MacArthur Douglas

Douglas MacArthur Signed Time Cover, Weeks After Truman's Dismissal


An April 30, 1951 issue of Time Magazine (Volume LVII, Number 18) featuring General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) on the front cover, signed by him as "Douglas MacArthur." With vividly colored and entirely intact front and back softcovers, and colored insets found within. Expected wear includes light overall toning and a slight scratch running across MacArthur's nose, else near fine. 120pp. 8.25" x 11.125".


The front cover is a photograph of MacArthur wearing his field kaki uniform, captioned "Douglas MacArthur / 'There is no substitute for victory.'"


This issue of Time was released three weeks after General MacArthur was relieved from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command on the Korean front. Time's Cover Story entitled "The Old Soldier" appears under the "National Affairs" category between p. 21-27. The article provides a glowing endorsement of MacArthur, and a general criticism of President Truman and the Democrats.


The following excerpt perfectly illustrates the editor's bias towards MacArthur: "Even to those who fully sensed the U.S. public's indignation at Harry Truman's summary firing of the nation's No. 1 soldier, [the overwhelming displays of support for MacArthur were] an amazing phenomenon. For even to those who looked on his battle plan for Asia with misgiving, Douglas MacArthur was a hero, a brave, powder-stained old warrior-statesman who had already taken his place in history beside Grant and Lee, Pershing and Farragut. The very sound of his name--after a steady diet of heroes who seemed half-ashamed of being heroes at all--seemed to leave millions with a lump in their throats and a cheer on their lips" (p. 23).


On April 11, 1951, President Truman had removed MacArthur from his command over concerns of insubordination. MacArthur's increasingly hawkish military strategy in Asia--including entertaining the possible use of nuclear weapons--led Truman to take drastic action. President Truman knew that MacArthur was wildly popular among the American public, but he also knew that his rogue general could ensnare Chinese Communists into World War III. MacArthur delivered his farewell address to U.S. Congress on April 19th and conducted a nation-wide triumphal tour of Honolulu, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York, and Chicago in the following weeks. His ticker-tape covered motorcade was greeted everywhere with adoration; Truman's approval ratings were at historic lows.


MacArthur's 50-year-long military career spanned the first half of the twentieth century and three major international conflicts. After graduating at the top of his class at West Point in 1903, MacArthur served in Mexico and the Western Front during World War I. The highly decorated officer resigned during the interwar period, but was recalled to active duty during World War II, where he became commander of the United States Army in the Far East. MacArthur's tenacity in reconquering the Philippines from the Japanese secured the public's devotion.


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