Thomas C. Kennedy

This magazine article written by the General Counsel for the Joint Congressional Committee investigating the Pearl Harbor attack, discusses the widespread lack of public understanding regarding the committee's findings. Richardson aims to clarify the issues and conclusions of the investigation, attributing the surprise attack to a universal but inexplicable lapse in the perceived threat to Pearl Harbor after August 1941. He argues that this collective complacency led to inadequate defensive preparations and ultimately enabled the disaster on December 7, 1941.

This chapter of a book on Pearl Harbor addresses some of the many rumors that circulated following the attack on Pearl Harbor. It also provides relevant facts to counter various conspiracies that sprung up in Hawaii and beyond.

This article analyzes the news reports that occurred immediately following the Pearl Harbor attack.  It highlights the chaotic and emotionally charged nature of the initial reports, which, despite their imperfections, significantly impacted American public sentiment and perception of historical events. Rose's analysis underscores the importance of accurate and responsible communication, especially during times of crisis​​.

The newspaper article reflects on the significance of the Pearl Harbor attack, emphasizing its pivotal role in transitioning the world into an era of total peril. It describes how the attack not only plunged the United States into World War II but also marked the end of the battleship era and the beginning of the nuclear age. The article highlights the lasting impact on global power dynamics and the psychological shift towards acknowledging the inescapable realities of modern warfare.

This article examines the failure of U.S. military leadership to anticipate and adequately prepare for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite having intelligence to predict the possibility of an attack, key figures failed to take necessary precautions. The article highlights the miscommunications and assumptions that contributed to the catastrophic surprise.

These book chapters cover the fleet at Pearl Harbor, the imminence of war, the results of the surprise Japanese air raid and a final appraisal of the Pearl Harbor attack.

This book chapter covers an eyewitness account by Japanese Captain Fuchida of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He recounts that even the pilots flying the bombing mission were not told in advance about the plans to attack.

This magazine article includes an interview with Jesse E. Pond, Jr; a Navy fireman, who manned guns on a destroyer that fought back against the Japanese air assault at Pearl Harbor. At the time of the interview, Pond was president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

This article covers the reflections of a young naval ensign who was wounded aboard the USS Nevada battleship during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

This article is a summary of the revisionist theories of the Pearl Harbor attack. It concludes that while President Roosevelt made mistakes in the lead up to Pearl Harbor, the revisionist theories regarding Roosevelts culpability for Pearl Harbor remain unsubstantiated.

This article analyzes the roles played by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Lieutenant General Walter C. Short in Pearl Harbor and concludes that while Kimmel and Short were, to some degree culprits, they were also made scapegoats.

This article, written by a Japanese naval officer who had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, details the timeline of Japanese governmental and diplomatic channels leading up to the Pearl Harbor attack. He concludes that the Pearl Harbor attack was a brilliant success from the point of view of military tactics and strategy. 

This article asks critical questions about Pearl Harbor, including: Could the attack have been avoided? Could the U.S. have done a better job defending itself? Could the Japanese have been even more successful?

This article explains the U.S. military code breaking operations and processes prior to Pearl Harbor. It concludes that the content of the decoded messages did not indicate that Japan would strike at Hawaii.