Truman and MacArthur

Harry Truman and Douglas MacArthur have both passed into the lore of wartime American history, with both seen as having played a critical role in winning World War II and contributed to fight against communism. However, this book casts the two as opposites, with Truman as a man of dignity, modesty, and good judgment, and MacArthur a self-aggrandizing glory hound who, if he had gotten his way, would have cost more lives than the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have claimed. Throughout the book Truman's unassuming yet unflappable personality is demonstrated, as is MacArthur's relentless search for glory.

MacArthur today maintains a reputation as a brilliant wartime commander, particularly for conservative Cold Warriors, who fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines. Many Americans sided with him when he was relieved of duty by MacArthur during the Korean War, believing he alone would have delivered...