European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 07, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Roosevelt Hull Kimmel Short Stark marshal the key players by the associated press Here Are thumbnail sketches of some of the principal actors in the drama that unfolded dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. All of these key players Are now  americans Franklin Delano Roosevelt president of the United states 59 years old at the time of the attack. Elected to a third term 1940 both he and his opponent Wendell Willkie pledged to keep the nation out of War. Brought America closer to belligerency with lend lease act of 1941, which provided Britain and then Russia with War Materiel. Relied heavily on military leaders for strategic planning. How much Roosevelt knew about japanese plans to attack is still debated a some argue that he allowed the attack because he wanted the United states to be drawn into the War against Germany died april 12, 1945, at the Start of his fourth term. Cordell Hull Secretary of state from 1933 to 1944, the longest tenure in american history. A former congressman and senator from Tennessee respected by congressional conservatives and by Roosevelt As Well. Uncompromising position in negotiations with Japan is blamed by some for War s outbreak. Successfully opposed proposal that Roosevelt and japanese prime minister Prince Fumi Maro Konoe meet in september a no Compromise with aggression Hull insisted. Winner of Nobel peace prize in 1945. Died in 1955. Husband e. Kimmel commander . Pacific Fleet executive officer of the battleship new York during world War i. Named chief of the Pacific Fleet on feb. 1, 1941 a and thus Drew much blame for the unpreparedness of forces at Pearl Harbor on the spot he demoted himself from his temporary rank of full Admiral to his permanent rank of rear Admiral. After attack tried to Shore up defences at Wake Island and Guam but was temporarily replaced by adm. . Pye who recalled Force sent to Wake. Permanently replaced on dec. 31, 1941, by adm. Chester w. Nimitz. Accused of dereliction of duty by a Board of inquiry and retired in 1942 cleared in 1946 by congressional inquiry that found causes of defeat were Many. Died 1968. Walter c. Short army commander at Oahu a lieutenant general had taken charge in february 1941, relieved of duty on dec. 17, 1941. Historians debate whether he and Kimmel were fully informed by Washington of indications of pending attack but it is Clear neither believed Pearl Harbor would be a target he too was charged with dereliction of duty the following year. Retired in 1942. Never granted a court martial and proclaimed that his conscience was Clear to his death in 1949 Harold Raynesford Stark chief of naval operations. Naval Academy graduate former commander of Cruz Sec appointed aug. 1, 1939 to top operations Post in the months before the War helped Gen George Marshall write the Mam strategy for a world conflict confronted with final decoded message from japanese two hours before attack indicating War was imminent Stark declined to Call Kimmel. In 1942, became commander of . Naval forces in Europe where to served throughout the War died Iii Quot 1972. George Catlett Marshall army chief of staff promoted to the position and to the rank of general on sept. 1, 1939, the Day Germany invaded Poland. Renowned As a Brilliant officer he was described As the Quot organizer of Victory Quot by Winston Churchill. Despite outcry for immediate retribution against japanese after Pearl Harbor remained steadfast in pressing beat Germany first strategy. After the War served As Secretary of state and proposed the Marshall plan to rebuild Europe. Later served As Secretary of state Winner of 1953 Nobel peace prize died 1959.the japanese Flor Ohio the 96th emperor of the Imperial line. Age 40 at the time of Pearl Harbor he had been emperor for 15 years. Revered by his people As Quot celestial emperor whom one regards from below the staircase a he was a slight retiring Man of 5-fool-3. Long an advocate of diplomacy to end disputes with the United states he was ultimately convinced that War was inevitable signed the decree committing Japan to War at 412 p.m., dec 1 at War s end was forced by the allies to renounce claims to divinity but continued to hold the title of emperor died on Jan 7, 1989. Hideki to to prime minister of Japan from october 16, 1941, until july 18, 1944. Son of lieutenant general in the japanese army graduated from War College with honors. Known As Quot the razor Quot for his intellect rising Star in the army during the 1930s commanded military police in Manchuria and then chief of staff of Kwangung army there. Entered Cabinet As vice minister of War then War minister hated the United states for its peacemaking efforts in Russo japanese War of 1905.  Given a Quot clean slate Quot to set policy on War when he took office As prime minister. Forced to resign As japanese losses mounted. Tried to kill himself to forestall arrest at War s end but his life was saved so that he could be hanged on dec. 22, 1948 Soroko Yamamoto. Commander of the japanese combined Fleet and Mastermind of attack on Pearl Harbor. A son of a Schmo Masler graduated from nav5l Academy in time to Light in Russo japanese War lost two fingers of left hand in Hal War studied Al Harvard after world War i and later returned to the United states As naval attache developed Japan s naval air Force in the 1920s and 30s. A noted poker and Bridge player he conceived attack at Pearl Harbor though he did not favor War with the United Stales. Died on april 18, 1943, when his plane was shot Down Over Bougainville by . Fighter planes Chuichi Nagumo commander of the japanese striking Lorce and advocate of combined air and sea Power despite Minoru agendas or gigs refused to stage second attack on dockyards and fuel tanks on Oahu or to stay in the area to locate and sink two  air carriers a the attack had been successful to said and he was unwilling to take further risks committed suicide with a pistol on july 1, 1944, at Saipan As americans advanced. Minoru Genda major planner of Pearl Harbor attack chief of staff Lor Nagumo a former assistant naval attache in London he was respected As a Brilliant military Man though Only 36 years old studied Prospect of attack Lor 10 Days and concluded it was Quot difficult but not impossible Quot favored targeting aircraft carriers and opposed a Quot suicide  also in charge of operations at Midway a huge defeat after War joined a shipbuilding company and then joined japanese air defense Force ultimately leading it served in the upper House of Japan s parliament from 1962 until 1986 died aug. 15, 1989, Kichisabur Nomura japanese ambassador to the United states he conducted the negotiations with the United states in the months prior to Pearl Harbor in Laler stages was joined by special envoy Saburo Kurusu delivered note to . Secretary of state Cordell Hull signalling Start of War. But message was delayed an hour and 20 minutes a Pearl Harbor already was under attack claimed he did not know of plans for attack an Admiral he fought in Russo japanese War and served As naval attache in Russia and the United states served As Loreign minister in 1939 died in 1964 saturday december 7, 1991 the stars and stripes 13