Why this book: I’ve had it on my shelf for decades – probably bought at a used book sale.  I’ve found biographies great to listen to, and so when my wife and I were going on  a long road trip, I suggested we listen to a biography, I offered her a number of options, and she picked this one. Having the print version to refer to with the pictures and maps was a nice-to-have.

Summary in 4 sentences: By many regarded as one of the best and probably the most famous biography of one of  America’s most famous heroes of the 20th century.   This biography begins with his father, recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Civil War, Douglas MacArthur’s youth, and ascendancy thru the ranks in the Army, to include multiple awards for heroism in WW1, until he’s become the senior officer in the US Army in 1935.  Then the final two thirds or more of the book recounts his leadership in WWII, concluding with a detailed look at what led to Truman firing him as the leader of the US and UN’s efforts in Korea, and then the final decade and a half of his life – in which old soldiers just fade away.   Impressive in this book is Manchester’s editorializing and commentary on MacArthur’s great successes and failings throughout. 

My Impressions: MacArthur has been an often reviled figure in American history – and certainly he deserves some of that antipathy.  But this book reveals that indeed he was an extremely gifted and talented leader – he didn’t get to be a 5 star general simply by being arrogant and self-serving.  I am much more impressed with him now than I was before, when basically all I knew about him was that somehow he failed to defend the Philippines at the onset of WW2, vowed “I shall return,” and was humiliated and fired for defying President Truman’s injunctions during the Korean War.  Indeed he was a vain, and somewhat pompous prima donna, and self-righteous in his views of how to fight wars.  But there was much more to the man than that. 

I can honestly say after reading American Caesar that Douglas MacArthur one of the the most fascinating men I’ve ever read about. He is a mixture of so much good, which interestingly enough is the up-side of his flaws – egotism, vanity, not just the courage but also the arrogance of his convictions.  His reputation in the US today is that of a self-important prima donna who disobeyed President Truman and was justifiably fired – the first and only 5-Star flag officer ever relieved of command.   

Indeed MacArthur was all of those things BUT that may well be the least important part of the story.  There is little disagreement about his brilliance as a Fighting General, and apart from some poor judgment in preparing the Philippines for Japanese aggression at the onset of WWII, his decisions as the lead strategist for Allied forces in the South Pacific are almost universally regarded as brilliant; his performance and decisions as Pro Consul ??? of the Philippines after WWII are still revered in the Philippines, and he is universally praised as the architect of Japan’s post war transition to democracy and affluence in the world.  Also, until he was relieved by Truman, his performance overseeing the Korean War has been studied and admired by generations of military leaders.  

MacArthur was certainly a flawed man, but what great man isn’t!   Churchill once said “Good and Great are seldom in the same man.”   Throughout this brilliant biography, Manchester editorializes on MacArthur’s actions, decisions, behaviors, offering insightful and cogent criticism of some of what he said and did, but balancing these comments with different perspectives and his and other’s praise for his unusually brilliant accomplishments, often for decisions he made against the recommendations of other less creative, less decisive leaders.  Given that his most controversial decisions frequently, almost always, yielded the results he promised,,it is perhaps understandable that he would usually disregard objections to his ideas from his staffs, his contemporaries, his superiors. That lack of humility and willingness to occasionally question his own convictions was however, eventually his undoing. 

But the book starts at the beginning – actually with MacArthurs father.  Arthur MacArthur was a young enlistee from Wisconsin in the Union army and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in the spontaneous (no officer directing) charge uphill to take a seemingly impregnable Confederate position on Missionary ridge in the battle of Chattanooga during the Civil War.  Arthur MacArthur stayed in the army after the Civil War and Douglas grew up on remote army posts all over the country until he went to West Point himself.  His father rose to be a Lt General in the Army, at the time, the highest rank in the army, was idolized by his son Douglas, and set an example for courage and conviction that Douglas would live up to and surpass in his lifetime.

Manchester’s writing is superb – a master of the English language and his commentary on MacArthur and his times was so articulate and masterful that it sometimes took my breath away.  

A couple of the more interesting human-interest sides of this bio, apart from the more high profile military and political aspects of his life, include that as manly and heroic as MacArthur was, he was deeply devoted to his  mother, and she to him.  While at West Point, he apparently was engaged to be married to several women at the same time, and his mother helped disentangle him from that complexity.  As a field grade officer he  had a mistress – a kept woman that he secretly supported in an apartment in DC for quite some time.   He eventually had a short term marriage to a high society flapper, which only lasted a couple of years, but he did eventually marry a woman who idolized him and he took good care of her, though she did call him “My General.”  They had a son who MacArthur doted on, but who after MacArthur’s death changed his name and disappeared into obscurity. 

The biography of Douglas MacArthur follows his career from his time at West Point, where he was the Brigade commander and graduated with an exceptional  record.  As a junior officer he distinguished himself in fighting in the Philippines against insurrectionists, in Mexico when we almost went war with Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century, and during WW1 where he was awarded numerous awards for exceptional courage and bravery.  He led an incredible life until his passing at the age of 84 in 1964.  His biography is chronological, and I’ll briefly list the chapters in the book, with a note or two on each:

1. Ruffles and Flourishes 1880-1917 – About his father’s service in the Army during and after the Civil War, his family background and childhood, his time at West Point and early years as a Junior Officer in the pre WW1 Army.
2. Charge 1917-1918  His experiences in WW1. He distinguished himself with bravery and leadership that was extraordinary, one of the few officers who led his men out of the trenches to assault the enemy.  His men loved him and he was awarded seven Silver Stars for bravery and rose from the rank of Major to Brigadier General in the few years he served in that war. .
3. Call to Quarters 1919-1935 -Charted his rise in rank and prestige eventually becoming at age 50 the youngest man ever to be appointed Chief of Staff of the Army.
4. To the Colors (1935-1941) HIs appointment to Field Marshall of the Philippine Army.  His father had also been the senior US military officer in the Philippines after the Spanish American War – when MacArthur was a young man.  This chapter covers Douglas MacArthur’s futile efforts to prepare the Philippines and gain support from the US to prepare for expected Japanese attack on the Philippines. 
5. Retreat (1941-1942) The final years prior to the Japanese attack, then the debacle during Japan’s attack, his retreat to Bataan and Corregidor, a fortress Island in Manila Bay and eventually being ordered to leave the Philippines for Australia where he was assigned Supreme Allied Commander of US forces South Pacific..
6. The Green War (1942-44) As the Supreme Commander of US and Allied Forces in the South Pacific, his strategy and actions pushing back and retaking islands the Japanese had taken and protecting Australia.  His generalship here is widely regarded as brilliant and a key to US victory in the Pacific.
7. At High Port (1944-1945) This period covers the last years of the War, his return to the Philippines, his re-establishing of a government in the Philippines, the island hopping campaign toward Japan,  and how he worked together with Nimitz and the Navy to secure the victory. Apparently he was not privy to the planned bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
8. Last Post 1945-1950) This fascinating section is about how MacArthur as Supreme Commander Allied Powers in defeated Japan resisted calls to punish Japan; rather he made sure that they retained their dignity and helped establish a democracy in a society with no such tradition.  He had almost absolute power and he was at his best here. 
9. Sunset Gun (1950-1951) This section covers the Korean War – MacArthur simultaneously running Japan and being the supreme commander of the UN efforts to stop the North Koreans and eventually the Chinese in Korea.  His decision to land at Inchon, against the advice or everyone, including the Joint Chiefs was his crowning achievement, but the follow-on is where his vision and Truman’s and the UN’s parted ways. 
10. Recall 1951) A detailed look at the events and misunderstandings that led to Truman firing MacArthur.  Manchester clearly believed Truman was justified; he is also very critical of the way it was done.  
11. Taps 1951-1954) MacArthur’s life after he was relieved in Japan and Korea by Truman.  When he returned to America he was hailed as a hero and got more positive attention than Eisenhower – and MacArthur thrived on this adulation.   Manchester is quite critical of MacArthur’s behavior after the famous firing, his parading around the country arguing against Truman’s and the government’s foreign policy.  He mellowed in his later years and continued to be regarded as an American hero, consulted by Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. 

This is a great biography of one of the most complex and compelling figures in American History and his life is fascinating lens through which to look at American history, especially the US Army and American policy in Asia prior to during and after WWII.  Many of the issues he wrestled with and warnings he gave 70 years ago, are still relevant today. 

An excellent and more thorough review of American Caesar by Nathan Eberline can be found here  https://www.nathaneberline.com/blog/american-caesar