The General vs. the President

MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War

By: H. W. Brands

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

From master storyteller and historian H. W. Brands 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 UN 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 vs. the President vividly evokes the making of a new American era. 

©2016 H. W. Brands (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Scott Brick's narration shines as he delivers Brands's detailed account of the ultimate battle for military control between a struggling President Truman and a rogue General MacArthur.... Thanks to the talents of narrator and author, a broad audience will find this a riveting listen that goes beyond the simple historical facts to reveal the real men who, for a brief time, controlled the fate of the world." ( AudioFile)

A Vivid Dramatic Accounting

This is a great comparison study. Professor Brands is a master storyteller. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

After World War II MacArthur was extremely popular. The lessons he learned from WWII were absolute: appeasement leads to disaster, and a showdown with the communists was inevitable and as far as Douglas MacArthur was concerned the sooner the better. At the time, Truman was an unpopular president. Truman faced a struggling economy, a ruined Europe and increasing hostilities with the Soviet Union. Senator Joseph McCarthy was in full swing and he had a hostile divided Congress. Also, Truman had to deal with Stalin’s blockade of West Berlin with the airlift of food. Then the Korean War began.

Brands reveals the contest of wills between these two strong characters against the backdrop of the Korean peacekeeping action, the drama with Stalin and the entrance of China into the Korean conflict triggered by MacArthur. The critical conflict between the two was the civilian rule over the military, which MacArthur defied.

This is a well written and meticulously researched comparison study of two of American leaders during the Korean War. Truman thought MacArthur was egotistical, reckless, lacked foresight and was willing to use nuclear weapons. MacArthur thought Truman was like all politicians, spineless, afraid and corrupt. Brands reveals both the strong and weak points of each man. MacArthur did wonders in Japan, but was extremely naïve about global geopolitics; and Truman did wonders in Europe, but was in over his head and made some mistakes. The book has some flaws. I noted some inaccurate statements; for example, Brands states that Truman and Treasury Secretary John Snyder, whom he consulted on MacArthur’s firing, “had served together in WWI”. They actually met at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1928. I enjoyed the Senate hearings of the Army particularly that of General Marshall. The book reads like a novel, is easy to read but has lots of critical detail.

Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the book. Brick is an actor, writer and award winning audiobook narrator.

Superb history, well read

This book is a winner. A visit to a forgotten time whose lessons we should heed now. So well organized, edited and spoken!

Ho-Humm

This book reads like the script of a generic History Channel program and is almost as exciting. The author presumes to read the thoughts and motivations of historical figures--always irritating. It's not a terrible book but it's just not particularly good.

Very Good Account of What Happened in Korea

This book is a very detailed account of the story of how President Truman ultimately decided to fire Douglas MacArthur, one of the country's true heroes from World War II.

The story is well told and seems to be well sourced. It is very detailed. It tells both sides of the story, essentially in alternating chapters, at least until the end.

In retrospect it seems almost unavoidable that Truman--a plain spoken, unlettered, but highly intelligent student of world history (and a purely accidental President)--would be underestimated by the imperious MacArthur. In this respect, the book is a very interesting character study.

MacArthur accomplished many great things in his life: He was a soldier of unusual bravery. He accomplished a great deal in both world wars. His administration of Japan after the war set the stage for making Japan into a modern democracy and an ally.

He was a decisive and strategic military thinker--certainly one of the best. Who knows, maybe if we had followed his aggressive approach in Korea we would not still have the peninsula divided (and we might not have communist China). But there is no doubt that his approach was risky business, and there is also no doubt that MacArthur was dead wrong in advising Truman that red China would not come into Korea after MacArthur's astonishing operation at Inchon.

Truman, the State Department, and the Joint Chiefs all preferred a more conservative approach because they were afraid of starting World War III. Scholars can debate whether this was the correct approach, but one thing we do know is that it avoided a general war. That said, it also left a lot of unfinished business.

At the end of the day, MacArthur could only see it his way, and he actively tried to undermine Truman and others. Truman was the Commander in Chief, and really had no other choice.

If you want to learn the details, the book is very worthwhile.

The Patriot vs The Stooge

The sum of the parts, writer and narrator, are some of the very best, they do not disappoint
The book has some great detail on this contentious relationship. For the pro-Mac crowd, you are going to get the bad news that the Joint Chiefs and Omar Bradley were pro-Truman.

HW Brands is pro-Truman in a very respectful way. I can deal with it, because HWB is such a great historian. That said, I came away understanding Mac much better and being even more pro-Mac because I take into account information HWB would consider out-of-bounds for this book.

FDR's and Truman's justice and treasury departments were literally crawling with communists, socialists, and unloyal left-wingers. Not to mention the ever corrupt media. FDR-Truman gave China and Eastern Europe to the communists. They did not tell the Soviets to hit the road after WW2, before traitors gave away the Communists nukes, they could have.

Additionally, we know as historical fact that monetizing silver was done to break the Nationalist Chinese at a critical moment in fighting the Red-Chinese. Harry Dexter White (US Treasury) opening admits this in personal documents he left behind after death. White did not hide his Soviet spying because he thought the US was destined to become communist and he wanted due historical credit.

The left wing always claimed that Nationalist China was corrupt, wasteful, etc. But look at Taiwan, it’s a first world nation with a high standard of living. This proves Mac’s position that smearing the Nationalists was a calculated lie to undermine Nationalist China.

Also proving that Mac was right, Eisenhower ended the Korean war by warning that Nukes were on the table. The Chinese and Russians wanted nothing to do with true Industrial War with the USA. They could not handle that. They could handle bleeding the USA with little wars in Vietnam and other places.

End of the Day, Mac is still a Great Patriot and Truman is still just a corrupt New Deal Stooge

Well written and balanced

One not only learns about the 2 protagonists but also the military and
Political environment in which they operated

We should have listened to MacArthur

He said there would be a never-ending stalemate in Korea, that we’d lose Indochina, that China would continue its aggression, and that Taiwan and Japan would be threatened.
Guess what? There’s a never-ending stalemate in Korea, China subsequently absorbed Tibet, we lost Indochina, and not only Japan and Taiwan but all of the Indo-Pacific is under threat.

Underrated president and overrated general

Growing up I knew who both these men where, one a president who I honestly didn’t know much about. The other a celebrated war hero who seemed to never do anything wrong. However I believe that Truman is one of our most underrated presidents who actually did a lot for this country, while MacArthur in contrast seems to be a general who became out of touch with his time. He was a great commander but he also thought he could do no wrong and their lies his biggest problem. And overall excellent book and great narration as well.

It took awhile to get hooked

I started this book and took a long break but I am glad I came back to it. As someone interested in the history of the Korean War, I was able to learn more about the conflict while also learning about the friction between President Truman and his top theater commander. What a fascinating time in the history of the U.S.

Very good book

Good book. We'll researched and written. Truman was a great president who saved the United States from WWIII.

Thoroughly gripping

I enjoyed this from the moment I began listening to the preface. Anyone with interest in 20th century history will enjoy hearing about the relationship between Truman and MacArthur. Many will know something of Truman but MacArthur was a surprise. What a character. Overall a great book!

Excellent - Had Me Hooked In Five Minutes

Would you listen to The General vs. the President again? Why?

This is an excellent combination of factual history and the more personal, subjective outlooks of the two protagonists.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The General vs. the President?

The chapter covering Truman's 1948 election win was very well done.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Scott Brick is always reliable and gets the nuances of a text just right. I wish more narrators were as good.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, just maintained my interest very well and made me regret when it ended.

Any additional comments?

I shall sample Mr. Brands' other work on this basis.

A masterpiece of compelling listening

I found this audio book totally absorbing. As much a page turner as any Clancy-type thriller.
Very well written and brilliantly narrated.