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The Resource The general vs. the president : MacArthur and Truman at the brink of nuclear war, H. W. Brands

The general vs. the president : MacArthur and Truman at the brink of nuclear war, H. W. Brands

Creator
Summary
From master storyteller and historian H.W. Brands, twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, comes the riveting story of how President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur squared off to decide America's future in the aftermath of World War II. At the height of the Korean War, President Harry S. Truman committed a gaffe that sent shock waves around the world. When asked by a reporter about the possible use of atomic weapons in response to China's entry into the war, Truman replied testily, 'The military commander in the field will have charge of the use of the weapons, as he always has.' This suggested that General Douglas MacArthur, the willful, fearless, and highly decorated commander of the American and U.N. forces, had his finger on the nuclear trigger. A correction quickly followed, but the damage was done; two visions for America's path forward were clearly in opposition, and one man would have to make way. Truman was one of the most unpopular presidents in American history. Heir to a struggling economy, a ruined Europe, and increasing tension with the Soviet Union, on no issue was the path ahead clear and easy. General MacArthur, by contrast, was incredibly popular, as untouchable as any officer has ever been in America. The lessons he drew from World War II were absolute: appeasement leads to disaster and a showdown with the communists was inevitable--the sooner the better. In the nuclear era, when the Soviets, too, had the bomb, the specter of a catastrophic third World War lurked menacingly close on the horizon. The contest of wills between these two titanic characters unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of a faraway war and terrors conjured at home by Joseph McCarthy. From the drama of Stalin's blockade of West Berlin to the daring landing of MacArthur's forces at Inchon to the shocking entrance of China into the war, The General and the President vividly evokes the making of a new American era
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First edition.
Extent
437 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates
Contents
  • Prologue
  • Part One. Two Roads up the Mountain
  • Part Two. Test of Nerve
  • Part Three. An Entirely New War
  • Part Four. The General and the President
  • Part Five. Fade Away
Isbn
9780385540575
Instance
Label
The general vs. the president : MacArthur and Truman at the brink of nuclear war
Title
The general vs. the president
Title remainder
MacArthur and Truman at the brink of nuclear war
Statement of responsibility
H. W. Brands
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
From master storyteller and historian H.W. Brands, twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, comes the riveting story of how President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur squared off to decide America's future in the aftermath of World War II. At the height of the Korean War, President Harry S. Truman committed a gaffe that sent shock waves around the world. When asked by a reporter about the possible use of atomic weapons in response to China's entry into the war, Truman replied testily, 'The military commander in the field will have charge of the use of the weapons, as he always has.' This suggested that General Douglas MacArthur, the willful, fearless, and highly decorated commander of the American and U.N. forces, had his finger on the nuclear trigger. A correction quickly followed, but the damage was done; two visions for America's path forward were clearly in opposition, and one man would have to make way. Truman was one of the most unpopular presidents in American history. Heir to a struggling economy, a ruined Europe, and increasing tension with the Soviet Union, on no issue was the path ahead clear and easy. General MacArthur, by contrast, was incredibly popular, as untouchable as any officer has ever been in America. The lessons he drew from World War II were absolute: appeasement leads to disaster and a showdown with the communists was inevitable--the sooner the better. In the nuclear era, when the Soviets, too, had the bomb, the specter of a catastrophic third World War lurked menacingly close on the horizon. The contest of wills between these two titanic characters unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of a faraway war and terrors conjured at home by Joseph McCarthy. From the drama of Stalin's blockade of West Berlin to the daring landing of MacArthur's forces at Inchon to the shocking entrance of China into the war, The General and the President vividly evokes the making of a new American era
Biography type
contains biographical information
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Brands, H. W
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
  • plates
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Truman, Harry S
  • MacArthur, Douglas
  • Nuclear warfare
  • United States
  • Presidents
  • Generals
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • Cold War
  • Korean War, 1950-1953
  • Korean War, 1950-1953
Label
The general vs. the president : MacArthur and Truman at the brink of nuclear war, H. W. Brands
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Contents
Prologue -- Part One. Two Roads up the Mountain -- Part Two. Test of Nerve -- Part Three. An Entirely New War -- Part Four. The General and the President -- Part Five. Fade Away
Control code
2016021412
Edition
First edition.
Extent
437 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates
Isbn
9780385540575
Lccn
2016021412
Other physical details
illustrations, maps
Label
The general vs. the president : MacArthur and Truman at the brink of nuclear war, H. W. Brands
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Contents
Prologue -- Part One. Two Roads up the Mountain -- Part Two. Test of Nerve -- Part Three. An Entirely New War -- Part Four. The General and the President -- Part Five. Fade Away
Control code
2016021412
Edition
First edition.
Extent
437 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates
Isbn
9780385540575
Lccn
2016021412
Other physical details
illustrations, maps

Subject

Genre

Library Locations

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