EP 124: Historian H.W. Brands on the Epic Rivalry Between Truman & MacArthur

Today, author/historian H.W. Brands talks about his new book The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War. The Pulitzer finalist and master story-teller reveals the two men’s competing vision for America during the Cold War, just how close we came to a nuclear war with China and the Soviets, and the significance of the Korean War as the first real test of the newly formed United Nations. He’ll discuss why taking a stand in the Korean Peninsula was important to Truman, why Truman wanted MacArthur to win the war but not win too much, and the many ways the General subtly (and not so subtly) snubbed his Commander-in-Chief. Plus, we talk about Donald Trump’s obsession with General MacArthur, and whether or not we would WANT a man like MacArthur running America’s military today.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order H.W. Brands' book The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit his website at www.hwbrands.com and follow him on Twitter at @HWBrands.