H.W. Brands, "The General vs. the President"
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- Опубликовано: 24 окт 2016
- www.politics-prose.com/book/97...
When the Chinese entered the Korean War in November 1950 on the side of North Korea, they precipitated not only a geo-strategic crisis but sparked a showdown between two of America’s most powerful leaders. Starting with this decisive moment, Brands, a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and author of a wide range of narrative histories, including American Colossus and American Dreams, traces the battle between the popular General MacArthur-who had predicted the Chinese would not enter the war-and the underestimated President Truman over how America should conduct its foreign policy. Drawing on correspondence and transcripts of official hearings, Brands conveys the full tension and drama of the period, which ended with Truman firing MacArthur in April 1951.
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Produced by Michael A. Kowaleski
I would like to have H Brands as a high school history teacher. He is electrifying.
Condoleeza Rice once said, publicly, “The President never takes an option off the table.” That’s the diplomatic way to put it and she didn’t try to explain it further. It wasn’t that controversial.
Starts at 19:21
Thank you!
I thought I was the only one who noticed 😂
The American people do not vote for candidates who speak the truth. “Tell us what we want to hear”
I think it was disrespectful of the management to interrupt Mr. Rusk, who's father was Secretary of State, at the end of this event. Why rush everyone out the door like that? What's the big hurry, it's a flippin' bookstore... That said, this was a great talk and I appreciate you guys making it available.
Rusk was talking about Mr. Brands book, a part of which Rusk's father was actually present for. Mr. Brands was happy to hear what Rusk had to say, it was the manager that was rushing everyone out the door. James, are you an employee of the store? I can't imagine any other reason you would care at all about my initial comment.
No Raymond, are you? I find it very disrespectful to speakers to have questioners take over the floor with statements in a Q & A session when questions should be to the author and the answers from him or her. Rusk was looking for his few minutes of fame and no one but you really cared.
What does the son of Rusk have to do with anything? What if it was the grandson of LBJ or Truman or George Washington? Write your own book and see if it sells. The event was to hear Brands and ask a question ABOUT THE BOOK.....this is the problem w/ many P & P events in which you have armchair experts (usually on taxpayer paid pensions) who want to pontificate.
I like events where the rule is one short question and no comments.
Brands is the BEST!
Excellent. When will Prof.Brands consider writing about the Vietnam era?
We have a couple of great books now. Neil Sheehan’s “A Bright Shining Lie,” and Karl Marlantes’ novel “Matterhorn.”
the best bit at the end -
H.W. Brands is great speaker.
Interesting....especially at Politics & Prose
harry truman was not a total novice in military affairs as having been the only president to have served in combat in ww1 in artillery and also having served in the army reserves getting up to the rank of colonel. colonel is a respectable rank as it's the highest line officer rank you can get before you get into the flag ranks. now before anyone says but ike, jfk, LBJ, Nixon, carter, and ford all served ww2 well difference is that none of them actually served in a direct combat role.... so.
if truman made one big f up is that he should not have drawn down us forces as fast as he did.
JFK was a PT Boat commander and Ford was an anti aircraft guns officer on the carrier USS San Jacinto so both did see front line combat.
@@paratrooper629 but not up close and personal like Truman. I know jfk was a pt boat commander and Ford was on a aircraft carrier.
Truman as a senator approached General Marshall requesting to be placed on active duty after pearl harbor. CCM said no. If he had been called up it would have been quite something if he had been assigned to the SWPA of which MacArthur was commander in chief.
@@paratrooper629 or Truman gets assigned to North Africa or Sicily under ike.
For all the problems of the MacArthur versus Truman stupid fight in early 1951 (both men were right and wrong at the same time because Korea was a crazy Catch 22 situation and there was no real correct solution to Korea) MacArthur truly did save Truman's hide during June-Sept 1950 considering Truman heavily cut the manpower and weapons of the U.S. Army and the 8th Army was not a fighting force at all by Japan 1950 thanks to Truman's harsh cuts in the military. Truman also in 1949 withdrew all but about 200 U.S. military advisors to South Korea and he refused to send any weapons to South Korea before withdrawing. MacArthur kind of forced Truman's hand when he still was allowed to be responsible for the safety and success of those 200 U.S. military advisors in Korea. MacArthur pre-emptively ordered ammo ships to Pusan and airstrikes to support the military advisors and South Koreans who were getting clobbered in Seoul before Truman made any formal decisions because Truman kind of stalled and was in a state of shock and didn't know what to do. MacArthur gave Truman a choice to either support South Korea or turn this into another China disaster. Truman smartly did the right thing and asked MacArthur to pull off a miracle, which he did. MacArthur did those retrograde maneuvers (fighting retreats) like he successfully did in the Philippines to keep the South Korean military and the incoming 8th U.S. Army forces intact and set up the Pusan Perimeter. Then he did the legendary Inchon and saved South Korea. If any other U.S. general were there the North Koreans would have won that war most likely since they had no experience on withdrawals and defeats like MacArthur did in the Philippines.
I admire Truman and his plain speech.
How about all the citizen vs. national Big government system.
He write great books and get fantastic insight on his topics.
"People think that American credibility in the world is important."
LOL. That's some serious pre-2016 thinking right there..
So, after the classified hearing into McArthur's dismissal, the general's political supporters didn't quit, they just faded away.
Not really. MacArthur was JFK's most favorite military/foreign policy advisor (JFK idolized MacArthur and thought what Truman did to him [firing him and trying to destroy MacArthur's reputation afterwards] was completely wrong) and MacArthur was the main reason why JFK used the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the main reason why JFK didn't send any combat troops to Vietnam or Laos during his presidency up through November 1963. Ike also leaned on him a lot during his presidency. MacArthur received a Thanks of Congress and Congressional Gold Medal from Congress in 1962 and JFK and LBJ (both DEMOCRATS, mind you) signed EOs declaring that MacArthur will have a presidential-style state funeral (lying in state in the Capitol and riderless horse carriage).
And judging by how in the past 30 years China is by far the bigger geopolitical and economic threat than Russia since the end of the Cold War and MacArthur warned us that doing it "Truman's way" meant the Korean War will never end (we are now in the 73rd year of the Korean War because no peace treaty was signed and the DMZ looks exactly like how it did in 1953 with troops everywhere ready to restart hostile offensivs whenever ordered), MacArthur was right!
I think the opening point about Presidential campaigns is partially an outgrowth of the US political system. Ultimately a Presidential system *looks* like a system where a single man can do everything. In a parliamentary system it is much clearer that compromise goes into every decision and every law and no single human does everything alone.
One thing I have always wanted to look into is how Truman was influenced by Omar Bradley, who was not only a “European”but contrary to his image, in many ways as vain as MacArthur, and of course, a close to Eisenhower, the new NATO commander. .
President Jefferson went to war against the Barbary Pirates without a formal declaration of war. War was already a fact by the actions of the pirate state and Congress saw no need to demand their right to declare war. Most of the authors of the Constitution were still alive then, by the way.
All of my sex and driver's education teachers were coaches. Never heard of history teachers the way he mentions.
So were mine. And they were not people who should have been doing that. I got so much misinformation because these people were not trained in those fields.
What about the Phillipines? Another undeclared war much earlier.
Philippines was Spanish territory for like 400 years until 1898. Spain legally transferred all of the Philippines to the U.S. in the Treaty of Paris. So that became an "internal territorial police action by the USA within their newly bought territories". How could the U.S. declare war on U.S. soil?
Why the long face pal.
Good Grief, this is the third or fourth video I've tried to watch of Brands, but I get so discouraged by the amount of time he wastes talking about anything and everything but the topic. I've found this to be true in every video he does no matter what the subject. You can spend 50 to 60 mins listening to him before he gets to the point. Someone please let me know the time on this video where he actually begins to discuss or even mentions Truman or MacArthur. Thanks!
Carrie Mitch it starts at 19:21
Thanks SO much!!
Carrie Mitch You're welcome! I've watched a few and yeah, he can definitely take a while to get started.
Carrie Mitch (Bitch), why complain against something that is free? Why don't you stop being lazy & cheap and just buy the book? Or go to your local library and research what others have said about the conflict between Truman and the general. Your attitude is highly reflective of one thing that is wrong with American culture: "Satisfy me NOW, I am entitled to it..."Did you ever think that the speaking style of Professor Brands is entertaining to others?Get your head checked before delivering another temper tantrum!!
artnwityr Because you would totally say that to her face 😂 Relax! Taking ~20 minutes to get to the point can get a bit old and everyone has the right to make that observation. Chill out.
MacArthur was right .🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🕶
Yes he was!
MacArthur was JFK's most favorite military/foreign policy advisor (JFK idolized MacArthur and thought what Truman did to him [firing him and trying to destroy MacArthur's reputation afterwards] was completely wrong) and MacArthur was the main reason why JFK used the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the main reason why JFK didn't send any combat troops to Vietnam or Laos during his presidency up through November 1963. Ike also leaned on him a lot during his presidency. MacArthur received a Thanks of Congress and Congressional Gold Medal from Congress in 1962 and JFK and LBJ (both DEMOCRATS, mind you) signed EOs declaring that MacArthur will have a presidential-style state funeral (lying in state in the Capitol and riderless horse carriage).
And judging by how in the past 30 years China is by far the bigger geopolitical and economic threat than Russia since the end of the Cold War and MacArthur warned us that doing it "Truman's way" meant the Korean War will never end (we are now in the 73rd year of the Korean War because no peace treaty was signed and the DMZ looks exactly like how it did in 1953 with troops everywhere ready to restart hostile offensivs whenever ordered), MacArthur was right!
We are closer to nuclear war today than anytime since the Turkish/Cuban missile crisis.
MacArthur was the one who advised JFK to not bomb or invade Cuba in 1962. All the other generals and admirals were urging JFK to kill some Cuban and Soviet troops. MacArthur said "use the blockade, Mr. President".
MacArthur was given a state funeral sanctioned and promoted and signed off by JFK and LBJ (both Democrats) later, which is impressive since the Truman fanboys always try to make people hate MacArthur irrationally.
putin a comment
Truman was right to fire MacArthur.
Only because Truman was a loser and he had the right to be an idiot and loser. Time has gone by and the Korean War has never ended thanks to Truman and China turned out to be the far worse threat than Russia, just as predicted by MacArthur.
Truman was an idiot and had a bigger ego than MacArthur.