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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/emmet-o-neal-sm.webp" alt="Emmet O'Neal" />
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(Emmet O'Neal, far left, playing paddle ball.  Picture taken January 27, 1937.)
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He was nominated by President Harry Truman for the position on May 23, 1947.  The United States Senate concurred, giving unanimous confirmation to the appointment on June 10. Ten days later, on June 20, Emmet O'Neal took the oath of office and became the second American Ambassador to the Philippines. He succeeded Paul V. McNutt.
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At four o'clock on the afternoon of the day of his arrival, Ambassador O'Neal paid a courtesy call on Vice-Pressident and concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/753/today-in-philippine-history-november-16-1890-elpidio-quirino-the-sixth-president-of-the-philippines-was-born-in-the-town-of-vigan-ilocos-sur" class="news_link">Elpidio Quirino</a> at Malacañang. He presented his letter of credence to President <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1370/today-in-philippine-history-january-1-1892-manuel-roxas-was-born-in-capiz" class="news_link">Manuel Roxas</a> on Monday afternoon, September 22, three days after his arrival. The following night, President and Mrs. Roxas honored Ambassador and Mrs. O'Neal with a state dinner and a reception and ball. 
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Ambassador O'Neal was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 14, 1887. He belongs to a family of lawyers; his father was a judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky, and his brothers, Joseph and Merrit, both became lawyers. Emmet, following the family tradition, chose law instead of professional baseball, refusing a bid to join the New York Giants. 
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After attending public schools and graduating in 1907 with an A.B. degree from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, O'Neal went to Yale University for a year. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Louisville in 1910. Later, he returned to Yale for postgraduate work. 
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September 19, 1947: Emmet O'Neal arrived in Manila as US Ambassador to the Philippines