PDF transcript of recorded interview - The George C. Marshall ...

RECORDED INTERVIEW WITH
GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL
January 22, 1957
By Forrest C. Pogue
Sgt. Heffner ran the machine.
Q. 48. Even when the war began in Poland, the President was uneasy about the far-reaching
effect of a state of emergency, because of the political opposition it might arouse, and conferred
with General Marshall about an alternative to an executive order based on an emergency
proclamation. This would indicate that the President proceeded with extreme caution in 1939 on
preparedness matters even after war began in Europe. Did you feel that this was true?
A. This is a fact. He proceeded with great caution and it was very difficult to get action on the
important military requirements of that day. I might here digress to state that I had early made
up my mind that I, so far as possible, was going to operate as a member of a team, political and
otherwise military. That while it would be difficult at times and would be strong pressures for
me to appeal to the public, I thought it was far more important in the long run that I be well
established as a member of the team and try to do my convincing within that team rather than to
take action publicly contrary to the desires of the President and certain members of Congress.
There was a certain group of senators at this time who were very intent on going ahead much
more rapidly than the Administration was willing to do and their pressure on me at all times was
very great. But I restrained my actions for the reason I foresaw that it was going to be very
important for me to establish the fact that I would not run off to a public appeal but rather I
would try my level best to deal within the team of which the President was the head.
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