John L. Sullivan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 49thUnited States Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office September 17, 1947 – May 24, 1949 | |
| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | James Forrestal |
| Succeeded by | Francis P. Matthews |
| United States Under Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office June 17, 1946 – September 18, 1947 | |
| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Artemus Gates |
| Succeeded by | W. John Kenney |
| Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) | |
| In office July 5, 1945 – June 17, 1946 | |
| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Artemus Gates |
| Succeeded by | John N. Brown |
| Assistant Secretary of the Treasury | |
| In office January 18, 1940 – November 30, 1944 | |
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | John Wesley Hanes II |
| Succeeded by | Harry D. White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Lawrence Sullivan (1899-06-16)June 16, 1899 Manchester, New Hampshire, United States |
| Died | August 8, 1982(1982-08-08) (aged 83) Exeter, New Hampshire, United States |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1918–1921 |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
John Lawrence Sullivan (June 16, 1899 – August 8, 1982) was an American lawyer who served in several positions in theUS federal government, including asSecretary of the Navy, the first during the administration ofHarry S. Truman.
Sullivan was born inManchester, New Hampshire on June 16, 1899. He was an alumnus ofDartmouth College. He graduated fromHarvard Law School in 1924.[1]
Sullivan served asAssistant Secretary of the Treasury in 1940–44,Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) in 1945–46, notable as the first civilian sworn into Naval office aboard a ship in an active combat zone,[2] and asUnder Secretary of the Navy in 1946–47.
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Sullivan was appointedSecretary of the Navy uponJames Forrestal's installation asSecretary of Defense. Sullivan's major contributions to the Navy's future directions include the advent ofnaval nuclear propulsion. In 1947, then-CaptainHyman G. Rickoverwent around his chain-of-command and directly to the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet AdmiralChester W. Nimitz, by chance also a former submariner, to pitch his ideas for creating a nuclear-powered warship. Nimitz immediately understood the potential of nuclear propulsion and recommended the project to Sullivan, whose endorsement to build the world's first nuclear-powered vessel,USS Nautilus (SSN-571), later caused Rickover to state that Sullivan was "the true father of the Nuclear Navy."[3][4]
In May 1949, Sullivan resigned in protest after the second Secretary of Defense,Louis A. Johnson, canceled the heavyaircraft carrierUSS United States (CVA-58). This event was part of aninterservice conflict known as theRevolt of the Admirals.
Sullivan and his wife had two daughters and a son. Sullivan died on August 8, 1982.[5] He is buried inArlington National Cemetery.[6]
The house that Sullivan and his wife lived in, constructed in 1932–1933 in Manchester, New Hampshire, was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in July 2023.[7][8]
the oath of office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air was administered to John L. Sullivan on board Shangri-La, the first ceremony of its type ever undertaken in a combat zone
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henri Ledoux | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Hampshire 1934 | Succeeded by Amos Blandin |
| Preceded by Amos Blandin | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Hampshire 1938 | Succeeded by F. Clyde Keefe |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) July 5, 1945 – June 17, 1946 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Under Secretary of the Navy June 17, 1946 – September 18, 1947 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Secretary of the Navy (DoD) September 18, 1947 – May 24, 1949 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
