The political climate in the United States during the post-World War II era, was based off of rhetoric and propaganda purposely spread by the Truman administration. The goal of influencing Congress and the American people of how real the threat of communism was became apparent with the introduction of the Truman Doctrine. In presenting the doctrine, the President emphatically asked Americans to commit to a world-wide anti-communist movement that continues to guide foreign policy to this day. The firing of Douglas MacArthur, an influential and popular General due to his accomplishments of World War II, is arguably a contradiction of the fight against communism, as MacArthur was a proven opponent (LaFeber, 2008). So why was he dismissed?
The controversy between the President and General MacArthur started well before Harry Truman became President, as General MacArthur became popular here in the United States as a result of his successful war effort in the Philippines in 1942 ( Judge & Langdon, 2016, p. 711). He continued to earn praise as he was given the distinction as head of the American government in Japan, where after the surrender of the Japanese he led the rebuilding of Japan into a democratic country. Part of the terms of the surrender of Japan condemned any military action, which prompted the United States to establish American military bases on the islands (LeFeber, 2008). So MacArthur’s leadership helped to win the war in the Pacific and with his resume comes ego, and the rationale that he alone knows best how to deal with the communists threats in Asia. According to the oral biography, Plain Speaking (1973) on Truman, written by Merle Miller for a television interview, Truman held disdain for MacArthur for one main reason and that was his lack of esteem for the office of the President. Truman is quoted as saying, “I fired him because he wouldn’t respect the authority of the President.” On more than one occasion MacArthur mislead or defied the President forcing him to make a decision that he knew would be unpopular among his constituents. The events are as follows: In August of 1950 MacArthur sent a message to the U.S. convention of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs outlining his foreign policy. This action prompted Truman to call to order the joint Chiefs of Staffs, the Secretary of State …show more content…
It was interesting that his popularity among American citizens and politicians prompted an investigation of the case known as MacArthur vs Truman. It became apparent during proceedings that the status MacArthur had achieved coupled with the fourteen years spent abroad would not allow him to understand the social and political views of the nation. Basically the General felt war was the answer to American foreign policy. He did not grasp the interworking of European Affairs or NATO and the Truman team was well prepared as their agenda in the Pacific was well documented. The firing of Douglas MacArthur, an influential and popular General due to his accomplishments of World War II, is arguably a contradiction of the fight against communism, as MacArthur was a proven opponent. His Back Door Politics showed condescension and lack of respect for the Presidency and policies of the administration, which left the President with no other options other than to look weak in the eyes of his constituents, both for and against
The controversy between the President and General MacArthur started well before Harry Truman became President, as General MacArthur became popular here in the United States as a result of his successful war effort in the Philippines in 1942 ( Judge & Langdon, 2016, p. 711). He continued to earn praise as he was given the distinction as head of the American government in Japan, where after the surrender of the Japanese he led the rebuilding of Japan into a democratic country. Part of the terms of the surrender of Japan condemned any military action, which prompted the United States to establish American military bases on the islands (LeFeber, 2008). So MacArthur’s leadership helped to win the war in the Pacific and with his resume comes ego, and the rationale that he alone knows best how to deal with the communists threats in Asia. According to the oral biography, Plain Speaking (1973) on Truman, written by Merle Miller for a television interview, Truman held disdain for MacArthur for one main reason and that was his lack of esteem for the office of the President. Truman is quoted as saying, “I fired him because he wouldn’t respect the authority of the President.” On more than one occasion MacArthur mislead or defied the President forcing him to make a decision that he knew would be unpopular among his constituents. The events are as follows: In August of 1950 MacArthur sent a message to the U.S. convention of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs outlining his foreign policy. This action prompted Truman to call to order the joint Chiefs of Staffs, the Secretary of State …show more content…
It was interesting that his popularity among American citizens and politicians prompted an investigation of the case known as MacArthur vs Truman. It became apparent during proceedings that the status MacArthur had achieved coupled with the fourteen years spent abroad would not allow him to understand the social and political views of the nation. Basically the General felt war was the answer to American foreign policy. He did not grasp the interworking of European Affairs or NATO and the Truman team was well prepared as their agenda in the Pacific was well documented. The firing of Douglas MacArthur, an influential and popular General due to his accomplishments of World War II, is arguably a contradiction of the fight against communism, as MacArthur was a proven opponent. His Back Door Politics showed condescension and lack of respect for the Presidency and policies of the administration, which left the President with no other options other than to look weak in the eyes of his constituents, both for and against