Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (MacArthur letter to Martin at 8:47)

(Thursday, April 5, 1951; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — U.S. House Minority Leader Joseph William Martin, Jr. read the text of a letter today he had received from U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the United Nations forces defending South Korea, dated Mar. 20, 1951, criticizing U.S. President Harry S. Truman administration’s handling of the Korean War.

In the letter, MacArthur said he favored a Nationalist second front on China’s mainland and was convinced that the fate of Europe would be decided in the war against communism in Asia.

Video: 'PBS - American Experience - Truman (1997) 5of5' (MacArthur's letter to Martin at 40:48)

The letter would be a major factor in Truman’s decision to relieve MacArthur of his commands just six days later.