Unlike Pratt, who had been content being "primus inter pares" among the bureau chiefs of the Navy, Standley asserted his position over them and treated them as his subordinates. This sat ill with Standley's opponents who felt that they were subordinate to the Secretary of the Navy, including William D. Leahy, then chief of the Bureau of Navigation and Ernest King, then the newly-appointed chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. The argument grew severe enough for Standley to bring it directly to the President who decided to uphold the status quo and the CNO's limited authority. For his part, Standley never forgave Leahy for contesting him, even trying to prevent him from being appointed as Commander, Battleships, Battle Force. He continued to persist in doing so amid the support of Secretary Claude A. Swanson and the commander of the United States Fleet, Joseph M. Reeves. This was eventually overcome and Leahy assumed his intended position with the rank of vice admiral as planned.