William J. Donovan

thumb|William J. Donovan in 1945 William Joseph "Wild Bill" Donovan KBE (January 1, 1883 – February 8, 1959) was an American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during World War II. He is regarded as the founding father of the CIA, and a statue of him stands in the lobby of the CIA headquarters building in Langley, Virginia. A decorated veteran of World War I, Donovan is believed to be the only person to have been awarded all four of the following prestigious decorations: the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Security Medal. He is also a recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart, as well as decorations from a number of other nations for his service during both World Wars. Quotes Our orientation has been wrong. We have been talking of aid to Britain as if Britain were a beggar at the gate, whereas, in point of fact, Britain has been our shield behind which we can pull up our socks, tie our shoelaces and get ready—and also our laboratory. Speech (April 1941); reported in Allen Dulles, The Secret Surrender (1966) External links Category:1883 births Category:1959 deaths Category:Military leaders from the United States Category:United States Intelligence Community personnel Category:Central Intelligence Agency personnel Category:Medal of Honor recipients Category:Distinguished Service Cross recipients Category:United States Army people Category:Lawyers from the United States Category:Ambassadors of the United States Category:Anti-communists from the United States Category:Columbia University alumni Category:Spies Category:People from Buffalo Category:Military leaders of World War II Category:People of the Cold War