Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

Joint Congressional Committee, Pearl Harbor Attack: Part 3 795
members of the JCC were stunned; they did not attempt to
rebut. His appearance was a highlight of the congressional
investigation.
General Marshall Does Not Recall His
Activities Saturday Night, December 6
Th ere is no evidence in the JCC hearings that FDR actually
summoned his closest aides to the White House the night
of December 6–7. But for FDR to call a meeting to discuss the
growing crisis would have been consistent with his operational
style; he liked to talk things over with his associates. Marshall and
Stark were the only ones asked if there might have been such a
meeting, and their answers were not very helpful. 223
Keefe: Can you state defi nitely whether or not you have a present
recollection as to whether the president did in fact contact
you?
Marshall: I am quite certain that he [the president] did not
[contact me]. . . . Th ere is no question in my mind; no. Th at is
a positive answer.
Keefe: And you are certain that you did not attend any meeting
then, at the White House that night?
Marshall: I am absolutely certain of that. . . . So, all the evidence,
in my own mind, short of my absolute knowledge of the
matter, is that I was home, as was customary. . . .
Keefe: But you are certain of one thing and that is that you
received no communication from the president on the evening
of the 6th of December and that you didn’t attend any meeting
at the White House that night?
223Ibid., Marshall testimony, part 11, pp. 5193–94; Stark testimony, part 5, pp.
2291–92.