Box 2 – Presidential Correspondence from the Early Korean War

Overview

Box 2 contains four handwritten letters addressed to President Harry S. Truman during the first year of the Korean War (1950‑1951). The letters were captured on photographic negatives and digitised by the Arke Institute. Each image is accompanied by OCR text that reveals the sender, date, and main message. The collection offers a window into the domestic debate over the war, the controversial decision to fire General Douglas MacArthur, and the broader public call for national prayer and unity.

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Historical Context

• Korean War (1950‑1953): The United States entered the conflict in June 1950 after North Korea invaded South Korea. The war quickly became a flashpoint for Cold War tensions and a source of intense domestic debate.
• Firing of General MacArthur (April 1951): President Truman relieved General MacArthur of command, citing a need for unified civilian control of the military. The decision sparked a national controversy, with many in the public and political spheres defending MacArthur’s strategy.
• Public Prayer and National Morale: In the early 1950s, many Americans turned to religious appeals for guidance and unity. Calls for a national day of prayer were common during wartime.

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Individual Correspondence

| # | Sender | Date | Location | Key Message | |---|--------|------|----------|-------------| | 1 | Mrs. F.W. La Peal | 16 July 1950 | Newport, Michigan | Requests a nationwide day of repentance and prayer in response to the Korean War. | | 2 | Unknown (Bethel, Kansas) | 25 July 1950 | Bethel, Kansas | Expresses support for a national day of prayer; references biblical exhortation. | | 3 | Unnamed Wisconsin resident | 21 Apr 1951 | Madison, Wisconsin | Critiques Truman’s firing of General MacArthur, noting confusion over the decision and expressing regret for past opposition. | | 4 | Linda Lou Vincent | 19 Apr 1951 | (Unspecified) | Strongly condemns Truman’s decision, accuses the administration of “police action,” and demands accountability. |

Note: The OCR text contains some typographical errors (e.g., “firing” vs. “firing” of MacArthur, “Mac.,” “MacArthur”), but the overall intent is clear.

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Themes and Motifs

• Religious Appeal: The first two letters invoke biblical language and call for a national day of prayer, reflecting the era’s intertwining of faith and politics.
• Political Dissent: The latter two letters represent a vocal opposition to Truman’s decision to relieve MacArthur, illustrating the polarized public opinion on military strategy.
• Civilian‑Military Relations: The debate over MacArthur’s dismissal underscores the tension between civilian leadership and military command during wartime.
• Personal Grievance: The letters from Madison and the unnamed sender reveal personal disappointment and a sense of betrayal, common among those who had supported MacArthur.

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Significance

These letters provide primary evidence of:

Public sentiment during the early Korean War, especially regarding the controversial MacArthur–Truman conflict.

The role of religious sentiment in shaping political discourse during wartime.

The diversity of voices in the American public—ranging from modest prayer requests to vehement political criticism—captured in a single, coherent collection.

For historians, political scientists, and scholars of Cold War studies, Box 2 offers a microcosm of the domestic debates that shaped U.S. foreign policy in the early 1950s.

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Narrative Summary

In mid‑1950, as the United States entered the Korean conflict, ordinary citizens like Mrs. La Peal and the Bethel resident turned to President Truman with appeals for national prayer, hoping to unite the country in faith. By April 1951, the political landscape had shifted dramatically. Truman’s decision to relieve General MacArthur of command ignited a firestorm of criticism. The Madison letter, written by a former Democrat, expresses bewilderment at the abrupt dismissal, while Linda Lou Vincent’s letter is a scathing indictment of the administration’s “police action.” Together, the four letters trace the arc from religious supplication to political dissent, illustrating how the Korean War reshaped American public opinion and the relationship between civilian leadership and the military.

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