He served as Secretary of the Navy but later on, in July 1947, he was promoted to Secretary of Defence. In March 1949 he resigned from this post due to a mental breakdown. In May the same year he died at Bethesda Naval Hospital. The cause of death was said to be suicide but there are those who believe he was murdered. Also there's a rumour that says he was a member of the argued Majestic-12 Group.