Robert L. Dennison
Admiral Robert L. Dennison
Nickname(s)Robert Lee
Born(1901-04-13)April 13, 1901
Warren, Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 14, 1980(1980-03-14) (aged 78)
Bethesda, Maryland
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1923–1963
RankAdmiral
Commands heldUnited States Atlantic Command
United States Atlantic Fleet
USS Missouri (BB-63)
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit

Admiral Robert Lee Dennison (April 13, 1901 – March 14, 1980) was an American naval officer and aide to President Harry Truman.[1][2]

Early life

Dennison was born in Warren, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1923. He later received a doctorate in engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Dennison held numerous commands in the United States Navy, including submarines, destroyers, and the USS Missouri (BB-63). Truman twice sailed on the Missouri while Dennison commanded it. He was a naval aide to Harry Truman from 1948 to 1953.[3]

Arleigh Burke, a former classmate of Dennison's who would one day become Chief of Naval Operations, found his career on the brink of ruin, following the Revolt of the Admirals. At the request of Dennison, Truman became involved. As a result, Burke's career stayed on track.[4]

Dennison was involved in some of the first American continuity of government planning operations.[5] He was the Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet and United States Atlantic Command from February 28, 1960 to April 30, 1963.[6] While in charge of the Atlantic forces, he was given the duty of blockading Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Dennison died of a pulmonary embolism in 1980 at the Bethesda Naval Hospital.[7]

Robert Dennison and his photographer giving ice cream to a child at Fort Jefferson National Monument, 1951

References

  1. ↑ ROBERT L. DENNISON PAPERS Collected Papers and biographical sketch The Truman Library
  2. ↑ "Harry S. Truman Papers Staff Member and Office Files: Robert L. Dennison Files | Harry S. Truman".
  3. ↑ Oral History Oral History Interviews with Admiral Robert L. Dennison The Truman Library
  4. ↑ "Arleigh Burke: the Last CNO". www.history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2007-02-17.
  5. ↑ Graff, Garrett M. (2017). Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself – While the Rest of Us Die. Simon & Schuster.
  6. ↑ COMUSFLTFORCOM History A Brief History Of The U.S. Fleet Forces Command Archived 2006-10-05 at the Wayback Machine USSF
  7. ↑ "Adm. Robert Lee Dennison Dies; Was Atlantic Fleet's Commander; Naval Aide to Truman". The New York Times. 18 March 1980.

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