FREE ESSAY ON POLITICS AND THE TRUMAN/ MACARTHUR CONTOVERSY

POLITICS AND THE TRUMAN/ MACARTHUR CONTOVERSY

July 7,2000
Politics and the Truman/MacArthur Controversy
The precarious "peace" following World War II was at times only seconds from degenerating
into a world wide nuclear war. The intensity of the cold war allowed for minimal error in
foreign policy. It was during this tense and volatile time that General Douglas MacArthur
fought what some deem "his" war in Korea. While he had proven himself time and again a
brilliant military leader, his behavior was not impeccable. He tended to rely too much on
his own authority, a trait not dear to Congress or the President. It was this tendency
towards insubordination and his flagrant vocal outbursts that resulted in his dismissal
on April 11, 1951, by President Harry S. Truman.1 
The outcome of World War II left the world in an unprecedented situation. The two primary
Allied powers, the United States, a capitalist nation, and the Soviet Union, a communist
nation, were political polar opposites. The differences between the two political
ideologies lent the two nations to a natural rivalry. 
The post World War II world was a prime playing field for this rivalry to unfold. Most of
the world powers had been completely devastated, leaving formerly self-sufficient nations
and their colonies in complete governmental and economic disarray. Subsequently they were
susceptible to the influence of anyone offering assistance either governmentally of
economically. Hence, the rivalry that had begun prior to the war was foregone out of the
necessity to defeat a common foe once again began again in earnest. 
It was against this backdrop of fear and the burgeoning Cold War that General MacArthur
would wage his war in Korea. The Soviet Union felt that the spread of communism was
imminent and set about to assist that trend. At the same time the Soviet Union wanted to
ensure that they would not be invaded again. If control of Eastern Europe could be
retained they would be n essence killing two birds with one stone, furthering their
political ideology and creating a buffer zone between themselves and anyone wishing to
invade the Soviet Union. 
The United States was convinced that the soviets were intent upon the world domination of
communism and that they would aggressively pursue that goal.2 This coupled with the
blossoming of nuclear technology elevated the stakes. The United States had effectively
ended World War II with the dropping of the atom bomb in Japan.Soviet nuclear technology
was not far behind thanks to the infiltration of American government by soviet spies. 
Until the onset of the Cold War Korea would have been a non issue. .A remote place in
respect to the United States, a war on behalf of Korea would never have occurred prior to
the cold war and its foreign policies. However, the intense competition between communism
and capitalism worldwide was enough to make the political status of Korea an important
issue in American politics.3 When China became a communist nation the United States
became willing to go to great lengths to ensure that no other East Asian nations
succumbed to Communism. Thus a civil war in Korea led by a communist regime resulted in
American intervention. This situation evolved into the Korean War. True to its oath to go
to all lengths to contain communism, the United States dispatched its most decorated
general, Douglas MacArthur, to head the forces in Korea. 
General Douglas MacArthur had been in the Far East for many years. Prior to the war
general Macarthur had been commander in the Philippines and during the war he had led the
Allied forces in the Far East. At the close of the war he had been appointed Supreme
Commander of the Allied Powers in the Pacific. It was only natural that he would take
control of the Koran situation. General MacArthur had proven himself a brilliant
commander during the war and was very aware of his own successes. The fact that he had
lived in the region for so long also led him to the conclusion that he understood the
situation in the Far East more fully that any other American. These two beliefs played a
large part in the culmination of events that led to the dismissal of General MacArthur by
President Truman in April of 1951. General MacArthur had a tendency to do as he pleased
whether authorized to do so or not. This self-reliance was dangerous in the delicate
balance of power in the cold war world. Need less to say neither the president nor
Congress was receptive to this kind of insubordination. General Douglas Macarthur was a
fighter and not content with anything other than a full victory,
But once war is forced upon 
us, there is no other alter-
native than to apply every 
available means to bring it 
to a swift end. War's very 
object is victory, not 
prolonged indecision. In war
there is no substitute for 
victory. 
In the context of the Korean war this meant that in late November ob 1950,when faced with
the droves of Communist China "volunteers" pouring over the China/Korea border to sustain
the bedraggled North Korean forces, General Macarthur felt that the use of Nuclear
weaponry was not only justified in Korea to win the war but that an attack on China
itself was necessary, despite the status of china as Stalin's new child.4 This was not an
acceptable course of action for the United States and General Macarthur's refusal to
accept this led to his fall from grace.
At the beginning of the Korean War Congress and the presidency were behind General
Macarthur almost unanimously. They followed his recommendations and escalated the
operation to a ground war. Early on in the war the use of nuclear bombs was discussed and
even deemed acceptable. Moreover president Truman stated that the decision would rest
with General Macarthur as to the use of atomic weapons.5 Despite the early support of
Congress for these early actions, General MacArthur's propensity for independent thinking
was fast becoming an issue. On June 30, 1950, General MacArthur ordered ground troops
moved into the combat area in South Korea without first obtaining full authority. The
orders to move ground troops in were not dispatched from Washington for another full
fourteen hours.5 This discrepancy caught the attention of Congress, however it was
excused for the most part. Subsequent communications form Washington to General Macarthur
are indicative of the support for him in America and are evidence of the esteem in which
he was held. General MacArthur enjoyed both presidential support and the support of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
As time passed other discrepancies in General Macarthur's judgment became an issue. After
the series of victories following the incredibly successful amphibious landing at Inchon,
General Macarthur was boasting about being home in time for Christmas.6 However, he
ignored intelligence reports that alerted him to the infiltration of Korea by Chinese
troops. This refusal to accept intelligence reports as plausible resulted in the American
advance quickly becoming a retreat that finally ended at the original point of conflict,
the 38th parallel. In other words, all of General MacArthur's progress had been nullified
due to his inability to entertain the thought that he may be mistaken. In Truman's
memoirs he states, 
I should have removed him then and
there. The reason I did not was 
that I did not wish to have it 
appear as if he were being relieved 
because the offensive failed. I 
have never believed in going back 
on people when luck is against them
and I did not intend to do it now. 
So, despite his significant lapse in judgement, General MacArthur remained at the helm of
the American forces in Korea. 
MacArthur and the Joint Chiefs of Staff shared a few common beliefs.7 One of these
beliefs being that Korea was a Stalinist diversion. General MacArthur believed that the
Soviets intended to overrun Europe and that by draining the United States militarily in
Korea would allow them to do as they please elsewhere.8 However, despite the fact that
Congress and president Truman contemplated using nuclear weapons to oust Chinese forces
from Korea and regain control of the situation it was determined that there was no
effective target to pursue. Also, it can not be forgotten that the cold war was in full
swing at this time and that the Soviet Union had in its possession nuclear weapons. The
creation of NATO in 1949 had effectively drawn the line in the sand between the United
States and the Soviet Union. If the United States were to allow General MacArthur to
pursue his chosen course of action it is hard to it would not have led to another world
war. 
MacArthur's proposal was this, that China had already entered the war and therefore the
United States should in turn attack China. In other words, take the fight onto Chinese
soil. China had just converted to communism and neither Congress nor the president
believed that if a United States invasion of China were to begin that the Soviet Union
would not respond. This kind of confrontation would be too dangerous in the theatre of
the Cold War. Unfortunately, General MacArthur held beliefs to the contrary. It was his
position that the Soviet Union would stand idly by as all-out war was waged with China. 
In March of 1951 Congress, president Truman and the United nations collectively began
pursuing a peace settlement based upon the prewar border of the 38th parallel. General
MacArthur was instructed not to do anything to jeopardize these peace talks. In an act of
complete defiance General MacArthur continued to plan for war. Communications were
intercepted in which General MacArthur discussed eliminating the "Chinese Communist
Question" with Portugese and Spanish leaders.9 General Macarthur went so far as to
Ceremonially reinstate Rhee in Soeul. Constantly thwarting orders from Washington,
General MacArthur consistently sabotaged the peace making process.
Meanwhile in Washington, members of Congress and President Truman were appalled at the
complete disregard General MacArthur continued to display for orders. General MacArthur
was guilty of insubordination and treachery in the eyes of Washington. On April 11,1951
General MacArthur was dismissed. After fifty two years of military service, the most
highlty decorated general of the United States military was fired. On April 19, 1951
General Douglas MacArthur gave his final address to the United States Congress. In his
moving speech he justified his acts as doing what he thought was best for his country and
his men,
It was my constant effort to 
preserve them and end this savage
conflict honorably and with the 
least loss of time and a minimum
sacrifice of life. Its growing 
bloodshed has caused me the 
deepest anguish and anxiety. Those
gallant men will remain often in
My thoughts and in my prayers
always.10
The dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur from the United States military was an event
directly resultant of his constant refusal to abide by and uphold the decrees of the
United States Congress and the President. No matter how distinguished his accomplishments
such insubordination of the highest offices of the nation was bound to end in
termination. Had the situation in the world theatre of foreign policy been different
perhaps MacArthur's proprensity for independent thinking would have been tolerated.
General Omar Bradley stated that it was "The wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong
time and with the wrong enemy."11 It is easy to believe that General MacArthur did indeed
mean what he said to Congress, that he was fighting the good fight for both his country
and all of the free world. Yet it is equally plausible that General MacArthur was unable
to control his hubris and bow to the authority of the country he loved.