Douglas MacArthur

MacArthur

**Douglas MacArthur** (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s, and he played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. MacArthur was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times, and received it for his service in the Philippines campaign. This made him along with his father Arthur MacArthur Jr. the first father and son to be awarded the medal. He was one of only five men to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the U.S. Army, and the only one conferred the rank of field marshal in the Philippine Army. After being relieved of duty under President Truman in 1951, Douglas MacArthur would run for election under the Republican Party in 1952, and for re-election in 1956, he would win both in landslides.

From 1919 to 1922, MacArthur served as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he attempted a series of reforms. His next assignment was in the Philippines, where in 1924 he was instrumental in quelling the Philippine Scout Mutiny. In 1925, he became the Army's youngest major general. He served on the court-martial of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell and was president of the American Olympic Committee during the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. In 1930, he became Chief of Staff of the United States Army. As such, he was involved in the expulsion of the Bonus Army protesters from Washington, D.C., in 1932, and the establishment and organization of the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1935 he became Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1937 and continued being the chief military advisor to the Philippines.

MacArthur was recalled to active duty in 1941 as commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East. A series of disasters followed, starting with the destruction of his air forces on 8 December 1941 and the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. MacArthur's forces were soon compelled to withdraw to Bataan, where they held out until May 1942. In March 1942, MacArthur, his family and his staff left nearby Corregidor Island in PT boats and escaped to Australia, where MacArthur became supreme commander, Southwest Pacific Area. Upon his arrival, MacArthur gave a speech in which he promised "I shall return" to the Philippines. After more than two years of fighting, he fulfilled that promise. For his defense of the Philippines, MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor. He officially accepted the surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945 aboard the USS *Missouri*, which was anchored in Tokyo Bay, and he oversaw the occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1951. As the effective ruler of Japan, he oversaw sweeping economic, political and social changes. He led the United Nations Command in the Korean War with initial success; however, the invasion of North Korea provoked the Chinese, causing a series of major defeats. MacArthur was contentiously removed from command by President Harry S. Truman on 11 April 1951.

Following his removal from the army, Douglas MacArthur would run for president under the Republican Party. He would face stiff resistance from New Yorker governor, however at the National Convention on the 3rd ballot, MacArthur would secure victory. In the general election he would face the white supremacist Byron Whitlock from the Democratic Party and Dakota Lum from the revived Progressive Party. He would win in a landslide with over 53.5% of the popular vote and carrying 414 electoral votes. This is the largest popular vote victory in the 4 Plot's history.

His first term as president saw the introduction of fiscal conservative economics, with major spending cuts on New Deal programs to increase their sustainability. He would also attempt to reform the New Deal programs by using the money more efficiently, instead of overspending. His economic system would also introduce cuts on income tax, property tax, and sales tax. This economic system would later be known as "Trickle-Down" economics and would become a focal point fiscal conservatives. MacArthur would also sign the Western Ally Free Trade Agreement, which opened up American markets to free trade with all NATO member states.

MacArthur's trickle-down economics would not be his main focus, because in Korea he would substantially increase troops counts to face off the Chinese enemy. Eventually after many American offensives which caused heavy casualties, the Coalition would force a decisive victory against the Chinese in the Oung-Ni offensive. After the Korean War the Treaty of Kanto would end the war, uniting Korea into a free and democratic state.

MacArthur and his influence in the senate would push for the 1957 Civil Rights Act, where barely squeaked by the house and senate after much compromise. The new act established the Civil Rights Section of the Justice Department and empowered federal prosecutors to obtain court injunctions against interference with the right to vote. The act was in large part pushed after Brown v. Board of Education decision, where many African-American constituents of MacArthur would demand for the passage of some form of Civils Rights Agenda after lackluster attempts in his first term.

MacArthur would run for re-election in 1956 as a very popular incumbent president. He would obviously be re-elected to run under the Republican party where he would face against Rikard Smolesk. The polls projected a landslide victory for MacArthur due to the great economy and numerous foreign policy wins. These polls would be mostly correct, with MacArthur improving his Electoral Vote count to 423 and his popular vote percentage to 56.2%. This is the largest electoral vote victory in the 4 Plot's history.

MacArthur's second term would go roughly well for the first half. The economy, however, began to dwindle and the GOP took a heavy hit in the 1958 Midterms. With the Democrats taking a large lead in the Senate and a lead in the House, MacArthur was not able to push much Legislation. In 1957, MacArthur supported the Civil Rights Act of '57, garnering much rage from the South however to most of the Nation this was accepted. In 1959, MacArthur brought the United States into the Vietnam War following a supposed bombing of a US Ship by the Northern Vietnamese. For his last year in office, MacArthur saw some but little success in Vietnam. The Americans would take a beach east of Hanoi, far to the coast, establishing a presence in the North. Fending off Northern attacks into the South, the war was largely at a stalemate. MacArthur pushed an attack on Hanoi, and it is rumored that he convened with his Cabinet on a potential Nuking of the city. This brought China into the war and ultimately the US was pushed from Hanoi back to the beaches. MacArthur left a rough situation in Vietnam for the next President, a good economy, and a legacy of 8 years.

MacArthur would go down in history as one of the most complicated and successful President's of the United States, most notably his first term. Douglas MacArthur died on 5th April, 1964. A Presidential funeral service was held in Washington, D.C. following his death. Many notable figures would speak at the funeral, including his son Arthur MacArthur IV, Major General Michael Banes, and Vice President Rikard Smolesk.