In an army which eschewed flamboyance; General Douglas MacArthur possessed a unique flair. With his chiseled face; corn-cob pipe; and a voice which "could trumpet and drum;" he looked the part of a "heaven born general." He was arguably the best-known and most popular American military leader of the 20th century; and at least one observer--General George E. Stratemeyer; MacArthur's top air officer in Japan--thought him "the greatest man in history." Yet the men who served in the trenches of Bataan sneeringly called him "Dugout Doug;" FDR privately termed MacArthur's defense of Corregidor "criminal;" and Truman called his vaunted "return" to the Philippines "a fiasco." In this eye-opening book; historian Michael Schaller offers an intimately detailed portrait of MacArthur; particularly the General's two decades in the Far East; demythologizing this "American Caesar" and providing an insightful analysis of American foreign policy in Asia during those years. Schaller's is far from a flattering portrait. He finds; for instance; that MacArthur's military record was less than impressive: not only did MacArthur leave direction of the army to subordinates (such as General Robert Eichelberger); but as a result of his failure to launch an air raid following word of the attack on Pearl Harbor; nearly all B-17s in the Philippines--the strongest American air concentration outside of the States--were destroyed on the ground. Indeed; Schaller reveals that MacArthur's Pacific island campaign during World War II; often hailed as brilliant; was far more costly and less decisive than previously assumed. Schaller is particulary deft at tracing MacArthur's futile attempts to become President and his destructive interference in foreign policy; such as his promise to local Dutch officials to restore their authority in the East Indies (even as FDR's administration pushed the Dutch to grant self-determination); his manipulation of policies in occupied Japan; and his constant attacks on Truman's policy in China; attacks which ruined any chance of improving relations with the largest nation in Asia. Finally; during the Korean War; Schaller argues that MacArthur willfully risked war with China and the Soviet Union to salvage his pride and humiliate his political enemies in Washington. Schaller's thought-provoking biography provides invaluable background to America's present relations with the Far East. It is as well an unforgettable portrait of a man driven by talent; opportunism; vision; egotism; and jealousy.
#3208982 in Books 1989-05-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 1.24 x 6.50l; #File Name: 019503886X352 pages
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great book!By RussellA great book on an even greater leader of our country! This book is a must for the WWII student!!4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A political biography rather than a full treatmentBy Stage 3I was disappointed with this biography; as it seemed to brush over MacArthur's military strategy to examine mainly the political relationships that he had; especially during his time as a senior officer. I believe that Schaller was writing a political biography; rather than a military biography; as the sub-title may suggest; given that the author refers to general. Schaller does focus on MacArthur's Asian time but again with a lot of material about how he related to the US political elite and leadership. I did try to figure out whether Schaller was being anti-MacArthur rather than impartial on his subject and I am still not convinced either way but I tend to think that he had little sympathy for his subject and hence may have been against MacArthur. By way of example he appeared to relish in relating details of MacArthur's firstmarriage and how his socialite wife delighted in deriding MacArthur's sexual ability. Yet Schaller does not appear to weigh such negative detail with other information that put MacArthur in a more positive light.MacArthur is undoubtedly a controversial character and this book adds to that image of him. Schaller is critical of MacArthur's military skill. However; Schaller's criticisms are virtually left unproven since he does not delve into MacArthur's military operations in much detail; dismissing them as being the work of other people for which MacArthur tookcredit for. I think he often takes MacArthur's public statements at face value when those words can be used to be critical of MacArthur. Schaller relates MacArthur's assurances to the pre-war Philippines President; Manuel Quezon; about the ability of the Philippines to defend itself against a possible Japanese invasion. Then again MacArthur was unlikely to openly admit that the Philippines was open to all for attack. However; to show how controversial MacArthur was; Schaller justifiably highlights the payments that MacArthur took from the Philippines for his service; even after he re-entered US Army service.Where Schaller does shine is his work on the political chain of command to MacArthur. The immediate post-war era is fascinating as the author describes the machinations behind the decisions to re-invent Japan. Interestingly; MacArthur did not support US bases in Japan. He was more interested in Taiwan and protecting it. The author gives the impression that MacArthur saw the loss of China as an affront and believed that he could; indeed should; reverse it. There was serious discussion in the US administration to give MacArthur free reign over Taiwan but the US State Department was reluctant to embrace Chiang Kai Shek.It is well known that MacArthur saw the Korean War as a life-line for him just when it seemed that he was going to "fade away." I think that Schaller's treatment of the Incheon operation is light and because of that he misses the debate about how militarily innovative it was. I believe that this is a key question in examining MacArthur at that stage of his life given the events that would unfold when China entered the war. Was Incheon an example of military genius; if yes; then what happened to MacArthur after that so that he could not see the threat from China? Schaller is not necessarily being critical of MacArthur seeing as MacArthur was over 70 years of age at the start of the Korean War and entitled to a rest from public life.If you are after a biography of MacArthur then I would suggest American Caesarinstead od Schaller's book. However; if you want to focus on the political dimensions of MacArthur's legacy then this is the book for you. If you are generally negative in your view of MacArthur then this book will be an easy read for you but if you have a positive view of MacArthur then you will need to approach this work with an open mind.3 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Try Again.By Eric RogersThis is not a book for your book report. Its not a book for your thesis paper either. What is this book good for one might ask. Well it has the credibility of a great tabloid. For starters the author does not even bother to tell the reader where General MacArthur was born. That should be a good start as to the authors commitment to accuracy and details. Most of the book is either trying to paint the General in a very poor light by discussing unsupported stories of the subjects private life and the rest of the book is spent giving credit for MacArthur's greatest victories and triumphs to others. This is the kind of book that authors write when they have an axe to grind against the subject. It is a shame that even though this is a hatchet job; the author could have at least done a good job of writing it. Save your money.
