Macarthur Vs Truman Analysis

LaFeber (2008) makes the poignant statement, “In the battle of MacArthur versus Truman, the long-range issues tended to be overshadowed by the personalities involved. In MacArthur’s case this was not an advantage” (p. 130). MacArthur had been invaluable to Roosevelt, but it was a completely different story with Truman. MacArthur and Truman had turbulent relationship consisting of disregard to the proper order of command.
The Reason for MacArthur’s Dismissal
The reason for President Truman’s dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur from military service was his constant challenging of his superiors directives (LaFeber, 2008). Johnson (2004) discusses that “the president of the United States is commander in chief of the armed forces. Period[.],”
74). When the Korean War started in 1950, MacArthur took his commanding role to a new level, for example, he issued a personal statement that implored the Chinese commanders to negotiate a deal of surrender with him (LaFeber, 2008). He claimed that “if he could attack China’s “coastal areas and interior bases,” he could defeat Chinese forces (LaFeber, 2008, p. 128). Moreover, he opposed Truman’s decision to keep Chaing Kai-shek isolated from the fighting because he felt that Kai-shek should be allowed to participate in and contribute to the war (LaFeber, 2008). He delivered his opinion to an annual U.S. convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which further undermined President Truman’s policies (LaFeber, 2008). Due to MacArthur’s immense popularity, these tactics were damaging to the President’s politics and support. MacArthur did not lay off the judgements or demands. He advocated for a “naval blockade of China, air attacks to level Chinese military and industrial installations, and to the use of