ident Franklin D. Roosevelt took notice.
Eddy was a strong advocate for building
enduring U.S.-Saudirelations. Andhehad
a clear vision of how a mutually beneficial
alliance between the two countries might
be forged.
The forthcoming Yalta conference with
Churchill and Stalin furnished the oppor-
tunity for President Roosevelt to meet the
Arabian king. Eddy arranged the historic
meeting on board USS Quincy (CA- 39).
In an example of the high regard the king
had for him, Eddy was the sole translator
for this remarkable meeting. It was, as one
observer noted, “a spectacle out of the ancient past on the deck of a modern man-of-war.”
President Roosevelt, withaneyetoward
an “oil for iron and technology” partnership, wished to know the king’s views regarding the proposed plan for establishing
a Jewish homeland in Palestine. On this
topic the king would not be dislodged: a
Jewish homeland, he said, would never be
accepted. It was due to Eddy”s gift for di
plo-macy that the proposed Jewish homeland
initiative was not a deal-breaker. To this
day, a vibrant trade relationship exists between America and the Arabian House of
Saud.
Like England”s Lawrence, Eddy wasan
Arabist, butunlikehis Britishcounterpart,
this leatherneck never resorted to wearing native Arab garb. He did, however, win
the enduring trust and respect of the Arab
royals and forged a lasting relationship
between the two countries. Perhaps the
mostimportantof Col Eddy”saccom
plish-ments was his brokering of the agreement
allowing construction of a U.S. Army Air
base in the gulf city of Dhahran.
Author Thomas W. Lippman has successfully captured the uniquely remarkable life and times of Col William Eddy.
Careful research and an engaging style of
writing make this work interesting, entertaining and enlightening. Lippman is a
true student of Middle East history and
politics, and has written several topical
booksonthesesubjects. “Arabian Knight”
is a fascinating, true tale providing a timely look into our political and economic
roots in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Geopolitically speaking, a forceful case
may well be made that the little-known
Col Bill Eddy was the most significant
Marine officer of the 20th century.
Robert B. Loring
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Editor’s note: Marine veteran“Red Bob”
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Leatherneck readers. When not reading,
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Pasco County, Fla.’s community efforts,
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