Truman's Resolve

“When are you going to test that atomic bomb?” Truman asked. “We are shooting for mid-July,” the secretary of war replied. “Get on it,” Truman pushed. “If it works, I am resolved to use it to end this war and stop shedding our young men’s blood. We’re going to have peace, one way or the other.” Stimson smiled. It certainly can’t be easy for Truman to fill Roosevelt’s shoes, he thought. Roosevelt, from a patrician family, was a mesmerizing orator; Truman from Midwest humble beginnings, is an uninspiring public speaker. But I have to hand it to the new president, he runs a no-sense, organized meeting and he is decisive and resolute, perhaps more so than Roosevelt. Truman’s resolve is admirable. *** I suppose they’ll fold eventually and there will be an occupation—no doubt about that. So the decision I’m faced with is who will command the occupation forces. I’m inclined to appoint Doug MacArthur because he’s the man the Japs fear the most—the man who reconquered the Philippines. It’s a hard decision because I just don’t like the man, even though I’ve never met him. What to do with this prima donna who is hard to control and thinks he personally talks to God and tells the Lord what to do? He’s a play actor and a bunco man! He’s worse than the Cabots and the Lodges. They at least talked to one another before telling God what to do. Mac tells God right off! Then Truman smiled. Ha! That’s what the Japs deserve—to deal with MacArthur, who, as Supreme Commander of the occupation forces will exercise dictatorial powers no American president under our constitution could ever dare hope to have. So I guess I have made my decision. But I’ll have to keep a close eye on him, he decided.