I hope to create a "perceptions of" series here and on a couple other debating communities I visit, with the hopes of generating interesting debates over some of histories most controversial figures. The first such "perceptions" thread will be on American five-star general Douglas MacArthur. In this thread I will give a brief history of MacArthur's life and career, focusing primarily on the controversies (both at the time and today) surrounding his character. Please feel free to share your perceptions and thoughts on MacArthur and his actions.
Douglas MacArthur
January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964
Douglas MacArthur was one of the most prominent and controversial military leaders of the first half of the 20th century. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the United States Army during four military conflicts, beginning with the occupation of Veracruz during the Mexican Revolution and ending with his controversial termination during the Korean War.
MacArthur distinct service during the Mexican Revolution and World War I earned him command of the Manila military district in the Philippines. MacArthur was criticized by some for his friendship with the Filipino president (Manuel Quezon) and his attempts to improve the wages and living conditions of Filipino troops under his command. These moves were considered "dangerous" or "immoral" by some of his contemporaries, who were opposed to granting equal rights to Filipinos.
MacArthur brought further controversy upon himself by disagreeing with his fellow military jurists during the trial of General Billy Mitchell, who was being court-martialed for accusing some of his superiors of gross incompetence. Much of the military's leadership viewed Mitchell's statement as "dangerous" to their careers and/or "unprofessional," but MacArthur was one of the few judges to disagree with the majority decision (to find Mitchell guilty). Others supported MacArthur's decision, believing that Mitchell was either exercising his First Amendment rights or that he shouldn't have been court-martialed for exposing incompetence and corruption within the military.
Perhaps the largest controversy surrounding MacArthur's career was his accepting President Herbert Hoover's orders to forcefully disband the Bonus Army. The Bonus Army consisted of World War I veterans (and their sympathizers) during the Great Depression who felt as though they should have been able to cash-in their bonus wages immediately, rather than wait until the legally required date. The disbanding of the Bonus Army by MacArthur's forces was a public relations disaster for the general and for President Hoover. Defenders of MacArthur claim that he was only following the orders of President Hoover and shouldn't have been held accountable.
Despite public backlash over the dispersion of the Bonus Army protesters, MacArthur maintained his position as a general in the military and served as the head of all American forces in the Pacific during World War II. American war plans drawn up before World War II called for the Philippines to be abandoned if war broke out, a plan that MacArthur put into action. Some criticized the abandonment of the Philippines and of some Allied troops, civilians and POWs. Some argue that MacArthur should have tried to convince President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to hold and defend the Philippines.
After World War II, MacArthur was placed in the position of rebuilding Japan. MacArthur and his staff made several major policy decisions in Japan. MacArthur's team developed the current Constitution of Japan, including Article 9. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution forbids Japan from maintaining a formal military (aside from their self-defense force) and prevents Japan from engaging in wars of aggression. The clause has been considered a mistake by many of the Japanese people and by many of Japan's allies (the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, etc.).
MacArthur also oversaw a land reform program that ended the Japanese feudal system and distributed land to the workers and farmers. Feudal landlords received financial compensation for having their land stripped, but it left bitter resentment with some of the former feudal lords who had lost much of their influence over Japanese society. MacArthur also encouraged trade unionism in Japan, believing it would help protect the rights of the workers and create a more productive workforce. The trade unions were also a way to help stop the spread of communism by creating a more moderate alternative for disenfranchised workers. MacArthur also abolished many of the monopolies that controlled the Japanese economy, which alarmed some American policy-makers, who believed that the Japanese economy would be crippled if the monopolies were broken up.
In addition to overseeing the development of post-war Japan, MacArthur also served as a judge during the war crimes trials over the Far East. During the war crimes trials, MacArthur and other Allied judges granted immunity to the Japanese royal family and to some Japanese medical scientists who were accused of human experimentation. In return for granting the medical scientists immunity, the Allies were given their medical data. Some argue that the medical data could have been used to help prevent or cure people who have been affected by biological warfare (including some of their surviving victims).
MacArthur was placed in command of South Korean and United Nations forces during the Korean War. Under his command occupied areas of South Korea were liberated by United Nations peacekeepers and South Korea eventually liberated almost all of North Korea. As part of his duties with the United Nations Command, MacArthur monitored the Korean-Chinese border to watch for a potential Chinese counterattack. MacArthur flew over the border personally and didn't see evidence of a Chinese troop build up at the border. Only a day after his reconnaissance flight, China invaded Korea. Some argue that MacArthur didn't do a good enough job monitoring the border. Others argue that the Chinese troops were in hiding or were just beyond the border and waited for the reconnaissance planes to fly before making their assault.
MacArthur firmly believed that Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China would be economic powers in the future and that the United States would have to adopt a more Asia-centric foreign policy. Some European policymakers were worried that MacArthur might convince American policymakers to focus their attention more on Asia, thus resulting in less financial and military aid being sent to Europe.
Another controversial issue surrounding MacArthur is his decision to retreat to back to South Korea's original borders following the Chinese invasion. The Korean people had long hoped for all of Korea to be liberated under the Republican (southern) government, a dream which had finally been realized (only to be crushed days later by the Chinese). Many of MacArthur's contemporaries, as well as modern historians, argue that MacArthur's decision to retreat was a mistake. Others argue that the retreat was necessary, but that the United Nations and Korean forces retreated too far, thus giving up too much land.
MacArthur's military career came to an end during the Korean War when he was relieved of command by President Harry S. Truman. Truman and MacArthur held very low opinions of each other and with MacArthur's controversial decision to abandon North Korea (even if only meant to be a temporary retreat), Truman decided to relieve MacArthur of command. Needing an excuse to relieve MacArthur, Truman accused MacArthur of wanting to use nuclear weapons against China (and North Korea), though MacArthur never made such a claim. The allegation was formally the only reason MacArthur was relieved of command. Some believe that MacArthur needed to be relieved due to his decision to retreat, while others at the time genuinely believed President Truman's allegation. Defenders of MacArthur believe the allegation was just an excuse to eliminate the general or that it wasn't MacArthur's fault that North Korea was overrun.
MacArthur's termination was politically devastating for President Truman, whose approval rating dropped to 23% (lower than that of Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal). The Joint Chiefs of Staff following MacArthur's termination were viewed with distrust (or accused of incompetence) by the public and policymakers alike, resulting in Eisenhower eventually replacing much of the senior military leadership. MacArthur's termination also set a precedent where any military officer can be fired for disagreeing with the president.
Today MacArthur is still a controversial figure, primarily for his actions during the Bonus Army protests and the Korean War. Most contemporary criticism of MacArthur comes from "progressives" and left-wing activists, who accuse MacArthur of being a "reactionary." Some conservatives argue that he was too weak on communism for his retreat in Korea and because he believed that a rift existed between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, a view that was in the minority at the time.
What are your thoughts on the general? Do you view him in a positive or a negative light?
Douglas MacArthur
January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964
Douglas MacArthur was one of the most prominent and controversial military leaders of the first half of the 20th century. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the United States Army during four military conflicts, beginning with the occupation of Veracruz during the Mexican Revolution and ending with his controversial termination during the Korean War.
MacArthur distinct service during the Mexican Revolution and World War I earned him command of the Manila military district in the Philippines. MacArthur was criticized by some for his friendship with the Filipino president (Manuel Quezon) and his attempts to improve the wages and living conditions of Filipino troops under his command. These moves were considered "dangerous" or "immoral" by some of his contemporaries, who were opposed to granting equal rights to Filipinos.
MacArthur brought further controversy upon himself by disagreeing with his fellow military jurists during the trial of General Billy Mitchell, who was being court-martialed for accusing some of his superiors of gross incompetence. Much of the military's leadership viewed Mitchell's statement as "dangerous" to their careers and/or "unprofessional," but MacArthur was one of the few judges to disagree with the majority decision (to find Mitchell guilty). Others supported MacArthur's decision, believing that Mitchell was either exercising his First Amendment rights or that he shouldn't have been court-martialed for exposing incompetence and corruption within the military.
Perhaps the largest controversy surrounding MacArthur's career was his accepting President Herbert Hoover's orders to forcefully disband the Bonus Army. The Bonus Army consisted of World War I veterans (and their sympathizers) during the Great Depression who felt as though they should have been able to cash-in their bonus wages immediately, rather than wait until the legally required date. The disbanding of the Bonus Army by MacArthur's forces was a public relations disaster for the general and for President Hoover. Defenders of MacArthur claim that he was only following the orders of President Hoover and shouldn't have been held accountable.
Despite public backlash over the dispersion of the Bonus Army protesters, MacArthur maintained his position as a general in the military and served as the head of all American forces in the Pacific during World War II. American war plans drawn up before World War II called for the Philippines to be abandoned if war broke out, a plan that MacArthur put into action. Some criticized the abandonment of the Philippines and of some Allied troops, civilians and POWs. Some argue that MacArthur should have tried to convince President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to hold and defend the Philippines.
After World War II, MacArthur was placed in the position of rebuilding Japan. MacArthur and his staff made several major policy decisions in Japan. MacArthur's team developed the current Constitution of Japan, including Article 9. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution forbids Japan from maintaining a formal military (aside from their self-defense force) and prevents Japan from engaging in wars of aggression. The clause has been considered a mistake by many of the Japanese people and by many of Japan's allies (the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, etc.).
MacArthur also oversaw a land reform program that ended the Japanese feudal system and distributed land to the workers and farmers. Feudal landlords received financial compensation for having their land stripped, but it left bitter resentment with some of the former feudal lords who had lost much of their influence over Japanese society. MacArthur also encouraged trade unionism in Japan, believing it would help protect the rights of the workers and create a more productive workforce. The trade unions were also a way to help stop the spread of communism by creating a more moderate alternative for disenfranchised workers. MacArthur also abolished many of the monopolies that controlled the Japanese economy, which alarmed some American policy-makers, who believed that the Japanese economy would be crippled if the monopolies were broken up.
In addition to overseeing the development of post-war Japan, MacArthur also served as a judge during the war crimes trials over the Far East. During the war crimes trials, MacArthur and other Allied judges granted immunity to the Japanese royal family and to some Japanese medical scientists who were accused of human experimentation. In return for granting the medical scientists immunity, the Allies were given their medical data. Some argue that the medical data could have been used to help prevent or cure people who have been affected by biological warfare (including some of their surviving victims).
MacArthur was placed in command of South Korean and United Nations forces during the Korean War. Under his command occupied areas of South Korea were liberated by United Nations peacekeepers and South Korea eventually liberated almost all of North Korea. As part of his duties with the United Nations Command, MacArthur monitored the Korean-Chinese border to watch for a potential Chinese counterattack. MacArthur flew over the border personally and didn't see evidence of a Chinese troop build up at the border. Only a day after his reconnaissance flight, China invaded Korea. Some argue that MacArthur didn't do a good enough job monitoring the border. Others argue that the Chinese troops were in hiding or were just beyond the border and waited for the reconnaissance planes to fly before making their assault.
MacArthur firmly believed that Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China would be economic powers in the future and that the United States would have to adopt a more Asia-centric foreign policy. Some European policymakers were worried that MacArthur might convince American policymakers to focus their attention more on Asia, thus resulting in less financial and military aid being sent to Europe.
Another controversial issue surrounding MacArthur is his decision to retreat to back to South Korea's original borders following the Chinese invasion. The Korean people had long hoped for all of Korea to be liberated under the Republican (southern) government, a dream which had finally been realized (only to be crushed days later by the Chinese). Many of MacArthur's contemporaries, as well as modern historians, argue that MacArthur's decision to retreat was a mistake. Others argue that the retreat was necessary, but that the United Nations and Korean forces retreated too far, thus giving up too much land.
MacArthur's military career came to an end during the Korean War when he was relieved of command by President Harry S. Truman. Truman and MacArthur held very low opinions of each other and with MacArthur's controversial decision to abandon North Korea (even if only meant to be a temporary retreat), Truman decided to relieve MacArthur of command. Needing an excuse to relieve MacArthur, Truman accused MacArthur of wanting to use nuclear weapons against China (and North Korea), though MacArthur never made such a claim. The allegation was formally the only reason MacArthur was relieved of command. Some believe that MacArthur needed to be relieved due to his decision to retreat, while others at the time genuinely believed President Truman's allegation. Defenders of MacArthur believe the allegation was just an excuse to eliminate the general or that it wasn't MacArthur's fault that North Korea was overrun.
MacArthur's termination was politically devastating for President Truman, whose approval rating dropped to 23% (lower than that of Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal). The Joint Chiefs of Staff following MacArthur's termination were viewed with distrust (or accused of incompetence) by the public and policymakers alike, resulting in Eisenhower eventually replacing much of the senior military leadership. MacArthur's termination also set a precedent where any military officer can be fired for disagreeing with the president.
Today MacArthur is still a controversial figure, primarily for his actions during the Bonus Army protests and the Korean War. Most contemporary criticism of MacArthur comes from "progressives" and left-wing activists, who accuse MacArthur of being a "reactionary." Some conservatives argue that he was too weak on communism for his retreat in Korea and because he believed that a rift existed between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, a view that was in the minority at the time.
What are your thoughts on the general? Do you view him in a positive or a negative light?
