Walter Bedell Smith
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General Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith GBE KCB (October 5, 1895 – August 9, 1961) was Dwight D. Eisenhower's Chief of Staff during Eisenhower's tenure at SHAEF and Director of the CIA from 1950 to 1953. He also served as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1946 to 1949.
Smith's first military service was as a private in the Indiana National Guard. He continued his service during World War I, in the 4th Division of the United States Army as an Infantry Reserve Officer. This included deployment to France.
When General George C. Marshall became the Army's wartime Chief of Staff, he called in Smith (then a Major) to be Assistant to the Secretary of the General Staff. He became Secretary in September 1941 and in February 1942 was named U.S. Secretary of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Just before the invasion of North Africa, Marshall sent him to England to be Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower's Chief of Staff. He remained in that role until V-E Day, including making the arrangements for the German surrender.
Smith had a reputation as a brusque manager, peppered with salty speech, and was often referred to as Eisenhower's "hatchet man". For instance, when Gen. George S. Patton needed to be disciplined, Smith was tasked with delivering the bad news.
Smith rose to four star General, and after retirement, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); and Under Secretary of State. He also played a role in the creation of the National Security Agency.
He died from a heart attack on August 9, 1961 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington. He was subsequently buried in Section 7 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Mary Eleanor Smith (1893-1963), is buried with him.
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| Preceded by: Rear Adm. Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter |
Director of Central Intelligence October 7, 1950-February 9, 1953 |
Succeeded by: Allen W. Dulles |
| Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency |  |
|---|---|
| Souers • Vandenberg • Hillenkoetter • Smith • Dulles • McCone • Raborn • Helms • Schlesinger • Colby • Bush • Turner • Casey • Webster • Gates • Woolsey • Deutch • Tenet • Goss • Hayden |
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Categories: American World War I veterans | Burials at Arlington National Cemetery | Deaths from cardiovascular disease | Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency | People from Indianapolis | Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath | Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire | People from Indiana | United States Army generals | 1895 births | 1961 deaths | United States military personnel stubs
