On April 11, 1951, President Harry S. Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of the command of the United States forces in Korea because of his opposing views with the President over the extent of American involvement in the Korean conflict, upsetting many Americans and causing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate his firing to determine if the firing was justified. Although found to be justified, Truman’s handling of the dismissal lacked diplomacy and caused him to lose popularity with the American public. The dismissal of General MacArthur should not destroy his reputation as one of the greatest generals in American history. General MacArthur’s firing was a result of his insubordination. Many believed that he deserved …show more content…
to be relieved of his duties in the interest of military discipline. At the time of MacArthur’s firing the Truman administration released a bulletin which said, “President Truman has just removed General MacArthur from his far eastern and Korean commands and from the occupation of Japan.” (McGovern, 177) No reason was given for the president’s actions. However, at that time, the Truman administration was trying to formulate some kind of a plan in agreement with the other United Nation members participating in the war. Truman believed “Politically, the easiest way out of the Korean adventure was to do nothing and hope for the best.” (McGovern, 99) He explained “I believe that we must try to limit the war in Korea for these vital reasons: to make sure that the precious lives of our fighting men are not wasted.
To see that the security of our country and the free world is not needlessly jeopardized and to prevent a third world war.” (history.com) However, MacArthur believed without further aggression against the Chinese, the war was “only endless destruction and the pointless loss of American lives.” (McGovern, 164) He also believed that the press was using him as a scapegoat for the American losses during the war. Many believed this led him to become more aggressive toward the Chinese. MacArthur had asked the administration for permission to bomb communist China but was denied. He then leaked the news that he planned to use nationalist Chinese forces from Taiwan against China to a Congressman and without consulting Washington, he decided to send an ultimatum to China. Although MacArthur knew this would anger Truman, “In …show more content…
MacArthur’s world Truman, while President, was little more than the failed haberdasher and crass World War I artillery captain that was the caricature of Truman’s political enemies.” (spectator.org) As a result, President Truman had no choice but to fire MacArthur. Truman said, “I fired him because he wouldn’t respect the authority of the president.” (huffingtonpost.com) Truman then appointed General Ridgeway to take over all of MacArthur’s commands. However, not everyone in Congress shared the president’s views on MacArthur. Congressmen Joseph Martin of Massachusetts agreed with MacArthur’s ideas on moving forward with further hostility against the Chinese. Martin said, “If we are not in Korea to win, then this Administration should be indicted for the murder of thousands of American boys.” (McGovern, 164) Immediately following the firing of MacArthur, the American public began sending letters to the Truman administration voicing their opinion of the firing.
The majority of these letters expressed criticism of the President’s decision. The American people had not been prepared for MacArthur’s sudden dismissal and were quite surprised at his firing. When MacArthur arrived home immediately after his dismissal, he was greeted by half a million people in San Francisco. “MacArthur was being welcomed back to the United States as a conquering hero rather than as a discredited general, and he appeared to be the most popular man in America.” (McGovern, 193) The American people clearly showed much admiration and support for MacArthur despite the explanation given by the administration. In a public speech to Congress, MacArthur challenged and criticized the President but this only seemed to increase rather than decrease his popularity. MacArthur appeared before Congress on April 20, 1951. As the general walked down the aisle toward the podium, members of the Senate and the House, as well as those in the public galleries stood and applauded him. It is estimated that twenty million people were watching on television, which was relatively new at that time. His speech lasted thirty-seven minutes. MacArthur defended accusations against him as a warmonger by saying “I know war as few other men now living know it, and nothing to me is more revolting.” But, he continued, “Once war is
forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War’s very object is victory – not prolonged indecision. In war, indeed, there can be no substitute for victory (McGovern, 184) At the end of his speech he spoke the quote that he will always be remembered for “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” After his speech MacArthur drove through Washington, DC as 250,000 people cheered and jet fighters and bombers flew overhead. Then he departed to New York where over a million people came to see him ride from the airport to a hotel in Manhattan. There was a parade in his honor the next day which drew crowds larger than most people had ever seen. Someone in the crowd was heard to have said, “Hang that bastard Harry Truman!” (McGovern, 187) Meanwhile, Approval for President Truman was plummeting. In California he was burned in effigy and cars were seen carrying banners saying “Oust President Truman”. (spectator.org) People were calling the newspapers with cries of protest. Truman’s poll numbers fell to twenty-two percent, the lowest they had ever been. However, weeks later, opinion of MacArthur started to change. As American’s received more information from the administration and had time to re-evaluate the President’s decision, correspondence to the White House began showing that a majority of Americans were in agreement with the President’s decision to fire MacArthur. Abroad, there was relief at the news of MacArthur’s dismissal. European governments were not happy with MacArthur’s disagreement with the administration’s policy of support for Europe over Asia and they believed his attitude would lead them into a third world war. The Senate Armed Forces and Foreign Relations Committees began hearings into MacArthur’s firing on May 3, 1951. A number of Republicans demanded that a full-scale investigation take place to investigate MacArthur’s firing and Truman’s handling of the Korean War. Both committees found that “the removal of General MacArthur was within the constitutional power of the president.” (history.com) But they also complained that "the circumstances were a shock to the national pride (and) the reasons assigned for the removal of General MacArthur were utterly inadequate to justify the act." (Individual Views of Certain Members of the Joint Committee on Armed Services and Foreign Relations of the United States Senate, May 3, June 27, 1951, p 46). (trumanlibrary.org) Richard H. Rovere and Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., in their account of MacArthur’s firing say that Truman’s mistake was not firing MacArthur but that it was "a failure in political education. He made all the necessary decisions with great and simple courage; but he lacked the gift of illuminating them so that the people as a whole could understand their necessity." (ps 248-249) (trumanlibrary.org) In August of 1952, Douglas MacArthur was hired as Chairman of the Board of the Remington Rand Corporation. Later, the Salvation Army presented him with a citation for service to humanity. Although General MacArthur stepped out of bounds by threatening the Chinese against the wishes of President Truman, his commander in chief, he did so only with the interest of American soldiers, and the country as a whole, in mind. At the time of his firing, the vast majority of the American public still revered MacArthur as one of America’s greatest soldiers and today the same holds true.
He first built up credibility to show that he was the right man for the reward, and then he went on the tell reasons of how following duty, honor, and country is logical. MacArthur then gets to the cadets emotional sides, and he makes sure the cadets remember the message of the speech. The message did get across as the motto of the United States Military Academy in West Point is still Duty, Honor, and
Influenced by the fear of communism by American society and containment beliefs of people like George Kennan, who advocated that the US should use diplomatic, economic, and military action to contain communism, Truman established the Truman Doctrine, which stated that the US would protect democracies throughout the world, pledging the US would fight it around the world. This doctrine was an extension to both the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary. In dealing with foreign policy, Truman did everything to protect nations of being consumed by communism, such as the Berlin Airlift, in which Truman decided to avoid the Soviet blockade of West Berlin and flew supplies directly over to the people in need. In Asia, Truman decided to use limited warfare, meaning the lack of atomic weapons, and was highly criticized by Douglas MacArthur, commander of the army, who he later dismissed for not following US policy.
Truman had thought through the possibilities and had decided that using the bomb would be the most effective and quickest tactic. As a president Truman had a responsibility to protect his country, citizens, and foreign affairs, so deciding on the best method to establish everybody’s needs was difficult. There were many things to worry about: fighting on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, bombing Japan, and building the bomb. His decision was mainly based on how the US citizens felt and the following actions of japan. Japan refused to accept an unconditional surrender, which was demanded by the allied powers in order to stop the war against them. On August 6, 1945 Truman allowed Enola Gay to drop the atomic bomb on top of Hiroshima and later Nagasaki to end the war.
The Korean War changed the face of American Cold War diplomacy forever. In the midst of all the political conflict and speculation worldwide, the nation had to choose between two proposed solutions, each one hoping to ensure that communism didn?t sweep across the globe and destroy American ideals of capitalism and democracy. General Douglas MacArthur takes the pro-active stance and says that, assuming it has the capability, the U.S. should attack communism everywhere. President Harry Truman, on the other hand, believed that containing the Soviet communists from Western Europe was the best and most important course of action, and that eliminating communism in Asia was not a priority.
The attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7th, 1941, was and still is an event that will forever be deep-rooted in the mind of every American. After the tragic surprise attack on American soil by the Japanese, Americans throughout the country were looking for a sense of unity. The President at the time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, recited a moving and powerful speech the day after the attack. Although the speech was specifically targeted at the Members of Congress in an effort to persuade the declaration of war with Japan, the speech was also written to be televised to the entire country. When the attack comes to mind, the powerful speech that mustered the nation together slowly follows. Every famous speech uses specific rhetorical devices in order to persuade and convince the intended audience. FDR’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos, successfully triggered the emotions of all U.S citizens and effectively provoked the idea of America declaring war on the Empire of Japan.
For a united nation to prosper, its people must overcome obstacles and take on numerous responsibilities. Throughout our lives, there are problems occurring continually in our world related to war and combat. During these times of hardship, we must remind ourselves to persevere and continue to defend the country. In addressing the Sylvanus Thayer Award on May 12, 1962, at the city of West Point, New York, General Douglas MacArthur urged Americans to remember the major responsibilities we have as Americans in his speech Duty, Honor, Country. With a position of authority, MacArthur powerfully stated that America will only survive through winning wars and fulfilling our duties. His main priority was to defend the nation, respect the nation, and prosper in that vast nation, otherwise remarked as three key terms: duty, honor, and country. Through the use of rhetorical devices, MacArthur expresses the theme that Americans should defend the country sturdily and carry on its numerous objectives by means of his moral code: “Duty, Honor, Country”.
General Douglas Macarthur was one of the most well known military figures in the history of the United States. He gave his farewell speech to congress on 19th April 1951 and went into retirement after 52 years of service in the United States army. He was given the chance to address his final message to the US government. This analysis carefully examines his ethics, goals, strategies, strengths and weaknesses. The speech is very famous and highly popular among the American audience. Therefore, we will take into account all factors to critically evaluate the speech and find out what makes it important.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during World War II, was close to not achieving commander status. If this had happened, a different person would have taken control over Operations Torch, Avalanche, and Overlord. Eisenhower, in fact, was the key component in the victory for the Allies. Had he not been assigned by George Marshall to a planning officer in Washington D.C., President Harry Truman might not have saw Eisenhower’s potential. Eisenhower’s past 30 years of military experience, his strong mental and social stature, and his ideas and tactics were all key factors for his triumphant victory in World War II.
John MacArthur is a well-known and sometimes controversial pastor that holds a strong conservative viewpoint of the Scriptures. As a graduate of Talbot Theological Seminary, MacArthur’s ministry has covered a wide spectrum of Christian fields including pastor, author and radio host. MacArthur currently serves as the Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sunny Valley, California. For over 45 years his pastoral ministry at Grace Community Church has given evidence of a deep abiding love for the exposition of the Scriptures. Beyond his role as pastor, MacArthur serves as the president of the Master’s College and Seminary, which functions to train men to work in various areas of Christian ministry. As a successful author, MacArthur continues to write many books ranging from culturally and theological relevant issues to New Testament expositional commentaries and study guides. Macarthur also serves as the lead teacher of Grace to You, an everyday radio and television ministry, which centers on verse by verse exposition of Scripture. MacArthur is not known for shying away from controversial topics that Christianity struggles with. He seeks to use scripture to help modern Christians think through these topics.
The use of the atomic bomb against Japan was completely justified in both cause and impact. An intense weapon was necessary to force a quick Japanese surrender. The bomb saved thousands upon thousands of American and Japanese lives that would have been lost if the war continued or an invasion occurred. The bomb was the only way to end the suffering of the millions who were being held captive by the Japanese oppressor. The weapon of mass destruction also sent a powerful message to the shaky Soviet allies. The choice to use the atomic bomb was justified because it compelled a Japanese surrender, saved countless lives, served as retribution for the sufferings of many people, and acted as an anti-Soviet deterrent.
He was also a Gulf War veteran who commanded an armored cavalry. His desire in writing this book was to examine, through the recently declassified documents, manuscript collections, and the Joint Chief of Staff official histories, where the responsibility for the Vietnam foreign policy disaster lay, but also examine the decisions made that involved the United States in a war they could not win. This book details the discussion of government policy in the stages of the Vietnam crisis from 1961-July 1965. It examines the main characters of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert McNamara, in addition to the military, which included the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It began in the Kennedy era amidst the Bay of Pigs incident and how that led to mistrust of the military planning by advisors and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
...ople and would fight to protect every inch of their homeland until there were no Japanese left. The logic of Truman and many Americans was to swiftly end the war while the means to do it were available, and this was one of the main driving forces behind the decision to drop the bomb.
-Marshall McLuhan, 1975 Newspaper reporters and television commentators were free to question the wisdom of fighting the war When the war initially began, the US marines were backed fully buy the people of America. Hundreds of men volunteered to join the army and felt that this was their duty to protect their country. But as the war dragged on the press soon began to change its point of view and was eventually accused of being 'un patriotic' and even guilty of 'helping the enemy'. There were various reasons why public opinion changed as the war hauled through for such a long period of time, leaving lasting scars in the history of the world. Possibly one on the most significant and emotional events which occurred in Vietnam was far before US marines were actually fighting a guerilla war in Vietnam.
On a quiet night in November of 1969, the nation tuned in to what would become one of the most anticipated speeches in presidential history. President Richard Nixon would finally be answering the calls of the anti-war movement and addressing the war in Vietnam. The speech consisted of a call for national solidarity on the Vietnam War effort, as the Nixon Administration sought to gain support from the American people. At the time, the anti-war movement was in full-swing. Although war had been waged for about a year, the United States had established military presence in Vietnam since 1955. Americans were tired of conflict, seeking desperately an end to the war. In his speech, Nixon pronounced an ultimatum that would mark the end of fighting in Vietnam. In his eyes, the communists either needed to agree to peace or the South Vietnamese needed to be postured for assuming the fight themselves.
United States Army General Douglas MacArthur served as supreme commanding officer of Allied Forces in the Pacific Island in the year of 1939 through 1945. He accomplished an outstanding job during the Korean War in June 1950 that he repelled the North Korean Soldiers to South Korea, in which resulted them to step back toward the North Korean Border. In his earlier years from the year of 1919 to 1922, Douglas MacArthur served as a superintendent in the Academy of West Point New York. In 1930, General Douglas MacArthur became the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He retired in 1937 and became the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines. In 1941, beginning of World War II, the U. S President called General MacArthur to re-active in duty status and to sit as a Commander in the Pacific region to defend the Philippines freedom and to liberate the Filipino people from the Japanese.