American general and Medal of Honor recipient, who was Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. He led the defense of Australia, and the recapture of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Borneo. He was poised to invade Japan in November 1945 but instead accepted their surrender on September 2, 1945. While greatly admired by many for his strategic and tactical brilliance, MacArthur was also criticized by many for his actions in command, and especially his challenge to Truman in 1951. Souvenir typescript, two pages, 8.5 x 11. A typescript of excerpts of MacArthur’s farewell speech to the Joint Meeting of Congress on April 19, 1951. The closing of the speech reads, “I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away. And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good-bye.” Signed near the top of the first page in black ink, “Douglas MacArthur.” Double matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 30 x 18. President Harry S. Truman had recently fired MacArthur, relieving him as commander of American and United Nations forces in Korea. Contrary to Truman’s instructions, MacArthur had pursued a military strategy that threatened to escalate the regional crisis into all-out war with China. Such open opposition to the president’s authority as commander-in-chief crossed a carefully constructed line in the relationship between U.S. civilian and military power. On his return from Korea, after his relief by Truman, MacArthur encountered massive public adulation, which aroused expectations that he would run for the Presidency as a Republican in the 1952 election. However, a U.S. Senate Committee investigation of his removal, chaired by Richard Russell, contributed to a marked cooling of the public mood and MacArthur’s presidential hopes died away. MacArthur, in Reminiscences, repeatedly stated he had no political aspirations. In fine condition. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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