Clipping, "The Story of Douglas MacArthur," by Richard Rovere and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Harper's Magazine
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Harpers
M AGALZI N E
The Story
of Douglas MacArthur
Richard H. Rovere and Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
"
ENERAL MACARTHUR'S place in his-
It would be going too far to say that he as an
"G
tory," President Truman told the
individual precipitated the conflict over na-
country and the world when he an-
tional policy that now rages, for the conflict
nounced the recall of the General from his
preceded his return, preceded the Korean
several commands in the Far East, "is fully es-
campaign, preceded even the last great war,
tablished." No less controversial statement has
and would no doubt exist even if he did
been made in the course of the MacArthur
not; but it is perfectly clear that he and his
controversy. And if what the President said
extraordinary personality have brought mat-
(or had said in his behalf, for he slept soundly
ters to a head and have now become enor-
in Blair House while the tremendous news
mous factors in what someone has called the
was being given out) was true beyond dis-
Greater Debate. It is conceivable that in the
pute at one o'clock in the morning of April
resolution of the argument they will be the
eleventh, its truth has been heightened and
decisive factors.
broadened in all its meanings in the weeks
In short, Douglas MacArthur is now a
that have since elapsed. Before his recall,
force, almost a principle, in American poli-
MacArthur was a great personality, a great
tics. How far he wants to go and how far he
general, a great orator and writer, and the
is capable of going are matters on which no
first American proconsul. He was an Ameri-
one seems able to speak with much authority.
can prophet honored at home largely because
We have his word for it that he does not seek
of the lavish ways in which he was honored-
the Presidency, but we can assume that he
and in some quarters despised-abroad. But
would not be too bitter if the office, or the
when he flew inward from the perimeter of
nomination for it, were thrust upon him. In
American power, he made a similar journey
any event, it is imperative that his spectacular
toward the center of American consciousness.
career be re-examined, for he is in politics and
In this article, Richard H. Rovere, whose book reviews and political profiles have
appeared often in Harper's, and Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., author of The Age
TRUMAN
of Jackson and The Vital Center, have collaborated for the first time in writing.
APCHIVES "NATIGNAL RECORDS AND
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