Frank Knox

William Franklin "Frank" Knox (b. 1874) was the Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt early in the United States' entry into World War II. He was also the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1936. Knox, who was an internationalist and supporter of aid to Britain, became Secretary of the Navy in July 1940, as President Roosevelt strived to create bi-partisan appeal for his foreign and defense policies following the defeat of France. As Secretary, Frank Knox followed Roosevelt's directive to expand the United States Navy into a force capable of fighting in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

Shortly after the disasterous attack at Pearl Harbor, Knox was called before the Senate about how the US Navy had been so woefully unprepared. Texas Democrat Tom Connally was particularly tenacious in the questions he put to Knox. The New Yorker reported on that investigation in great detail.