, also known as the Eight Action Memo was a memorandum, dated October 7, 1940 (more than a...
discussing a plan Stinnett alleges was intended to entice Japan 'to commit an overt act of war' against the U.S., to crystallise public support for joining World War II. In actuality, Stinnett attributes to McCollum a position McCollum expressly refuted, and one contrary to President Roosevelt's own express objective, to aid Britain. Furthermore, McCollum's own sworn testimony also refutes it. Stinnett's claim this plan was adopted personally by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, and the truth was kept from Navy commanders in Hawaii, has proven baseless. Nor has evidence of the enormous conspiracy required to substantiate his claim, which has to number in the low hundreds, been uncovered. His evidence the memo went to Roosevelt is illusory. His promise to provide all his documents and recordings and thereby prove his allegations, made when Day of Deceit was published, as of 27 June 2009 remained unfulfilled.
He is currently a research fellow at the Independent Institute
Independent Institute
The Independent Institute is a libertarian think tank based in Oakland, California. Founded in 1986 byDavid J. Theroux , the Institute sponsors studies of major political, social, economic, legal, environmental and foreign policy issues. It has more than 140 research fellows. The Institute was...
in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
In 1982 Stinnett was working as a sports photographer for the Oakland Tribune. With 4 seconds left in the Big Game (football game) between Cal and Stanford, Stinnett stationed himself behind the South End Zone in California Memorial Stadium, at Berkeley. As it happened, Kevin Moen and teammates Dwight Garner, Richard Rodgers, and Mariet Ford pulled off "The Play
The Play
The Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
", in which Moen fielded the Stanford kickoff, lateraled the ball, and five laterals later, received the final lateral, which he ran into the end zone through the Stanford Band. Stinnett was in perfect position for a famous photographic shot wherein Moen is on the zenith point of his leap, roaring in triumph, the football held high over his helmet, and about to land on Stanford trombone player Gary Tyrell. While Stinnett's work on the Pearl Harbor issue is of greater historical significance, the Big Game photograph of Moen and Tyrell of 11-20-82 is also of some historical import, particularly as it marked the final play in a century of University of California football.
Works to date
- Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor. 1999.
- George Bush: His World War II Years. 1992.
External links
- Downloadable audio interview with Scott HortonScott Horton (lawyer)Scott Horton is a New York attorney known for his work in human rights law and the law of armed conflict, as well as emerging markets and international law. He graduated Texas Law School in Austin with a JD and was a partner in a large New York law firm, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler...
- Radio interview about Pearl Harbor
- Unwelcome Guests: "Fooling Most of the People Most of the Time"
- List of Stinnett presentations about Day of Deceit
- Rebuttal of "Day of Deceit" with extensive, updated citations by Rear Admiral Richard E. Young, USN (Ret)