4                                  James B. Donovan

wartime intelligence chief for the United States, diplomat, and
leader in various other fields. Most remarkable, he achieved dis¬
tinction in his every role.

What was the human measure of this man, whose widow now
has graciously donated to Columbia University his collection of
espionage materials relating to the American Revolution? Others
knew General Donovan more intimately, for a far longer period,
than was my privilege. However, I shall do my best to write this
brief personal memoir.

I always have been grateful to "The General" (as all who
served under him during World War II will forever remember
him) for permitting me to be a member of his personal staff in
O. S. S. We happened to have the same surname, although unre¬
lated. There were petty men in Congress and elsewhere who were
not averse to suggesting some form of nepotism in our relation¬
ship, in an effort to embarrass the General at various times. He
simply ignored the implication. I appreciated his attitude which
would not have been assumed by a lesser man.

General Donovan was a dynamic yet quiet leader of men.
No person who loyally served him was unrewarded. The very
experience of being close to so remarkable an individual inspired
thousands of men and women who found broader intellectual
horizons and a deeper patriotism through their personal devotion
to the leadership of "The General."

General Donovan's most lasting contribution to the free world
undoubtedly lies in his being the founding father of the first cen¬
tral intelligence system possessed by the United States, at a time
when our country had become the most powerful nation on
earth. Before his vision and personal initiative made possible the
creation of such an intelligence system, the United States was the
only major world power without an organization designed to
afford its Government the resources whereby all policy decisions
could be informed decisions. Since this was General Donovan's
greatest contribution to his country, perhaps we should briefly