Truman, Mr.

Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 33rd president of the United States (1945-1953). In 1951, during the Korean War, Truman had a dispute with General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur, who commanded the troops of the United Nations, wanted to use American air power to attack the People's Republic of China. Truman refused, fearing that an American attack on China would bring the Soviet Union into the war. When MacArthur criticized Truman's decision publicly, Truman declared MacArthur insubordinate and removed him as commanding general.