Review

The career of George Marshall reminds us why the 20th century is called "America's century." George Marshall was at the center of the big events from 1914 to 1951. He was chief of staff of the army, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense. There was no question about where George Marshall ranked among his peers. Harry Truman said Marshall was "the greatest American." Dean Acheson said of Marshall that "you have to stand next to a man to see his greatness. I did twice - when I worked for Justice Holmes, and when I worked for George Marshall." But the passage of time has dated Truman and Acheson - and Marshall too. Author David Roll believes that the 21st century has edged him into history's background. This book brings him forward. Roll is well versed in the times of George Marshall. His previous book (The Hopkins Touch) was on Harry Hopkins' role in defeating Hitler and forging Europe's economic recovery. The Marshall book is a long one, 694 pages, but it is a joy to read. Roll's research for the book was massive, and much of it was in oral histories and personal manuscripts. Roll's specialties are dialogue, the appearance of the players, and the feel of the settings (Did you know that Stalin wore a mustard-colored tunic to big events - incongruous with his red-striped pants?). The beginning of the book foreshadows where Roll plans to take Marshall. The scene is the Philippines, in the summer of 1914: the Philippine-American War is winding down, the Philippines are a U.S. Territory, the Japanese government is belligerent about US aggression in the Pacific. The US Army undertakes a large exercise to move 5,000 troops 30 miles through the countryside into Manila. Marshall enters the scene. He is 33, only a first lieutenant, and the adjutant to the colonel in charge of planning for "the white army" (the attack force). When the alcoholic colonel passes out before the maneuvers start, Marshall steps in. West Pointer "Hap" Arnold (later the general of the Army Air Force) acted as "observer" and rated Marshall's performance. According to Arnold, Marshall squatted in the grass, he had no notes, and he dictated from memory the battle plan to a succession of Filipino scouts. He moved the infantry, the artillery, the scouts, the field kitchens, the field ambulances, the wagons, and 100,000 pack animals. Arnold wrote in his notes that he had just watched the future chief of staff of the army. Marshall taking command in the Philippines foreshadows the rest of the book. Roosevelt appointed him chief of staff in 1939, jumping him over 34 more senior officers. The hinge of the book is World War II, all the way from its long beginning through to its menacing ending. Roll wonderfully portrays the frequent meetings between the wily Roosevelt, the imperious Churchill and the guileless Marshall. Sometimes Marshall was matched alone against the two statesmen. The plot always was the same. Roosevelt and Churchill were men of many agendas, in addition to defeating Germany, and they usually turned to Marshall for military assistance. He was the ultimate gatekeeper. Both men gave Marshall the full treatment, first seduction, and when that failed, bulldozing. It was Marshall's job to keep the focus on Germany. Roll says that only Marshall could say no to the two greats. They believed that Marshall could be trusted. Roosevelt realized the value of Marshall's extraordinary reputation, and he had no qualms about riding on it. House Speaker Sam Rayburn said Roosevelt often sent Marshall to get a cantankerous congressman to reverse his vote. "He got it," Rayburn said, "everyone believed Marshall."

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