J. William Middendorf II
Secretary of the Navy & Ambassador
On My 100-Year Watch is riveting
- Lt. Timothy Cohane, Wounded River Squadron Commander and recipient of two Bronze Stars
An exceptional summary of national security events that occurred on Ambassador Middendorf's watch.
- CAPT George E. Lang, Jr., USN (Ret.)
President & Chief Executive Officer
Naval War College Foundation, Inc
Discover the story
Discover the gripping life story of J. William Middendorf II, a man who faced tough decisions and leadership challenges head-on, shaping the course of American history. From his early days as a naval officer in World War II to Ambassador to Secretary of the Navy, Middendorf's journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his country. Explore his remarkable life through his memoir, a captivating narrative that offers a unique perspective on key historical events.
On My 100-Year Watch is a call to arms. Its publication comes at a time of great danger posed by adversary states such as the People's Republic of China under Supreme Leader Xi Jinping, the Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin, North Korea under Kim Jong Un, and Iran under theocratic, terrorist-supporting mullahs. Despite nearly 20 years of war against Islamic extremists, the danger posed by terrorist groups remains very real. Prime among these current dangers outlined in On My 100-Year Watch, however, is the threat from China, a nuclear-armed Communist dictatorship bent on replacing the U.S. as the world's superpower. For the sake of world peace and freedom, a Communist Party-ruled China must never be allowed to become the world's number one military power. China's brand of communism remains subtler than that of the old Soviet Union. But make no mistake - it is more dangerous. Beijing's leaders are using the deception that China poses no threat to subvert the U.S. and other Western nations. It is also using economic engagement to lull its avowed enemies into complacency. For the Chinese Communist Party leadership, the U.S. is the main enemy to be defeated – even as Beijing seeks engagement worldwide. On My 100-Year Watch provides two extremely valuable contributions to the current debate on how best to improve American national security. First, it provides a clear-eyed assessment of the threats from China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and others. Middendorf recognizes that solutions are nearly impossible until we fully understand the dangers.
Ambassador
J. William Middendorf II
Ambassador. J. William Middendorf II has been a Little Compton Society board member for 60 years. He served as an engineering officer and navigator aboard LCS-53 during WWII. After the war, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1947 and a Master’s from the Stern School of Business at New York University in 1954. Middendorf became an investment banker in the 1950s at Wood, Struthers, and Company. In 1961, he and Austen Colgate founded Middendorf Colgate and Company, which became a prominent Wall Street firm. In 1969, he left his investment firm and accepted the role of U.S. Ambassador to The Netherlands, serving there until 1973. After he returned to the United States, he was named Under Secretary of the Navy, and on April 8, 1974, was appointed Secretary of the Navy for President Richard Nixon’s administration.
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Author
J. William Middendorf II
John William Middendorf II served in the Nixon, Ford, and Reagan administrations as Secretary of the Navy, Ambassador to The Netherlands, U.S. Representative to the Organization of American States, and U.S. Representative to the European Community. He is a founding member, with William F. Buckley Jr., of the American Conservative Union and a board member of the Heritage Foundation.
Books by J. William Middendorf:
- The Great Nightfall: How We Win the New Cold War
- Potomac Fever: A Memoir of politics and Public Service
- A Glorious Disaster: Barry Goldwater’s Presidential Campaign and the
Origin of the Conservative Movement
Co-author
Ken Dooley
Ken Dooley is an author, playwright, and screenwriter. His play, “The Murder Trial of John Gordon,” resulted in the governor of Rhode Island issuing a pardon for a man who was executed in 1845. His play, The Auerbach Dynasty, based on the life of Red Auerbach, legendary coach of the Boston Celtics, opened to rave reviews in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With Bill Russell and Sam Jones, he wrote a TV series based on African American players coming into the National Basketball Association. The series is now under consideration by several production companies.
Books by Ken Dooley
The Great Nightfall: How We Win the New Cold War, by J. William Middendorf with Ken Dooley On My 100-Year Watch: Tyrants and Patriots, by J. William Middendorf with Ken Dooley Management by Auerbach, by Red Auerbach with Ken Dooley “Relentless Pursuit: The Untold Story of the 39th Fighter Squadron” George Steinbrenner: An Inside View, By Bill Dowling and Ken Dooley 37 additional books
Plays
- Wrote and produced “The Murder Trial of John Gordon at the Park Theatre
- Wrote and directed “The Auerbach Dynasty”
- Wrote “Up and Downs”
- Wrote Kristallnacht in Cranston
- Wrote and produced “Love Nests”
Screenplays:
- John Gordon
- White to Black, with Bill Russell and Sam Jones
- Bellevue Avenue
- Judgment at Yokohama
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