Truman and McArthur Meeting: McArthur Relieved of Command
April 5th, 1951
On the 5th of April president Truman dismissed the venerated general MacArthur causing an uproar among Americans and dooming his chances for re-election. This decision was made primarily because of General MacArthur's disregard for the policies of the Truman administration as well as his failure to anticipate china being a threat. Another major factor in general MacArthur's dismissal was his disregard for the wishes of the united nations. Many of MacArthur's views on China were not shared by many others. He believed that the United states should focus more of its strength on China and lessen our presence in Korea. MacArthur also believed that China was completely separate from Russia’s interests and would not intervene, contrary to many other beliefs at the time. MacArthur openly criticized Truman's actions towards china as appeasement and went against Truman’s instructions to keep American forces off the Chinese border. The biggest reason for MacArthur's dismissal however came from a statement that he made toward the Chinese government on the twenty third of March. During this time, many people in Washington thought that a ceasefire agreement could be reached with the Chinese and Korean forces and on the seventeenth of march the president prepared a statement for the Chinese prompting a cease fire. On the twenty third however MacArthur circumvented Truman's statement and issued his own in which he called for China's surrender and insulted their military. This communication prevented any further chance of establishing a ceasefire at the time. Truman’s dismissal of MacArthur was found to be constitutional and within his power.
On the 5th of April president Truman dismissed the venerated general MacArthur causing an uproar among Americans and dooming his chances for re-election. This decision was made primarily because of General MacArthur's disregard for the policies of the Truman administration as well as his failure to anticipate china being a threat. Another major factor in general MacArthur's dismissal was his disregard for the wishes of the united nations. Many of MacArthur's views on China were not shared by many others. He believed that the United states should focus more of its strength on China and lessen our presence in Korea. MacArthur also believed that China was completely separate from Russia’s interests and would not intervene, contrary to many other beliefs at the time. MacArthur openly criticized Truman's actions towards china as appeasement and went against Truman’s instructions to keep American forces off the Chinese border. The biggest reason for MacArthur's dismissal however came from a statement that he made toward the Chinese government on the twenty third of March. During this time, many people in Washington thought that a ceasefire agreement could be reached with the Chinese and Korean forces and on the seventeenth of march the president prepared a statement for the Chinese prompting a cease fire. On the twenty third however MacArthur circumvented Truman's statement and issued his own in which he called for China's surrender and insulted their military. This communication prevented any further chance of establishing a ceasefire at the time. Truman’s dismissal of MacArthur was found to be constitutional and within his power.