The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor

"The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor" is a book by Rear Adm. Robert A. Theobald that presents a controversial theory about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Theobald argues that President Franklin D. Roosevelt intentionally provoked Japan into attacking the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. According to this "Back Door to War" theory, Roosevelt manipulated events to draw the United States into World War II, as the American public was opposed to direct involvement in the conflict.12

The theory suggests that Roosevelt used diplomatic pressure and embargoes on vital war materials to incite Japan. The attack, while a tactical success for Japan, was a strategic failure, as it unified the American public and led to the U.S. declaration of war, ultimately contributing to Japan's defeat. Most historians reject this theory, arguing that while Roosevelt sought to aid the Allies, he did not intentionally provoke the attack and was genuinely surprised by the target.3421