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House Speech Marshall WWJ Talk, August 21, 1950
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House Speech Marshall WWJ Talk, August 21, 1950
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "House Speech Marshall WWJ
Talk, August 21, 1950" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File
at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MR. FORD OF MICHIGAN
MR. SPEAKER, under leave to extend my own remarks I
include the text of a discussion by Colonel S. W. A. Marshall,
military commentator of the Detroit News. This excellent talk
was given by Colonel Marshall over WWJ on Monday, August 7, 1950,
and I recommend highly for those citizens interested in the vital
problems facing our nation and the world in this critical hour.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
1950
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-APPENDIX
A6261
a workout for PIO officers and news camera-
We possess no special secret which can
What punitive action, if any, will be tak-
men than a pass at the serious business of
inveigh against those truths of history to
en against members of this traitorous
readying men for war. The man is all right;
which all people are subject. There is strong
he is a very all right.
following only when the light burns strongly
delegation who consciously stabbed our
He is indeed! This is to his credit, If this
up ahead. Either we set a higher standard,
boys in the back?
is what we want, that he took over a gen-
or the standard we have will go down.
I propose to ask the State Department
erally inefficient and confused combined es-
It would be a bad thing for us if the Eighth
for the names of the members of this
tablishment and in 18 months shook it
Army were to lose its final battle. But it
anti-American delegation so that the
down until most of the guts and fire had
would be a worse thing if there were to be
country may know who they are. It is
been shaken out of it.
defeated on this shore those possibilities of
high time that Communists be deprived
There are thousands of good men in It-
more perfect union and more courageous
men who in other days were not afraid to
of the privilege of traveling abroad on
dedication which mature in a free people
think along original lines and act according
only when they know that their leading is the
their nefarious and traitorous business
to their thinking. There is less of the spirit
best possible.
in which they now engage with the offi-
of challenge in them today than was ever
In a sense other than the one intended,
cial permission of the State Department.
be(ore to be found in the American armed
the Pentagon spoke perhaps far more wisely
force. They know their master's voice and
than it knew these recent days when it de-
they sit there like the tenier at the phono-
clared that Korea would not be another Dun-
graph waiting for something to come out of
kerque. True enough, that reference was to
The Korean War
the horn.
an army that in other days was beaten where
No one of sound mind would say that this
it stood, and had to return, weaponless, to its
is all Louis Johnson's fault; but to say that
home shore. But the other half of the story
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
he is without fault in the matter is to ascribe
was that Lord Gort's army got back to a
OF
to his critics a venom and sinister political
people already thrice armed because they
motive which they obviously do not possess.
HON. WILLIAM HILL
knew what they wanted to do and were get-
And now he has been told that he is good
ting from their government and its leaders
OF COLORADO
"for the duration."
clear orders, steadying action, and some of
That is one way of saying that, with im-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
the most stirring words ever said by men.
punity, he can double in spades every one of
his incredible mistakes, regardless of who
No, this isn't likely to be another Dun-
Monday, August 21, 1950
pays the price. That is the way of it.
kerque, win, lose of draw. As greatly des-
Mr. HILL Mr. Speaker, under unani-
perate as is the situation of the Eighth Army
But once upon a time there was a sense
mous consent, I include in the Appendix
in this country that public office was a public
along its last river front, they need to hold
of the RECORD an editorial from the Love-
on over there, for our own good even more
trust. This meant that given a post of ulti-
than for the good of themselves, that we
land Reporter-Herald, August 17, 1950,
mate responsibility, any man was entitled to
may again come to understand that holding
on the Korean war:
hold it so long as the people had satisfac-
tion and confidence in his stewardship.
on is the main thing, whether it be to old
AMERICA THE GOOF-ICAL
and tested ideals or to a fresh package of
That, but no more than that.
So you are not too happy about this was
ground. This is the great virtue that one
In the midst of crisis, Americans in former
in Korea? So you are not so sure it was
great example might inject into our cautious
days could rally with a patriotic stirring to
necessary? So you can't understand how
and careful manner of life.
the ideal: "My country-right or wrong."
we came to get mixed up in it anyway?
Can the bonds of a strong spiritual unity,
Diocletian, cultivating lettuce in Salerno,
Well, it doesn't seem just that your son
whence comes action, endure if in the midst
said, "You cannot have butterflies in the
should be lying with a bit of shrapnel in his
of war we are given only the precept: "My
summertime unless you are willing to feed
spine in some Korean rice paddy if there
man-right or wrong"?
worms in the winter." And if our eyes are
ha.. been another way out. Surely the war
After all, it is our Government; it is not
open, we should now understand what he was
was not of his making. It was not he who
a trusteeship; it belongs to the people; by
talking about.
helped create the conditions that brought
law it is accountable to the people; their
it on. Even if he had recognized those sit-
fate is at stake in its every act; their blood
uations, he probably would have been too
must pay for its failures; it cannot endure
young to have voted against them. But he
except as they possess it and take pride in
Is International World Student Congress
is paying the price as our boys always have
that possession.
paid the price.
Were these things not 80, young Ameri-
Communist Controlled?
Right now we are in a war-a war that
cans would not be dying now among the
may be over in the short matter of months
hills and rice paddies of Korea in behalf of
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
or may drag on interminably until the whole
ideals which they have scarce had time to
world is engulfed in the holocaust. Unfor-
OF
understand.
tunately we Americans cannot necessarily
That is why the rifleman crouches in a
HON. GEORGE A. DONDERO
determine now how long or how horrible it
will be. That answer will be written in the
foxhole while the bullets graze overhead; it
OF MICHIGAN
is not to liberate South Korea, but to keep
Kremlin. Ours only is the obligation to face
high the torch of freedom in its main dwell-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
the exigency, regardless of cost or sacrifice.
ing. Each of these men has to face his final
Our national honor was challenged in Korea
Monday, August 21, 1950
risk on a day-to-day basis. For every mis-
and our future was jeopardised when Russia
take made, a terriffic price is exacted.
Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Speaker, under
fiung down the gantlet. It is said we should
Is it just, is it decent that any higher hand
leave to extend my remarks, I wish to
not look back, but forget the past and face
the terrible ordeal ahead.
touching the policy which may make or
state that my attention has been called
break such men should be judged and found
to a press dispatch of August 15 stating
Perhaps. But if America ever is to cease
other than on his own day-to-day record,
being silly and stop making the same mis-
that an American delegation attending
rather than according to a promise that he
takes over and over again for no good reason,
the International World Student Con-
will still be around in 1952?
then perhaps a little looking back might be
This may seem a far cry from the war which
gress in Communist-controlled Prague
beneficial. Even a little sober perusal of an
I am supposed to be discussing. I argue, on
led the assembly in a demonstration in
old history book might be productive of some
two grounds, that it is not. First, that dur-
honor of Commuinst North Korean
thoughts that have escaped the proponents
ing World War II, we found that it was hard
Lt. Col. Kan Buk, who told the
of the new world thinking.
enough at best to rally American combat men
gathering that his country had been at-
Japan took our scrap iron and threw it
to any real convicti- that the main stakes
tacked by the United States. He asked
back at us in bullets and shrapnel. We gave
were worthy of a life-and-death gamble; they
the congress to condemn the war crimi-
Russia boxcars, airplanes, industrial experts,
still loved the square in the old home town,
nals. The congress then adopted a reso-
and weapons of war. Our tanks and our pay-
but they had become a bit cynical about the
ment is sudden death. We didn't know? We
system under which they lived.
lution condemning the United States for
didn't suspect? Why? Is there no American
Second, the crucial struggle of today is the
imperialist aggression and the mass
intelligence service? Has our military no
fight for men's minds. There is no point
bombardment of peace-loving Korean
eyes or ears? Is our State Department en-
spending additional billions to beam mes-
population, for which the American dele-
tirely oblivious of world thinking or world
sages to the enslaved masses of the world if
gation voted.
intentions? Why was the military caught
we keep saying the wrong things to ourselves,
I rise for the purpose of raising certain
flat-footed in Korea?
and miss repeated opportunity for a strength-
ening of the common faith.
pertinent questions. Why did the State
Obviously many half answers can and are
Department, which has discretionary
given for our failures and our Pearl Harbors.
This is not a fight to put communism
When we catch an Alger Hiss red-handed it
down; it is a fight to keep democracy up and
powers in such matters, grant passports
is merely a "red herring." When our atomic
to expand the ranks of those who continue to
to this delegation whose purpose it was
secrets are stolen from under our very noses
FORD
believe to the last punch and bell that free-
to blacken the name of the United States
it takes years before the politicians
will
dom is the main thing.
before the world in a time of war?
admit to the defalcation.
GERALD
LIBRARY
A6260
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-APPENDIX
AUGUST 21
one of the vital areas in the United States
ment has resulted in a disgrace to the mill-
In balance was the great question of
with oil storage facilities and large aircraft
tary forces.
whether, having been thrown into war un-
factories clearly shown. This map is released
From Maine:
dertrained, undermanned and undergunned,
to the newspapers and could be, and prob-
and having had, as General Menoher put it
ably will be, transmitted to Russia and all
Secretary Johnson went around the coun-
the hell wipped out of it, Eighth Army would
of our other enemies.
try saying that he was cutting off fat but
be able to hold to life with its final breath
I ask you, "wha' hoppened"?
not muscle, and now its develops that we
and thereby save the American Nation a
Respectfully yours,
have the fat but not the muscle.
shameful and full defeat at the hands of a
GEORGE H. McCARTHY.
From Ohio:
fifth-rate people.
There are millions of confused, frus-
For about 55,000 men, this was-and still
We now find we are being given loose and
remains-an issue of life and death; for all
trated and angry people all over the
false information. I do not believe Mr.
the rest of us it is, at least temporarily, just
Nation who feel the same way. Many of
Johnson is capable for what may be ahead.
a matter of whether the flag will float as
them go further than demanding the re-
From Minnesota:
proudly as ever and we can keep from hang-
moval of Acheson and Johnson-they
ing our heads. For the strains of their em-
want the whole executive department
Replace Acheson and Louis Johnson. They
barrassment were on our hands.
have made a sorry mess of things and people
cleaned out from Truman down.
Collectively, they had been given one of
have lost faith in these men. If they are
the sorriest deals ever handed a lot of men
Let me read to you items in the latest
allowed to remain we will lose faith in the
called on to serve their country. They had
edition of the United States News of
whole administration.
been ordered to undertake a task they did
statements from all parts of the Nation
There can be little doubt that the rank
not understand, with weapons which could
from people who are thoroughly disgust-
and file of this Nation is aroused and de-
not conceivably serve the purpose, under
ed and have lost confidence in the ad-
conditions for which the Nation whose uni-
mand action.
form they wore had in no wise suitably pre-
ministration.
This is the first time in the history of
pared them.
From Maine:
the United States that we seem to have
They were not geared for a fight; their
It is quite apparent our great President is
completely lost the initiative and seem
organizational structure, their level of train-
no leader. In my opinion he should be im-
to be subject to the whim and caprice of
ing and their supply discipline were still
peached for the mess he has gotten us into.
an unfriendly foreign power, Russia.
those of peacetime; they have paid a hard
Never before in our history have lead-
price in lives for these shortcomings.
From Colorado:
ership and wisdom in high places been
Yet, in any case, they were pitifully under
What goes on in Korea? Where is the
strength when weighed against the assign-
money appropriated for defense going?
SO lacking, and the Government been
ment; this, though the barrel's bottom had
From a small Minnesota town:
rendered so impotent as it is this critical
been scraped to provide Eighth Army with a
period due to the past mistakes of the
facade of fighting power. At the moment of
The people are angry about our Govern-
ment from the President on down the line.
administration.
action, it was in fact weaker, and the Army
The people of the Nation have spoken.
as a whole was weaker, in relation to the
It is now evident that a lot of us made a
Are their demands to be ignored or are
immediate and world problems which con-
great mistake in voting for Truman & Co. in
fronted that Army and us than this Nation
we going to respond to their righteous
the last election-
and its arms have been since colonial times.
indignation and act to save our beloved
These were sobering thoughts to any Amer-
Writes a Midwestern farmer:
Nation from demoralization brought
ican. They were particularly sobering
Unless some changes are made, I will do all
about by incompetent fumbling, bung-
thoughts to those millions of Americans, now
in my power to influence voters in my group
ling politicians in the administration.
in civil life, who having in times past served
against the administration.
their country. in war, feel toward the situa-
tion of our countrymen in Korea only that
Repercussions from the charges of
awful futility which grips men when they
Senator JOSEPH R. McCARTHY, Republi-
Radio Broadcast of Col. S. W.A. Marshall
would like to help but can do nothing. Our
can, of Wisconsin, about Communists in
chief prop in these times is that, in spirit,
the Government show up in statements
this host is ready as ever.
from people in various parts of the Na-
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
But it was not of these things that the
tion such as the following:
OF
President spoke while the Eighth Army
From Alabama:
HON. GERALD R. FORD, JR.
waited and hoped.
McCARTHY's charge of communism in the
He picked that hour to tell the Eighth
OF MICHIGAN
State Department sure hasn't been disproved.
Army and the people who are behind it, and
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
are sweating and praying for it, that De-
From Maine:
Monday, August 21, 1950
fense Secretary Johnson is not only all right,
Why don't you clean the Communists out
but triple-plated, superduper all right in his
of our United States?
Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, under leave
eyes.
to extend my own remarks I include the
No one could have caviled at a little pat
From Colorado:
text of a discussion by Col. S. W. A.
on the back for a Secretary who is having
How could a thing like this have happened
Marshall, military commentator of the
more missiles heaved his way currently than
unless it is true that our Government is rid-
Detroit News. This excellent talk was
an African dodger at a country carnival.
died with Communists?
But the President went far beyond that;
given by Colonel Marshall over WWJ on
he said that Louis Johnson would keep his
From Ohio:
Monday, August 7, 1950, which I recom-
job and continue to manage the security
I'd like to see the State Department cleaned
mend highly as reading for those citizens
machinery of the United States so long as
out and fumigated.
interested in the vital problems facing
he remained in the White House. No mat-
our Nation and the world in this critical
ter that Louis Johnson said 3 months ago
The war in Korea causes a former GI
hour.
that we had all the military strength we
from Minnesota to raise a question:
The discussion follows:
need, and that events have proved only the
Those if us who have been in the Pacific
vanity of this boast. No matter
Good evening. The hands of the clock
are wondering what happened to all of the
that he said 5 months ago that if an enemy
stood at about 11:59 for the Eighth Army in
equipment we left out there. We've been
struck at 4 a. m. some day, we would be
Korea last Friday, and have remained there
wondering who gave the order to destroy the
ready by 5 a. m., and that that has already
since, the situation not having materially
proved to be the longest 1 hour in our his-
tanks on Okinawa, the LST's on Iwo Jima.
The reports coming back say, "They have
changed.
tory. No matter that he put away in moth-
You all know why it is so late over there.
nothing to shoot with. Why?"
balls carriers now sorely needed in the Pa-
Having made retreat after retreat, according
cific action. No matter that 1 year
Many point fingers at Secretaries
to plan, the Eighth Army at last stood on
ago he demolished infantry training divisions
Acheson and Johnson.
the line along the Naktong River where plan-
just beginning to do a job of reestablishing
ned withdrawals could no longer serve a
the field power of the United States. No
From a New York minister:
purpose. Henceforth every plot of ground
matter that last fall he let the pruning knife
It is the head of the Democratic Party and
yielded to the enemy was a sharp knife
sweep through the armories and cut away an
his Secretary of State who have exposed
pressed directly against Eighth Army's jugu-
irreplacable percentage of that small crew of
Korea to its downfall.
lar.
experts who knew how to condition tanks,
It was at this time that the President of
get artillery out of the grease and send it
From Alabama:
the United States spoke to a group of White
on its way, and unlock the secret improved
Try to send Mr. Bull-in-a-china-shop
House correspondents. While he spoke, the
recoll mechanisms for Army and Navy guns.
Johnson back to private life. His widely
Eighth Army was waiting with its back to
No matter that under Louis Johnson our
advertised economy in the Defense Depart-
the sea and its front to the devil.
field training exercises have booked more like
Gord- House specks
August 22,1950
Mr. c. A. Macauley
C. A. Macauley and Associated Consultants, Inc.
1150 Griswold St.
P. 0. Box 603
Detroit 31, Michigan
Dear Mr. Macauley -
Your letter of August 15th enclosing a copy of
Col. S.L.A. Marshall's Broadcast over WJ has been received.
Upon receipt of the copy of Col. Marshall's Broad-
cast I read the same and was deeply impressed by his com-
ments. It seemed to me that this broadcast should be made
available to others and as a result I inserted the script
of the broadcast in the Congressional Record for Monday,
August 21st. For your information, I enclose the pertinent
pages from the Congressional Record for that date.
Sincerely,
Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
M.C.
Enclosures
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
COPY
1150 GRISWOLD ST.
P. O. 603
C. A. MACAULEY AND ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC.
WOODWARD 5-4190
DETROIT 31, MICH.
August 15, 1950
Dear Friend:
Just in case you failed to hear Col. S.L.A. Marshall's Broadcast
over WWJ Monday, August 4th, 1950, or to read the text of it in
the Detroit News on August 12th, I enclose it for your information.
Col. Marshall is a recognized authority, whom no one can justly
accuse of political bias or partisanship.
What he has to say of the acts and statements of the President, and
the Secretary of Defense cannot be lightly brushed off.
We are in perilous times, and we want no "Chamberlin and his umbrella"
leading us to disaster.
Is our interest in "The Tigers" Championship, or Golf scores, or Horse
Races paramount to the death struggle in Korea and worse to come? Or
are we going to get on the job and demand that Politicians step aside
and strong men take their place now, before it is too late?
You and I cannot be silent and betray the boys facing bullets.
Earnestly yours,
CAM:ds
Enclosure
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD