Roberts Commission
Encyclopedia
Two presidentially-appointed commissions have been described as "the Roberts Commission." One related to the circumstances of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
, and another related to the protection of cultural resources during and following World War II
. Both were chaired by Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts
.
The first Roberts Commission was a presidentially-appointed commission formed in December 1941, shortly after the attack
on Pearl Harbor
by the Japanese in 1941, to investigate and report the facts relating to the attack. The commission was headed by US Supreme Court
Associate Justice Owen Josephus Roberts
, and for this reason it was known as the Roberts Commission. The commission found the commanders of Pearl Harbor, Adm. Husband Kimmel
and Gen. Walter Short
, guilty of 'dereliction of duty'. The Commission presented their findings to Congress January 28, 1942. Members of the commission besides Justice Roberts were Adm. William H. Standley
, Adm. Joseph M. Reeves
, Gen. Frank R. McCoy
, and Gen. Joseph T. McNarney
. The commission was a fact-finding commission, and not a court martial for Gen. Short or Adm. Kimmel.
The second Roberts Commission, also presidentially-appointed (known again after its chairman, Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts
), was created to help the U.S. Army protect works of cultural value in Allied-occupied areas of Europe. The formal name of the commission was the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas. The commission also developed inventories of Nazi- appropriated property. Along with the U.S. Military program known as Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA), the commission worked to rescue and preserve items of cultural significance. This commission took place from 1943 until 1946.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, and another related to the protection of cultural resources during and following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Both were chaired by Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts
Owen Josephus Roberts
Owen Josephus Roberts was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court for fifteen years. He also led the fact-finding commission that investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time of World War II, he was the only Republican appointed Judge on the Supreme Court of the United...
.
The first Roberts Commission was a presidentially-appointed commission formed in December 1941, shortly after the attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
by the Japanese in 1941, to investigate and report the facts relating to the attack. The commission was headed by US Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Associate Justice Owen Josephus Roberts
Owen Josephus Roberts
Owen Josephus Roberts was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court for fifteen years. He also led the fact-finding commission that investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time of World War II, he was the only Republican appointed Judge on the Supreme Court of the United...
, and for this reason it was known as the Roberts Commission. The commission found the commanders of Pearl Harbor, Adm. Husband Kimmel
Husband E. Kimmel
Husband Edward Kimmel was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. He served as Commander-in-chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Because of the attack, he was removed from office and was reduced to his permanent two-star rank of rear admiral...
and Gen. Walter Short
Walter Short
Walter Campbell Short was a Major General in the United States Army and the U.S. military Commander responsible for the defense of U.S. military installations in Hawaii at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.-Early life:He was born in 1880 in Fillmore, Illinois...
, guilty of 'dereliction of duty'. The Commission presented their findings to Congress January 28, 1942. Members of the commission besides Justice Roberts were Adm. William H. Standley
William Harrison Standley
William Harrison Standley was a U.S. admiral. He served as the Chief of Naval Operations between 1933 and 1937. He also served as the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1941 until 1943.-Biography:...
, Adm. Joseph M. Reeves
Joseph M. Reeves
Joseph Mason "Bull" Reeves was an admiral in the United States Navy, who was an early and important supporter of U.S. Naval Aviation...
, Gen. Frank R. McCoy
Frank Ross McCoy
Frank Ross McCoy was an American soldier, born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1897, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and appointed to the 8th Cavalry. He served on the western front in Cuba, in the Philippines, and in the Santiago campaign...
, and Gen. Joseph T. McNarney
Joseph T. McNarney
Joseph Taggart McNarney was a United States Army Air Forces general officer who served as Military Governor of occupied Germany.-Early years:...
. The commission was a fact-finding commission, and not a court martial for Gen. Short or Adm. Kimmel.
The second Roberts Commission, also presidentially-appointed (known again after its chairman, Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts
Owen Josephus Roberts
Owen Josephus Roberts was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court for fifteen years. He also led the fact-finding commission that investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time of World War II, he was the only Republican appointed Judge on the Supreme Court of the United...
), was created to help the U.S. Army protect works of cultural value in Allied-occupied areas of Europe. The formal name of the commission was the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas. The commission also developed inventories of Nazi- appropriated property. Along with the U.S. Military program known as Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA), the commission worked to rescue and preserve items of cultural significance. This commission took place from 1943 until 1946.