Henry Stimson served as Secretary of War under President Taft and later as Secretary of State under President Hoover. He came to work with Roosevelt during the transition from the Hoover Administration to the first Roosevelt one. During the latter part of the 1930's, he strongly supported Roosevelt's position on the world situation. Stimson also supported Roosevelt's Quarantine speech. In June 1940, with France heading toward defeat, Roosevelt asked Stimson to become Secretary of War. Stimson was an active Secretary, devoting all his energies towards guiding the US armed forces to victory. He was also involved in the development of the atomic bomb.