Evening star., 1951-04-20


This is the twelfth in series from John
Gunther's new book, THE Riddle Of
Macarthur"
held at a remote distance. A
brief dossier on each visitor was
prepared before an audience. His
list of callers never was printed
and guests at the Embassy for
lunch were never announced In
the press. Gen. Macarthur hated
to receive women in his Office, and
only rarely did so. An essential
part of his atmosphere was crisp
aloofneSS.
He read a great deal-newspa-
pers, reports, documents and the
like. His Office even took out, and
dutifully paid for, subscriptions to
the news services, so that he could
read everything. domestic or for
eign, that the American news
agencies put out. He listened to
the radio occasionally, and some-
times would embarraSs member
of his staff by telephoning from
the Embassy at midnight and ask
ing his Interpretation of some
thing he had just heard on the
news.
Staff Relations Formal.
His relations with his immedi-
ate staff were close, but formal:
he would open a meeting by say
ing, Gentlemen, sit down." He
called most of his advisers by
their first names, but they did
not reciprocate. He was always
"Sir" or General. Staff meet
ings were not held on regular
schedule: he would simply ask to
see officers, when the occasion
warranted. He could be overruled,
but it did not happen often, If
only because few survived long
who disagreed with him. But he
would listen carefully to any argu-
ment. Once or twice he has been
known to say, II think this de-
cision is wrong, but we will goI
ahead with it, because do not
wish to go against my staff" His
approach during discussion was
that of judge: he probed with
questions, provoked varying an
swers. never said no without rea-
son, and despised those who agreed
with him too easily.
Gen. MacArthut's chief defect
as administrator was that he tried
to do too much himself. Like most
clever people he was inclined to
be distrustful. He wanted to keep
everything close to his own hands,
and he passionately loved detail.
Gen. MacArthuris qualities are
30 indisputably great in his own
field that it comes as something OF
q shock to explore the record and
find that in others he can be
narrow. gullible and curiously
naive. Consider his adventures in
two unhappy realms-politics and
the world of news.
He has, in effect. run for the
presidency twice. Shortly after
his arrival in Australia in 1912
the first Macarthur boom got
under way At about the same
time a joint Army-Navy board
passed a ruling that "any officer
elected or appointed to civil
Office thereby ceases to be an Off
Ger Of the Army"
Put Himself Out of Race.
On October 20, 1912, Gen. Mac
Arthur issued a statement put
ting himself out of the race: II
have no political ambitions what
soever. :. I started as soldier
and shall finish as one"
But as 1914 came closer the
Macarthur movement took on new
life. Senator Vandenberg came
out for him. He made a hand
some showing in the Illinois pri-
maries despite the fact that hel
never lifted a finger himself. But
he was abruptly eliminated as al
national candidate largely because
of faux pas by one of his most
vociferous supporters, a freshman
member Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives named A. L. Miller.
DR.. Miller wrote Gen. MacAr-
thur two letters, to which the
general replied. DR.. Miller then
proceeded to publish these with
out his knowledge or consent,
though one at least Of the replies
was marked Personal" These
letters, when published. created al
turbulent, brief storm. Almost
everywhere it was felt that, at
best, Gen. Macarthur had shown
himself to be politically immature,
and at worst had made a disas-
trous blunder. The upshot was
that he formally declared on April
80, 1914: 81 request that no ac-
ton be taken that would link my
name in any way with the nomi-
nation. I do not covet it, nor
would accept it," He got exactly
one vote at the convention: this
single vote kept the nomination
of Thomas E. Dewey from being
unanimous.
Nineteen hundred and forty
eight was quite another story.
Gen. Macarthur wanted the NOM
ination, and permitted his can
didacy to be openly presented. He
issued a formal statement on
March Q, 1948, to the effect that
he would not actively seek the