Douglas Macarthur and Hubris

Activity: Mind Map of Hubris 1. Assign students to groups of 4 or 5. Have them take out a sheet of paper and draw a mind map with hubris at the center of the diagram. Then, students should explain draw lines to four to six vices that result from hubris and a brief explanation of why. 2. Then, ask the students in their groups to list an important real person or fictional character for each of the vices they tied to hubris. 3. Ask the students to share their reasoning about why a vice might result from hubris, which person/character they chose to represent the vice, and why? Ask: How did hubris lead to the downfall of the person/character? 4. As a large group, ask the students the central question and briefly discuss: Can a hero sometimes fall because of a character flaw related to pride? Explain. © THE BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE HUBRIS Douglas MacArthur and Hubris eneral Douglas MacArthur always stirred up of the Philippines, President Franklin Roosevelt Gcontroversy because of conflicting virtues was forced to order MacArthur to abandon his sol- and vices in his character. He loved serving diers, thousands of whom died in the Bataan Death his country in the military and usually did so March. MacArthur boldly promised the Filipinos, brilliantly and courageously. Consequently, he was “I shall return!” when he finally obeyed the presi- a highly-decorated soldier and became a hero to dent’s order and departed in March for the safety of millions of Americans during World War II and Australia. the Korean War. On the other hand, he could be The American people thought the general was vain and arrogant, believing only he was right and a hero for defiantly fighting the Japanese against seeking public adulation for his accomplishments. overwhelming odds. General Dwight Eisenhower His hubris, or excessive pride or arrogance, led wrote, “I hope he can do the miracles expected MacArthur to challenge the authority of the and predicted; we could use a few [heroes] right president and threaten the republican principle of now.” As commander of the Southwest Pacific, military deference to the civilian government. MacArthur performed great deeds in reversing On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a sur- Japanese conquests. He advocated reconquering prise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, the Philippines both because he thought it was American Midway, Wake and Guam Islands, Brit- strategically sound and because he wished to ish Hong Kong, Malaya, and other Pacific targets. remove the perception of personal dishonor from This was an important step in Japan’s strategy to his humiliating exit. In 1944, MacArthur invaded rapidly build a large Pacific empire. General Ma- the Philippines with the second largest amphibious cArthur had attempted to prepare the Philippines force after the D-Day invasion in Normandy. for an attack, but within a few weeks the Japanese MacArthur bravely went onto the most dangerous army routed his overwhelmed forces all the way beach with reporters in tow for photographs. to the Bataan Peninsula. Even though He soon proclaimed “I have returned!” MacArthur bravely endured air at- This expression reflected his view tacks on the island fortress of that he was the guardian of the Corregidor, his men satirized Philippines and had pressed him as “Dugout Doug.” the Allied command and American losses continued President Roosevelt to in the Philippines as the rescue the Filipinos from Japanese seized Manila Japanese domination. in January. By February, However, MacArthur knowing he could not af- could be imperious and ford to have General Ma- disrespectful towards his cArthur captured as the fellow commanders and Japanese took possession even the president. He HEROES & VILLAINS: THE QUEST FOR CIVIC VIRTUE strutted around in a signature leather jacket, Field the United States would have to stand up against Marshall cap, sunglasses, and corncob pipe. He communist powers. MacArthur’s position was that struggled with other American generals and admi- the United Nations force should press its advantage rals over command, strategy, and supplies, though by annihilating Chinese forces in North Korea and he made significant contributions to the eventual bombing targets inside Manchuria. His hubris Allied victory in World War II. After a meeting in strained relations with the civilian authorities as he which MacArthur was disrespectful with the presi- expected everyone, including the commander-in- dent, Roosevelt stated, “In all my life nobody has chief, to yield to him. ever talked to me the way MacArthur did.” In short, As his army marched northward, MacArthur was his hubris and desire for military glory often over- annoyed to be pulled from the war zone when sum- shadowed his real accomplishments. Nevertheless, moned by the president to an election-year meeting MacArthur continued to provide important service on Wake Island, where MacArthur would report on to the United States by supervising the reconstruc- the progress of the war and Truman would person- tion of Japan following the war. ally clarify the difference between a general and a When Communist North Korea’s army crossed commander-in-chief. The irate general deliberately the 38th Parallel in a surprise invasion of South snubbed Truman several times during the confer- Korea in June, 1950, President Harry Truman named ence. MacArthur met Truman at his plane and of- MacArthur the supreme commander of the allied fered a handshake instead of greeting the president forces under the authority of the United Nations with a salute when he stepped off the plane. Dur- (UN). All of the contradictions in his character ing private and public meetings, MacArthur could came to the fore. After the North Koreans pushed barely hide his contempt for Truman and gave rude allied forces south across the Korean peninsula to a answers to his questions. Finally, the general turned tiny pocket called the Pusan Perimeter, MacArthur down a lunch invitation and departed. launched a brilliant amphibious landing at Inchon MacArthur’s drive to the north pushed the behind the North Korean forces. MacArthur went on North Korean army past the point established by the offensive and his armies drove northward again, the UN as the northernmost line he was authorized across the 38th Parallel with explicit authorization to attack. When the Joint Chiefs expressed their from the UN and the approval of President Harry concern and also ordered him not to bomb targets Truman. Indeed, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) too close to the Chinese border, MacArthur shot informed MacArthur that, “Your military objective back a blistering and insubordinate reply against is the destruction of the North Korea armed forces.” their timidity. The Chinese then sent hundreds In late September, the Secretary of Defense, George of thousands of troops against the allied forces in Marshall, informed him, “We want you to feel October. MacArthur responded by attacking the unhampered strategically and tactically to proceed bridges on the Yalu, and again the JCS ordered north of the 38th Parallel.” Therefore, MacArthur him to stop. The general admonished his superiors felt empowered to pursue the enemy through North for issuing orders he believed threatened the Korea to the Yalu River, which was the border the destruction of his army. Meanwhile, U.S. forces Communist China. Truman’s policy objective heroically fought desperate battles in bitter cold was to demonstrate the United States and United and barely repulsed the massive Chinese invasion, Nations commitment to protect the integrity of though the U.S. forces were slowly forced to retreat South Korea, without antagonizing the government all the way back to South Korea. of Communist China. MacArthur viewed this MacArthur was embarrassed by the defeat since strategy of limited war with disdain, and publicly he had recently predicted that the troops would criticized the president’s approach, maintaining be coming home for Christmas. He gave a media that the Korean conflict was the best opportunity interview in which he blamed the defeat on the © THE BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE handicaps placed upon him by the administration. the American people supported him and gave him MacArthur also held a press conference and a hero’s welcome in the United States. He addressed predicted a “savage slaughter” if he were not given Congress and tens of millions of people in a tearful greater leeway over the rules of engagement. A few farewell that was broadcast on television and radio. weeks later, he threatened to cross the 38th Parallel He reviewed his career, criticized American strategy again into North Korea (contrary to orders) and in Korea, and dramatically ended the speech with offered to meet with the Chinese commander to offer the phrase, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade his own terms for a cease-fire (thereby bypassing away.” Surprisingly, for a general who had exhibited the diplomatic efforts of the administration). such vanity in his career, he did gradually “fade Frustrated with the administration’s pursuit of away” from American public life before he died in a limited-war strategy geared toward a cease- 1964. fire, the general publicly promised to pursue the General MacArthur dedicated his life to enemy anywhere in Korea and roundly defeat him. public service in the military and was a heroic Although his military views were not far from commander. However, he was often self-serving the Allied commanders and President Truman, and self-promoting. He was consistently arrogant MacArthur believed too much in his own greatness, in dealing with his commander-in-chief, who has and his vanity led him to rank insubordination. constitutional authority over the military, and The last straw came when MacArthur wrote superior officers. He was often insubordinate and a letter to the Speaker of the House criticizing threatened to upset the proper respect accorded the the administration and asserting that, “There civilian authorities by members of the military as is no substitute for victory.” President Truman established by precedent since George Washington.

Load more