This is a transcript of four oral history interviews with Arleigh A. Burke.
In the first interview Burke began by recounting his first meeting with Dwight D. Eisenhower, including his impressions regarding Eisenhower's grasp of the role of the U.S. Navy. Most of the interview covers Burke's position of Chief of Naval Operations and his work with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and President Eisenhower. Additional subjects in this interview include foreign policy, John Foster Dulles and brinkmanship, the Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1954-1955, the Suez Crisis of 1956, the Lebanon Intervention of 1958, the concept of massive retaliation, and testifying before Congress on the defense budget.
Burke began the second interview with a description of how Eisenhower used the JCS in formulating decisions. He provided his observations on conventional weapons, guerilla operations, and his general philosophy of war. Additional subjects within this interview include the Suez Crisis, advising the President on non-military issues, intelligence gathering on foreign missile programs, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and reorganization in the Department of Defense.
In the third interview Burke picked up the discussion of NATO, talking about the U.S. military bases in Spain and Scotland. He also talked about nuclear submarines, military problems in Asia, and relationships with foreign military officials.
The fourth interview starts with a continuation of the discussion on foreign military officials, especially those from Great Britain, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and Greece. He also discusses his reappointment as Chief of Naval Operations and the events that occurred during his last year in the position. The interview closes with his assessment of Eisenhower and Burke's philosophy of sea power.
An index to names and subjects appears at the end of the fourth interview.
