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  4. Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman - The Legend of Douglas MacArthur, Part I, Episode No. 11

Motion Picture MP81-1

Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman - The Legend of Douglas MacArthur, Part I, Episode No. 11

Administrative Information

Original Format(s)
Motion Picture
Footage
907 feet
Running Time
26 minutes
Film Gauge
16mm
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Columbia Pictures - Ben Gradus in association with Screen Gems and David Noyes
Restrictions
Restricted
Description

Episode 11, The Legend of Douglas MacArthur, Part 1. This episode deals with the life of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his selection as the commander in chief of the United Nations forces during the Korean War. Unfortunately, the Decision series is copyright Sony Pictures Entertainment, and the Truman Library may not reproduce any episodes without their consent.

Date(s)
1964

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Moving Image Type
Motion Picture

Shot List

  • Reel 1
1:37   Credits.
2:37   July 1950, MacArthur becomes first battlefront leader of the United Nations.
2:47   Korean War battles.
3:07   U.N.
3:25   Truman speaks of MacArthur.
4:02   China Scene - Chiang Kai-Shek and Mao Tse-Tung; Truman speaks of acts to keep Chinese war from spreading. Truman refuses to give support to Chiang Kai-Shek because it would have spread our forces too thin, even though Chiang offered 73,000 troops if the war could be expanded to China.
4:59   Chinese Nationalist troops.
5:49   MacArthur issues communiqué supporting Chiang Kai-Shek. He poses with Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
6:18   U.N.
6:31   Truman speaks of promise to U.N. to confine war to Korea.
6:42   Averell Harriman visits MacArthur in Korea to explain political side to MacArthur. Harriman speaks of visit. Harriman says MacArthur says he would as a soldier obey his Commander-in-Chief.
7:52   Truman speaks of MacArthur's editorial in Life Magazine.
8:06   Truman wanted to replace MacArthur with Omar Bradley.
8:43   Inchon Landing.
9:00   Harriman speaks of success of Inchon Landing.
9:20   Scene of Inchon battle.
10:06   Red Chinese infiltration - Harriman speaks.
10:22   Battle scenes.
10:31   Truman speaks of planning to speak to MacArthur. Had asked him to come home, but he never made it. Planned to meet him at Wake Island.
11:07   Chinese army scene.
11:20   Wake Island meeting. Says he brought a plum cake for Mrs. MacArthur and Oak Leaf Cluster Distinguished Service award for General MacArthur.
12:05   General Bradley assembled with Truman and MacArthur. Truman tells of general staff meeting to discuss situation. MacArthur assures Truman that Red China would not come into Korea.
12:21   Averell Harriman speaks of Red China attack possibilities.
12:40   Truman went home and made complimentary speech about MacArthur in San Francisco.
13:05   Chinese Communist patrols were arrested in North Korea. Chinese attack.
13:43   Truman speaks of division of forces at map. They pushed us back beyond 38th Parallel.
14:31   Harriman speaks of MacArthur's tragic blunder.
14:50   American troops going off to war.
15:07   Air fighting. Communist planes attacked, then went back to Manchuria. MacArthur and Truman disagreed on retaliation - MacArthur wanted to fly over the border of China to attack. Truman did not want to, felt it would bring Russia into the war.
15:49   Mao Tse-Tung; Joseph Stalin.
16:11   MacArthur getting in car.
16:28   Background of MacArthur - father Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur - pacifier of Philippines.
16:43   Truman speaks of MacArthur as being egotistical.
17:00   MacArthur at West Point.
17:17   World War I - Rainbow Division. General John Pershing congratulates MacArthur.
17:33   In 1919, at 39, he became youngest superintendent at West Point - speaks to students.
17:50   Army Chief of Staff by 1930.
17:59   Dispersed the "Bonus Marchers" during depression of the 1930's. Received award from Secretary of State. Honors from all nations.
18:32   1935, he was sent to Philippines with aid Dwight D. Eisenhower to bolster their army.
18:41   Bombing of Manila.
18:53   MacArthur ordered to Australia.
19:09   MacArthur speaks of returning to Philippines.
19:43   Sea battle.
19:53   Victories in South Pacific.
20:27   Japanese surrender; MacArthur accepted.
20:45   MacArthur becomes head of occupation of Japan.
21:13   Truman speaks of hearing stories of MacArthur from the troops. MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz had to wade through water upon landing at Philippines and Nimitz confessed he couldn't swim and MacArthur confessed he "couldn't walk on the water, either."
22:00   Truman speaks of MacArthur as saying Franklin Roosevelt was a man of great vision once things were explained to him. MacArthur told Truman he wanted to fight an all out war in Far East. Truman said this would lead to a third world war.
22:54   Congress - Senators Robert A. Taft, William Knowland, Styles Bridges, Kenneth Wherry, and Joseph McCarthy favored all out war with Chinese.
23:12   Truman speaks of MacArthur growing more vocal. Representative Joe Martin, minority leader of the House, presented letter from MacArthur to Congress.
24:00   President issued orders severely restraining public statements of military commanders.
24:11   MacArthur then sent letter to head of American Legion complimenting him on his statements that bombs should be dropped on Manchuria. Truman is furious.
24:45   Newspaper headlines. Truman had to face criticism on all fronts about his decision on what to do with MacArthur.