One of Those Little Mysteries

So, turn every page. Got it, Mr. Caro.

But sometimes, the pages end short of the prize, and the writer/reporter/historian is left empty handed; or, at least, left facing the question of how much more time should be spent nailing down this one particular fact.

Here's what I mean.

An enduring question in Artie Shaw's Navy story is how he happened to use his connections with Undersecretary of the Navy James Forrestal to get approval for recruiting his band. Artie recounted the episode any number of times, telling how he travelled to Washiungton, D.C. to meet with Forrestal. In repeating this anecdote, though, Artie never provided details such as dates.

Still, you'd figure an Undersecretary of the Navy's meeting with a famous band leader, and his subsequent authorization to recruit a band, would be documented, right? There should be some memo or calendar entry or diary mention. And, indeed, I'm haunted by the possibility that there is, somewhere.

James Forrestal Library of Congress

But the only hint I could find came on one page of Forrestal's official calendar, held at the Princeton University Library as part of the James V. Forrestal Papers. According to the calendar, at 1:54 p.m. on January 20, 1942, Forrestal or someone from his office left a message for a “Mr. Shaw.” A second message for “Mr. Shaw” was recorded as having been left at 4:57.

The trail ends there; at least, so far as I could tell. I kept searching for any page that might follow, even if only to confirm that this Mr. Shaw was my Mr. Shaw. I kept imagining what it might lead to; I imagine it even now.

WWCD?

January 8, 2025.