From the Annals of Foresight –  In 1941, James O. Richardson was removed as commander of the United States naval fleet by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt.  A native of Paris, Texas, Richardson graduated from the United States Naval Academy and throughout a steady career rose in the ranks until promotion to the temporary rank of admiral in 1939. In 1940, he was made commander-in-chief of the U.S. fleet.  Under his command, the Pacific Fleet was transferred from the mainland to Pearl Harbor.  Richardson strongly opposed the transfer arguing that the U.S. was not ready for war with Japan and that the Navy would be better prepared at the existing West Coast ports. Curiously, he also dismissed concerns over Japanese expansion in the Pacific.  The move turned out to be disastrous as most military historians believe that the Japanese would never have attempted a surprise attack on the Pacific Fleet at a mainland port.

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