Robert Daniel Murphy

Robert Daniel Murphy (October 28, 1894 – January 9, 1978) was an American diplomat. He served as the first United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs when the position was established during the Eisenhower administration.

Quotes

• Just a word about the current trend. Apparently there is on the part of some of our officers no particular eagerness to occupy Berlin first. It is not at all impossible that our forces may linger along the Elbe "consolidating" their position. This will be true in the event there is substantial German resistance. One theory seems to be that what is left of Berlin may be tenaciously defended house by house and brick by brick. I have suggested the modest opinion that there should be a certain political advantage in the capture of Berlin even though the military advantage may be insignificant.
  • Letter to the Director of the Office of European Affairs in the State Department, H. Freeman Matthews ("Doc"), London, April 16, 1945. Reported in A. Russell Buchanan (ed.) The United States and World War II: Military and Diplomatic Documents (U of North Carolina P, 1972), p. 186
  • See Race to Berlin

Diplomat among Warriors

Diplomat among Warriors (New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1964)

• From the day when General Mark Clark flew into Algiers, bringing as an assistant, not a professional soldier but the motion picture producer Darryl Zanuck, my chief preoccupation in Africa concerned Americans. Being on duty in Algiers after November 8, 1942, seemed like the old days in Paris before the war, when both visiting and resident Americans expected our embassy to give them top priority over all other responsibilities.
  • Ch. 11: Everybody Gets into Eisenhower's Act
  • See Operation Torch

• In Britain the head of each department is a political appointee, but the no. 2 man is a career officer and it is he who provides continuity in policy between changing administrations... The British... evolved [this system] because they had worldwide commitments, and now that Americans are confronted with similar responsibilities, the United States Government no doubt will also place more reliance on our "men who stay no matter what happens in elections."
  • Ch. 29: The Department of State
  • See Permanent secretary (UK)

• The seed planted by our first diplomat, Benjamin Franklin, is growing into the finest diplomatic instrument in the world. In linguistics, in technical knowledge, in contacts with peoples and problems of different parts of the world, in quality of reporting and negotiating, and in promotion of the national interest, our Foreign Service now rates with the best.... A new generation, competent and resourceful, is overcoming prejudice and doubt. From its own vigorous ranks it will produce its leaders and it will receive the understanding and appreciation of the American public. What is past is prologue.
  • Ch. 29: The Department of State