Walter Bedell Smith

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Walter Bedell Smith
Walter Bedell Smith
In office
April 3, 1946 – December 25, 1948
President Harry S Truman
Preceded by W. Averell Harriman
Succeeded by Alan G. Kirk
In office
October 7, 1950 – February 9, 1953
President Harry S Truman
Preceded by Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter
Succeeded by Allen W. Dulles
In office
February 9, 1953 – October 1, 1954
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by David K. E. Bruce
Succeeded by Herbert Hoover, Jr.
Born October 5, 1895
Indianapolis, Indiana
Died 9 August 1961 (aged 65)
Washington, D.C.
Spouse Mary Eleanor Smith

General Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith GBE KCB (October 5, 1895 – August 9, 1961) was Dwight D. Eisenhower's Chief of Staff during Eisenhower's tenure at SHAEF and Director of the CIA from 1950 to 1953. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1946 to 1948.

[edit] Biography

Smith's first military service was as a private in the Indiana National Guard. He continued his service during World War I, in the 4th Division of the United States Army as an Infantry Reserve Officer. This included deployment to France.

When General George C. Marshall became the Army's Chief of Staff, he called in Smith (then a Major) to be Assistant to the Secretary of the General Staff. He became Secretary in September 1941 and in February 1942 was named U.S. Secretary of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Just before the invasion of North Africa, Marshall sent him to England to be Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower's Chief of Staff. He remained in that role until V-E Day, including making the arrangements for the German surrender. [1][2]

Smith had a reputation as a brusque manager, peppered with salty speech, and was often referred to as Eisenhower's "hatchet man". For instance, when Gen. George S. Patton needed to be disciplined, Smith was tasked with delivering the bad news. He was also known to be an avowed segregationist and was oft remarked in writings and private conversations to have doubts about the effectiveness of African-American soldiers in combat. It may be said that Smith was responsible for keeping African-Americans out of most combat roles in the Second World War while in his influential position as chief of staff to the Supreme Allied Commander, General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Smith left the Army and served as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1946 to 1949. In 1949, he returned to active duty, promoted to General and assumed command of US First Army at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York. In 1950, President Harry S Truman selected him as Director of Central Intelligence (head of the Central Intelligence Agency) where he served until 1953. He retired from the Army upon leaving the DCI position on February 9, 1953.[3] He also served as Under Secretary of State from 1953 to 1954 and played a role in the creation of the National Security Agency.

He died from a heart attack on August 9, 1961 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington. He was subsequently buried in Section 7 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Mary Eleanor Smith (1893-1963), is buried with him.

Various writings by Second World War senior commanders, including, but not limited to George S. Patton, Omar Bradley, and others, have tended to portray Smith unfavorably. An effective, ruthless administrator, he is best remembered as being an exceptional professional staff officer, but a man not well-admired by his peers or subordinates.[citation needed]

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ 1945: Germany signs unconditional surrender website of the BBC
  2. ^ Earl F. Ziemke "The U.S. Army in the occupation of Germany 1944-1946" Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D. C., 1990, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 75-619027. CHAPTER XV:The Victory Sealed
  3. ^ Walter Smith CIA website

[edit] Further reading

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Directors of Central Intelligence & Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency
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