the decision to invade sicily also was reached. and in july of 1943, americans and british jumped off from africa on the preliminary leg to the first assault on the italian mainland. a strong partisan for the women's army corps as important to our mobilization, the chief of staff made it a point to be in washington the day colonel oveta culp hobby was sworn in as its new commander. by the time the allied leaders convened at cairo in december 1943, the italian campaign was well under way and the war against the japanese demanded stepped-up operations. the future of the china/burma/india theatre and the problem of harnessing china's manpower had to be resolved. in tehran, marshall took part in planning joint strategy with the russians. soviet demands for an expanded second front were addressed to the united states. it was george marshall who

answered. when the chief of staff visited the pacific theatre on his return from tehran, our offensive was gaining speed. island by island, we were moving in on japan. at good enough island in 1944, marshall listened to a firsthand report on the successful operations in the gilbert islands and the planned invasion of the marshalls. marshall conferred with general douglas macarthur, theater commander, as the allies were gearing up for the big pacific push that would carry them to the doorstep of japan. italy had become a slow and painful struggle. the road to rome was a long one, and for marshall and his wife, one of extreme personal anxiety. as a tank commander under patton, marshall's stepson had been engaged in the heaviest

fighting in weeks. when the americans finally broke through the lines of a stubborn enemy, the young officer fought his last fight. for general marshall, the war it turned into a personal tragedy. when the spring of 1944 brought the long planned invasion of france, marshall accompanied general eisenhower and other high ranking office ears shore for inspection of the american positions on the normandy beach head. 15 stars fill this corporal's jeep as admiral king and generals marshall, bradley, and eisenhower ride out to survey the battle damage. on this trip marshall take is a few moments to visit an old friend, the ex-cavalry man, patton who has many timed torn

great holes in the defenses. the chief of staff ordered the mercurial general to his original combat assignment in north africa. the subsequent performance of the troops under patton's command confirmed the general's wise choice. allied planners met again in 1944, this time at quebec. a decision was reached to move invasion of the philippines three month as head of schedule. the chief of staff was involved with the vast and complicated problem of our global supply lines. and he chose to inspect the divisions poised for the final thrust into germany. a minor slack in the line of supply at this moment could cause a major military disaster

and marshall knew all the facts at both end of the line. the price of victory was far too high to risk delay. the trip to europe provided marshall with another opportunity, a chance to talk with the troops. he spoke informally to american soldiers who had faced the toughest test in history and triumphed. marshall inspected their positions, his last close look before the axis collapsed, and world war ii ended with the final capitulation of japan. when president truman presented marshall with the distinguished service medal in 1945, he said

although millions gave america extraordinary service, marshall gave it victory. 1945, also saw marshall dispatched to china as the president's special representative to negotiate a truce. general eisenhower then chief of staff visited his former boss during a negotiations. this was the first time marshall officially functioned as a diplomat, but the role was not unfamiliar. although the army had been his profession, his interest had been his career. marshall received the oath of office as secretary of state from chief justice vincent early in 1947. the president enthusiastically endorsed the former chief of staff at a critical time in history. it was fairly said that mr. truman selected him, not because of his experience, but because he was marshall. >> there is nothing that i can say at this time regarding

matters that per tan tain to my position in the state department. but i assume the do theiuties w great feeling of responsibility and ape very earnest desire to carry out the foreign policy of this government in the manner that has been so splendidly exemplified by my predecessor, mr. burns. my old friend. >> the new secretary brought imagination and a dignified intensity to his job which was equal to the world challenge. in march, 1947, marshall headed a delegation to moscow whose mission was the peace agreement on germany and austria. the opportunity to observe the russian bear in his native environment was valuable in view of increasing soviet hostility. russia already loomed as the largest question mark in america's future.

the desperate economic plight of europe, drew marshall's whole attention upon his return. and recommendations were presented to the congress. >> europe is still emerging from the devastation and dislocation of the most destructive war in history. within its own resources, europe cannot achieve within a reasonable time economic stability. the solution would be much easier, of course, if all of the nations of europe were cooperating. but they are not. far from cooperating, the soviet union and the communist parties have proclaimed their determined opposition to a plan for european economic recovery. economic distress is to be employed to further political ends. there are many who accept the picture that i have just drawn, but raise a further question. why must the united states carry

so great a load in helping europe? the answer is simple. the united states is the only country in the world today which has the economic power and productivity to furnish the needed decisions. to be quite clear, this unprecedented endeavor of the new world to help the old is neither sure nor easy. it is a calculated risk. it is a difficult program. and you know far better than i do that political difficulties involved in this program. but there is no doubt whatever, in my mind, that if we decide to do this thing we can do it successfully. ♪ >> great rubble heaps left by the war were soon diminished by an american investment in friendship and good will which proved off to be an effective

economic weapon against spreading communism, the marshall plan. offered on a self-help basis, marshall plan aid allowed war ravaged countries to gain a hold, and communist plans which were dependent upon poverty and despair for success were thwarted in many parts of the world. george marshallily signed as secretary of state in january 1949 intending to relax for the first time in almost 50 years. but the red cross called upon him for one further task in the public interest when it asked to serve as head. meeting with the polio chief, marshall outlined his plans for the vast mercy organization. less than one year later, the president persuaded him to return to the government as secretary of defense. he flew to korea where he met

with general ridgeway and other u.n. leaders. the man with the passion for facts was gathering them firsthand. this was a different american army than marshall had known and a different kind of war. the citizen soldier did the fighting in korea, but this time under a u.n. banner and for a limited objective. in washington, marshal assumed the critical responsibility for all of the men and material necessary for victory in korea. the peculiar circumstances of the conflict called for the existence of large american forces without total

mobilization within the united states. once more, george marshall, the statesman distinguished himself. relaxation was rare for the busy cabinet member, but, to the delight of a pretty queen he did manage to officiate at the apple blossom festival in 1951. on the 50th anniversary of his graduation, vmi paid tribute to general marshall with a day named in his honor. many of his old classmates came to lexington to applaud the school's most distinguished graduate and recall their years as members of the cadet corps. after a how witser salute to the soldier statesman the body of cadets stood at attention while marshall was awarded virginia's distinguished service medal by the governor. then the man whose life

represents the highest ideals of the cadet corps, inspected the ranks of men who may be tomorrow's leaders. george marshall resigned from the defense department and settled in leesburg, virginia, in 1951. his public service spanned a critical half century for our country placing him in the ranks of great american patriots. >> free at last to pursue a private life, the man with a passion for facts, will long be an example to those who follow in the army, in the government of his country, and in a peaceful world he worked so hard to make. now this is sergeant stewart queen, inviting you to be with us again for another look at "the big picture." >> "the big picture" is an

official report for the armed forces and the american people. produced by the army pictorial center. presented by the department of the army, in cooperation with this station. >> our specific mission is to work to -- see to it that human rights remain a central come poen encome -- com component of american foreign policy and when we are evaluating our foreign policy moves, human rights quacan't bee only consideration. >> katrina swett -- tfo >> whether we are talking about torture as it relates to the war on terror or the reset policy

with russia, you know, and, and the upcoming issue of whether or not the u.s. congress should pass the accountability act which is, we don't need to go into the details of the policy issue, whether or not we are going to stay on record as saying human rights matter. they matter in russia. they matter in china. >> more with katrina lantos swett on cspan's q & a. >> the pope has a famous way of being determined with the cardinal level post. and the pope hand picks this person. and this person -- this person decides when the pope is dead. he hits him three times on the head with a silver hammer and calls out his baptismal name three times which is carried over from the romans. the romans use that method yelling your name at you three times. although even today the pope isn't didn't tim the cardinal position says he is dead. >> on afterwards, dick tereci,

describes the ever changing concept of death and organ harvesting is blurring that line. also this weekend on book tv, arlen specter on the split between old guard members of his former party and those supported by the tea party. sunday at 8:00 p.m. book tv every weekend on cspan 2. coming up on cspan 3, american history tv, on leading generals from world war ii and the civil war. up next a u.s. army film on gener general douglas macarthur who led u.s. forces in asia in world war ii. april 15, nearly 1,500 perish. >> once the lookout bells, sighted an iceberg ahead, they

struck the bells, the process, three times, ding, ding, dirngs which is a warning, sayinging that there is some object ahead, doesn't mean dead ahead, means ahead of the ship. it doesn't say what kind of object. with the lookout, after they struck the bell here, went to a telephone nest and called done to the officer on the bridge to tell them what it is that, that they saw. and when, when the phone was finally answered, the, the, entire conversation was -- what do you see? and the response was, iceberg right ahead. and the response from the officer was -- thank you. on the truths and myths of that night. sunday at 4:00 p.m. eastern. part of american history tv this weekend on cspan 3. next, a u.s. army biography about general douglas macarthur who served in world war ii as commander of allied forces in the southwest pacific. general macarthur's military career came to a close in 1951,

when president harry s. truman relieved him of his command. this film was produced in 1952, by the army pick torl center. -- by the army pictorial center. the united states army presents "the big picture" an official report produced for the armed forces and the american people. now, to show you part of the big picture, here is sergeant stewart queen. today, "the big picture" is presenting the story of a man who holds one of the outstanding military records in modern history. a great field commander, a remarkable chief of staff, a military governor without parallel in modern times. his career has had many fatphas.

it has been long and glorious. above all it has the glow of tremendous personal integrity. douglas macarthur, general of the army, an historic figure in an historic speech before a joint meeting of congress. i am closing my 52 years of military service. when i joined the army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all my boyish hopes and dreams. the world has turned over many

times since i took the oath on the plane at awest point. >> indeed much has happened to the world since douglas macarthur took the oath at west point and in the wars and periods of peace since he has often been a central and dramatic figure. the beginning of an extraordinary career, young douglas with his father, general arthur macarthur, boy colonel in the civil war and veteran of the philippine campaign and the spanish american war. one day when the son was 13 years owed, his father is said to have remarked, "i think there is the material of a soldier in that boy." a truth that was soon made clear. entering west point he showed extraordinary brilliance in his studies attaining an average that was the highest in quarter of a century and won the coveted a in athletics as well. 25 years later he was to lead the american team in the world olympic games. ♪

meanwhile, the campaign in the philippines was being brought to a successful completion under his father's able leadership. his father's able leadership. the son was eager to visit his battlefields and his first assignment was to survey areas of these islands, one was the baton of peninsula, which many years later he would fight. during the following years, lieutenant macarthur had opportunities to study the far

eastern area, gaining insight to the attitudes of peoples hardly known by the west. at the beginning of world war i, the plan was to use only regular army divisions to oppose the powerful german army. meanwhile outside these divisions america had many trained and able men, a proposal for a new division of national guard units from as many states as possible was vigorously advocated by major douglas macarthur. it was spread over the whole country like a rainbow, the idea of a rainbow division, the 42nd was his, and his duty to see that the division was well trained and equipped for the raging bae ining battle that awn france. the rainbow division moved up to the front. its full readiness through the efforts of colonel macarthur,

the division's chief of staff, was to prove fortunate indeed. it was during this period too that an impressive battlefield technician began to foreshadow a great military future. soon known for brilliant decisions on the battlefield, colonel macarthur was also to gain a reputation as a man who faced danger completely unafraid. before long he was in command of the rainbow division, the youngest american division commander in the war. twice wounded, twice gassed, he won more awards for valor than has ever been awarded to an american soldier.

acclaimed by the secretary of war as the greatest front line general of the war. returning to west point, he became the youngest superintendent the academy had ever had. here he brought in the curriculum to include a full college education, introduced a now widely followed program of intramural athletics. today here he is a symbol and an inspiration. in 1930, macarthur was appointed chief of staff with the rank of full general. during his term of office, much of his time was spent building an army that was pared down to only 6 60,000 combat soldiers. in keeping with his principal of examining the military situation at close range, he toured europe to observe the forces of other nations. in france, he was recognized once more for his outstanding military contribution to the allied cause. in germany he foresaw the

buildup for war. >> back home he begged his country and congress to realize that the united states was in danger. as chief of staff, he foresaw the need for a new type of army, mechanized, mobile, and insisted that our forces were capable of rapid expansion. recognizing his abilities, president roosevelt broke precedent by appointing the youngest chief of staff we have ever had to a second term. in the '20s, mark arthur had served in the philippines and in the '30s he was asked to return as their military advisor. a dupe mooch much ral regard grew during this period.

it was the basis for a gallant defense that was to come. in 1935, he began a 10-year plan to build up the defense of the philippines. in world war ii, it was to be these forces that macarthur would lead in a desperate fight and on this ground. but now the leader at 57, having served in the united states army for 34 years decided to retire. four years later, it was as though his military career were just beginning. a few months before the attack upon pearl harbor, macarthur had

been called back to service in the phillipines. on the day after pearl harbor, the philippines too were under attack. defense here was pitfully hampered by lack of men and -- planes. with his knowledge of past campaigns, particularly with those of his father in this very area, macarthur withdrew his meager forces into the baton peninsula. from the rocky fortress, he directed an operation as crucial as any in the war, this early campaign in the philippines, the heroic fighting by a lonely army of filipinos and americans for almost half a year caused a critical delay in the japanese timetable of attack. back at home, the leader of the first desperate ground fighting

became a symbol to a nation just beginning to gird itself for all out war. the people found in him what they were beginning to discover in themselves, a spirit of intense determination. suddenly macarthur was ordered by president roosevelt to leave to carry on the fight in australia. leaving the philippines hurt him deeply, as always, he wished to be at the front besides his comrades. when finally they were forced into the famous march, his promise to them was, i shall return. they believed him immlicitly. until it's arrival in australia, the plan had been to await the

japanese attack and prepare as well as possible. then it became apparent that the new southwest pacific commander had another plan. he had meant exactly, i shall return. he was determined to carry the war to the enemy, to new guinea, which was the direct route back to the philippines. a long struggle lay ahead against huge numbers on countless islands, there seemed to be but one way, blast the enemy from every one of his islands in the pacific. victories came, knowing the area, knowing the enemy, utiz g utilzinizing all of our air and navl skill, the commander captured his plan to observe only a few key positions on their way to the philippines. now against these key positions,

the pattern of attack, first heavy preparitory fire to soften up the objective. next the landing. these were very unpredictable. in each case the selection was dictated by strategy rather than by sympathetic terrain. there were many beaches, some were ideal, hardly more than a matter of getting one's feet wet. meanwhile the gain was tremendous, the enemy never pe