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he was amazed at the amount of political maneuvering that infected the War Department. That night, he wrote in his diary:
Judge [Robert P.] Patterson, Assistant Secretary of War … is definitely on my side and wants to help in any way to get me some aircraft. He even offered to take the matter up with the President. I asked him not to as I don’t want to go over Arnold’s head unless I can’t get anything any other way. Assist. Secretary for Air [Robert A.] Lovett and [Maj. Gen.] Oliver Echols would both like to help out too but have to take orders from Arnold, who in turn has to deal with the JCS, who get orders from the Combined Chiefs of Staff with the President and Winston Churchill also concerned. Once in a while the Russians put their demands in the pot with threats to get out if they are not met. No wonder Napoleon said he’d rather fight Allies than any single opponent. *
    Despite his best attempts, Kenney continued to be stonewalled. “Everyone really stubborn about giving me airplanes, even replacements for my losses,” he noted after the third day of the conference. He tried every angle, even issuing a stern warning that the Fifth Air Force would be “run out of New Guinea” without adequate support, but his arguments were ignored. Galled by the petty rivalries and personal ambitions of the second-tier flag officers, Kenney observed army and navy officers clashing repeatedly, and concluded that it was nearly “impossible” forthe JCS to reach a decision. They tended to back their assistants, who couldn’t agree on anything, which put the problem back on the Joint Chiefs.
    Kenney finally managed to score a few points. During a meeting in Arnold’s office, Kenney requested that any B-25s allotted to SOWESPAC undergo factory modifications to the same specifications as his commerce destroyers. A couple of supply types from the Material Division snorted at this, and advised Arnold that such modifications were not only “impractical,” but they would “disturb the balance of the airplane and make it almost impossible to fly.” Kenney pointed out that twelve B-25s, field-modified in Australia, had “ruined the Japs” in the Bismarck Sea. Arnold not only tossed the stuffed shirts out of his office, but told them angrily to “quit arguing.”
    Despite this small victory, Kenney still struggled to get the planes, personnel, spare parts, and supplies he needed. He decided that if his victory in the Bismarck Sea didn’t count for much inside the War Department, he would take advantage of his newfound fame outside the conference rooms. Opportunities in the public sector abounded. During his stay in Washington he hobnobbed with some of the most influential people in America, including a luncheon on March 14 with publishers Henry and Clare Boothe Luce. The next evening, Kenney dined with Arde Bulova, chairman of the famous watch company. Kenney asked Bulova to donate one hundred gold watches, explaining that they would be given to outstanding crew chiefs, who didn’t qualify for the combat medals that fliers received. Bulova not only agreed, but added personalized watches for Kenney, MacArthur, and their wives. (Delivered a few days later, Kenney’s watch was inscribed: “To Buccaneer, as a token of my admiration and respect, Arde Bulova.”)
    The public events provided momentum. On March 17, Kenney received the mother of all invitations: to visit the White House. He and Sutherland enjoyed a brief chat with Roosevelt, who listened raptly to the story of the Bismarck Sea. The president, who had undoubtedly been receiving details about the conference, asked Kenney if he was having any luck procuring planes. Using a common colloquialism of the day, Kenney told him “no soap.”
    The official visit soon ended, but a few minutes later Kenney alone was called back to the Oval Office. Roosevelt had instructed his military secretary, Gen. Edwin M. “Pa” Watson, to clear several appointments. Roosevelt gave