MacArthur vs. Truman: The Showdown That Changed America

Harry Truman’s decision to fire Douglas MacArthur at the height of the Korean War in April 1951 shocked the American political system and astonished the world. Much of the world didn’t realize the president had the power to fire a five-star general, an act that changed the perceived balance of power still in effect. Historian H.W. Brands and Susan Eisenhower will discuss this turbulent relationship between the President and the General and its enduring impact on military, diplomatic, and political history.