Message from Joan Rountree to Harry Truman

Editor's Note: The following content is a transcription of a period document or a collection of period statistics. It may be incomplete, inaccurate, or biased. The reader may not wish to take the content as factual.

13 Apr 1951

ww2dbase
 114 Commonwealth Ave.
Buffalo 16, New York
April 13, 1951

The Honorable Harry S. Truman,
The White House,
Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Mr. President:

We are all blind until we see
   That in the human plan
Nothing is worth the making if
   It does not make the man.
Why build these cities glorious
   If man unbuilded goes?
In vain we build the world, unless
   The builder also grows.
         -- Edwin Markham.


So you have fired macArthur. Just because the mule is symbolic of Missouri does not mean that you have to be the biggest Jackass in the history of the United States.

I, too, was born and reared in Independence, Missouri, and have had to hang my head in shame because of that fact ever since you have been in the White House. Now I hang my head further in shame. The explanation for your action reeks with jealousy. Jealousy of the shining publicity, the brillian mind, the upright character, the ability, and skill of General MacArthur. MacArthur, who is every inch a man, and has served his country well; while you serve only politics and Harry S. Truman.

Why not face the facts. Your new appointed General is also going to have to ask for arms. Why not admit that we are already at war and acknowledge that beloved American boys are being slaughtered and wounded in Korea? Why be so stupid as to surround yourself with advisers as blind as you are?

You quote scripture, yes. The devil also quotes and quakes.

We pray "God bless America" but even as we pray we feel in our hearts that it is hopeless to ask God's blessing until we have a man in the White House that loves the American people and respects the Word on which America was founded.

[signed] Mrs. Joan Rountree


Mrs. Joan Rountree ww2dbase

Source(s):
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Added By:
C. Peter Chen

Photographs

Letter from Joan Rountree to Harry Truman protesting the removal of Douglas MacArthur, 13 Apr 1951





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Letter from Joan Rountree to Harry Truman protesting the removal of Douglas MacArthur, 13 Apr 1951


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