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Since Truman was not in the military, he was not bound by the military code. As I recall it, Truman in Plain Speaking clearly indicates that McArthur's continued insubordination to him as Commander in Chief was what forced his hand. It could be argued that the "political" decision was not firing him earlier.
Truman wanted to fire MacArthur about seven months before he actually did. According to Miller, in Plain Speaking, Truman was particularly incensed at a speech MacArthur gave to the VFW in which he outlined an entire foreign policy without first discussing it with the President or the State Department. Truman said he was talked out of firing him at this time by George Marshall and some other generals
Truman also brought up some personal matters that figured into his decision. He felt MacArthur's overall behavior and demeanor was inappropriate. He cited an example of him wearing garb and clothing that was not official military issue. He discussed having to wait in his airplane forever for MacArthur to approach it and officially greet him when they met at Wake Island for a meeting. His dislike for MacArthur was quite deep. He said that he had tried to account for the General's behavior and reached a conclusion that "sometimes he just wasn't right in the head."
Since Truman was not in the military, he was not bound by the military code. As I recall it, Truman in Plain Speaking clearly indicates that McArthur's continued insubordination to him as Commander in Chief was what forced his hand. It could be argued that the "political" decision was not firing him earlier.
During the meetings about what to do with him, the JCS agreed with Truman that what MacArthur did was out of line. However, "insubordination" was considered a military protocol and if that had been the reason given MacArthur could have demanded an inquiry/court martial and such a proceeding would have, in the opinion of the JCS, found MacArthur innocent. In their opinion he had never actually violated a military order...stretched them, certainly...but never violated. The "gag order" Truman gave him was not a legal military order. MacArthur was more or less flaunting the authority of the President with the his actions.
So, it was ultimately a political decision, one (as markg pointed out) Truman wanted to make long before he did it and one that proved very costly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markg91359
Truman wanted to fire MacArthur about seven months before he actually did. According to Miller, in Plain Speaking, Truman was particularly incensed at a speech MacArthur gave to the VFW in which he outlined an entire foreign policy without first discussing it with the President or the State Department. Truman said he was talked out of firing him at this time by George Marshall and some other generals
Truman also brought up some personal matters that figured into his decision. He felt MacArthur's overall behavior and demeanor was inappropriate. He cited an example of him wearing garb and clothing that was not official military issue. He discussed having to wait in his airplane forever for MacArthur to approach it and officially greet him when they met at Wake Island for a meeting. His dislike for MacArthur was quite deep. He said that he had tried to account for the General's behavior and reached a conclusion that "sometimes he just wasn't right in the head."
This last part is interesting because others around MacArthur had said the same things, especially during the early days of the Korean War when things were not going well. His "on again, off again" odd behavior was a factor in the lack of confidence the allies showed in him as supreme commander. During the initial Chinese offensive he would go from plotting grand strategy to throwing things to weeping uncontrollably and back again in the span of a couple of hours. He had by all accounts become "unhinged".
During the meetings about what to do with him, the JCS agreed with Truman that what MacArthur did was out of line. However, "insubordination" was considered a military protocol and if that had been the reason given MacArthur could have demanded an inquiry/court martial and such a proceeding would have, in the opinion of the JCS, found MacArthur innocent. In their opinion he had never actually violated a military order...stretched them, certainly...but never violated. The "gag order" Truman gave him was not a legal military order. MacArthur was more or less flaunting the authority of the President with the his actions.
So, it was ultimately a political decision, one (as markg pointed out) Truman wanted to make long before he did it and one that proved very costly.
The term "insubordination" is not strictly a "military" term. Truman was neither bound by nor subject to the military code.
Truman's relieving him of his command was "political" only in the sense that it was an action taken by the President (a politically elected civil officer) as commander-in-chief. MacArthur was relieved, not demoted.
To my mind, decisions characterized as "political" more normally are intended to reap political (partisan) advantages and/or avoid paying political costs.
The term "insubordination" is not strictly a "military" term. Truman was neither bound by nor subject to the military code.
Truman's relieving him of his command was "political" only in the sense that it was an action taken by the President (a politically elected civil officer) as commander-in-chief. MacArthur was relieved, not demoted.
To my mind, decisions characterized as "political" more normally are intended to reap political (partisan) advantages and/or avoid paying political costs.
My understanding is that had they directly cited "insubordination" as the reason, rather than it being Truman's unilateral choice to relieve him, that it could have resulted in a military trial. It was the opinion of Bradley and the JCS that a charge of insubordination would never hold in a court martial. Truman's speech to the nation never mentions anything about insubordination or what happened between them, he simply refers to a re-focusing of priorities.
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