Truman’s Difficult Decisions
Truman was one of the presidents who lived during the most critical period of American history. His decisions further defined US politics for decades and created the current status quo of countries that were either pro-Western or pro-communist. Here, McCullough claims that Truman’s decisions and actions were brave and helpful. Although Truman is a controversial figure, his decisions nevertheless had a more positive impact on American well-being.
According to McCullough, Truman’s war in Korea was one of the toughest decisions (258). He also explains this by saying that all popular decisions were difficult for him to make, while unpopular ones were the easiest ones. An example of an unpopular decision was the retirement of General MacArthur, who had support from both the public and the political elites.
Further on, in what will be called the Truman War, the conflict in Korea was deemed to be tough in deciding whether to defend South Korea and preserve its sovereignty while also advancing to North Korea’s borders. In addition, the author claims that using the atomic Bomb was not the most difficult decision to make. It can also be evident in his further interviews a few decades later, where he still justifies the use of atomic bombs as the necessary means of maintaining peace.
One of the reasons for the difficulty was the risk of escalation. Although the war was a civil conflict of political elites in one country, it could have escalated into a new war between communist and pro-Western countries. The United States was scared of a new outbreak of conflict that could happen in warfare with North Korea, and thus did not react immediately to the situation.
If the USSR had decided to be involved in the conflict backed by Chinese troops, it could have become a devastating war in the East Asian region. Furthermore, all countries had low preparation for a new war due to the recovery from the previous one. Other political factions in the US were also less keen on getting involved in new conflicts. Given these factors, Truman was hesitant to send troops to Korea.
Criticism and Consequences of Truman’s Policies
However, these decisions and Truman’s overall perception can be under criticism. McCullough presents Truman as a brave hero of his age who protected world peace and American integrity. However, given the decisions and policies he provided, it is more evident that Truman was one of the main instigators of future instabilities and conflicts from which most of the world’s population will suffer.
Here, his “toughest” decision to go into Korea during the war can be claimed from the perspective of defending its allied country state or protecting the capitalist world. However, it is known that this decision led to further issues of Korean identity that have not yet been resolved as the century has passed. The country was divided into two Koreas, which was a convenient measure for Truman and Acheson’s line.
Furthermore, Truman was able to seize complete control of Korea, Japan, and other nations within the economic relationships while creating Korea’s dependency on financial support from the US. It is also evident that with the first presence of American troops in Korea with MacArthur, where troops had no interest in Korea itself, protecting it was unnecessary. Truman can be seen as a hero of his time and period, but it is a one-sided perspective that does not allow for a proper discussion of US international politics and doctrines.
Foreign Policy Legacy and Historical Assessment
In this sense, the lesson of Munich explains the idea behind Truman’s presidency. Here, accepting the demand of the opponent side can decrease the tension of the crisis and increase the chance of a new war emerging. In this sense, Truman decided to become a tough representative of the international relations of the US and mainly stood firm in his decisions and actions.
McCullough’s example in the text was Truman’s decision to keep Berlin (263). Although it was easier and more beneficial to give up on Berlin, Truman decided to keep the US presence in that city and eventually made the USSR authorities agree with this. This eventually led to the unification of Germany in the 90s with the help of breaking the Berlin Wall as a symbol of a new age.
In this article, McCullough portrays Harry S. Truman as a bold and helpful leader who made difficult choices during a crucial era in American history, with special emphasis on his participation in the Korean War and defense of the use of atomic bombs. The article disputes this viewpoint, saying that Truman’s choices may have contributed to global instability, future conflicts, and unresolved concerns in Korea. It casts doubt on Truman’s objectives and raises the possibility that he wanted the US to rule the area.
The article also raises questions regarding Truman’s approach to foreign affairs, highlighting the need for a more thorough assessment of US activities throughout his administration. Even though opinions on Truman’s legacy are divided, it is crucial to recognize both his successes and failures as a leader to comprehend the intricacies of historical personalities and their long-term effects.
Works Cited
McCullough, David. “Harry Truman: ‘One Tough Son-of-a-Bitch of a Man’” Portrait of America, edited by Stephen Oates and Charles Errico J. of Wadsworth, 2010, pp. 252-265.