George Marshall: Soldier and Statesman
- Episode aired Jun 16, 1997
- TV-14
- 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
81
YOUR RATING
The epic story of the monumental soldier and statesman who, perhaps more than anybody else shaped the world we live in today.The epic story of the monumental soldier and statesman who, perhaps more than anybody else shaped the world we live in today.The epic story of the monumental soldier and statesman who, perhaps more than anybody else shaped the world we live in today.
Photos
Storyline
Featured review
George Catlett Marshall, Jr.'s Selfless and Tireless Service of Patriotism without Politics
This episode may well serve students of Social Studies, Military and Political Sciences as an interesting Documentary spanning four wars plus the Cold War.
Jack Perkins narrates this account of the life of George C. Marshall, Jr., and his prolific careers as U.S. Army General, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense, as well as the honoree of the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan to revitalize war-ravaged Europe.
In 1880, George is born the youngest child son of Laura Bradford Marshall and George C. Marshall, Sr., in the rural community of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in the heart of coal country, which begins to fuel the Industrial Revolution with its production of coke-processing to form iron and steel, an industry which employs George, Sr.
George remains closer to his mother, whose family hails from Kentucky, than to his elder brother, Stuart (or Stewart?), and their father, whose family originates in Virginia, for he remains quiet and reserved, not overly-social with schoolmates, having some who bully others.
But near the end of the 19th Century, when service troops returning from the Spanish-American War parade through Uniontown, George decides that his would become a career in the military and enrolls in Virginia Military Institute, at which he soon becomes named the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets.
Initially seeking advancement not forthcoming, George decides to appeal to the President of the United States and travels to the White House to speak directly with William McKinley, who isn't able to promote the Cadet at this point in time. (Back in those days, one may enter the White House at will, without an appointment nor clearance.)
Before George graduates VMI, in 1902, he marries Elizabeth Carter Cole, whose lovely piano playing he overhears as he paces outside of her residence.
After serving in the military for fifteen years, now as U.S. Army First Lieutenant, George prepares to retire to Virginia, but on the night before his leave, the U.S. declares war on Germany, and so George serves in France during WWI, being appointed a temporary Major, while designing the defense on the Western Front.
In 1919, George serves as an aide to General John J. Pershing, and in 1920, becomes stationed for four years at Fort Benning, Georgia, to train troops. But tragedy strikes when Elizabeth unexpectedly passes after a brief illness.
Working with the War Department, George spends three years in China, and returns to instruct at Army War College, when the Great Depression strikes, and George is assigned to duties with the Civilian Conservation Corps, during which time he meets young widow Katherine Boyce Tupper, whom he soon marries.
A Brigadier General by 1936, George is nominated Army Chief of Staff by President F.D. Roosevelt, in 1939, when German troops invade Poland. And the United States enters WWII in 1941.
By now a Five-Star General, George Marshall orchestrates the largest military mobilization in U.S. history, with his precise maneuvers, while sacrificing self-promotion, and taking a back seat when F.D.R. asks whether George wishes to be bestowed the position of supreme commander. D.D. Eisenhower, instead, receives the promotion.
In 1947, Harvard University assigns George an honorary Doctorate, and during his eight-minute acceptance speech, he outlines the Marshall Plan, to restore Europe in the aftermath of WWII.
In 1948, the U.S.S.R. invades Czechoslovakia, causing George Marshall to promote NATO alliance to prevent the outbreak of the Cold War.
After this, George once again decides to retire, so Katherine and he return to Virginia--for one day--before President Truman appoints him Secretary of State, a position which he accepts through 1949, retiring again because of ill health, but then the American National Red Cross names him as its President.
Once again, upon completion of his duties, war breaks out in Korea, and the U.S. becomes involved. President Truman then appoints George as Secretary of Defense, in 1950.
While multitudes outside the U.S. hail George C. Marshall a hero, U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy blacklists him as a traitor to his country. (McCarthy's the one responsible for those HUAC attacks on Hollywood.)
In 1953, George receives the Nobel Peace prize for devising the Marshall Plan, with many outside the U.S.A. saying that no one since has ever deserved the honor as much as the non-political patriot George C. Marshall, Jr.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Larry I. Bland (Director, Marshall Papers, George C. Marshall Foundation), Thomas E. Camden (George C. Marshall Foundation Research Library), Ambassador Paul Nitze (Special Adviser to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control), Colonel Rod Paschall, USA (Retired) (Author: "Witness to War: Korea"), H. Merrill Pasco (Secretary of the War Department General Staff), General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired) (former Chairman of Join Chiefs of Staff), and Mark A Stoler (Professor of History, University of Vermont), with Jack Perkins (Narrator), and Peter Graves (Host).
Jack Perkins narrates this account of the life of George C. Marshall, Jr., and his prolific careers as U.S. Army General, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense, as well as the honoree of the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan to revitalize war-ravaged Europe.
In 1880, George is born the youngest child son of Laura Bradford Marshall and George C. Marshall, Sr., in the rural community of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in the heart of coal country, which begins to fuel the Industrial Revolution with its production of coke-processing to form iron and steel, an industry which employs George, Sr.
George remains closer to his mother, whose family hails from Kentucky, than to his elder brother, Stuart (or Stewart?), and their father, whose family originates in Virginia, for he remains quiet and reserved, not overly-social with schoolmates, having some who bully others.
But near the end of the 19th Century, when service troops returning from the Spanish-American War parade through Uniontown, George decides that his would become a career in the military and enrolls in Virginia Military Institute, at which he soon becomes named the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets.
Initially seeking advancement not forthcoming, George decides to appeal to the President of the United States and travels to the White House to speak directly with William McKinley, who isn't able to promote the Cadet at this point in time. (Back in those days, one may enter the White House at will, without an appointment nor clearance.)
Before George graduates VMI, in 1902, he marries Elizabeth Carter Cole, whose lovely piano playing he overhears as he paces outside of her residence.
After serving in the military for fifteen years, now as U.S. Army First Lieutenant, George prepares to retire to Virginia, but on the night before his leave, the U.S. declares war on Germany, and so George serves in France during WWI, being appointed a temporary Major, while designing the defense on the Western Front.
In 1919, George serves as an aide to General John J. Pershing, and in 1920, becomes stationed for four years at Fort Benning, Georgia, to train troops. But tragedy strikes when Elizabeth unexpectedly passes after a brief illness.
Working with the War Department, George spends three years in China, and returns to instruct at Army War College, when the Great Depression strikes, and George is assigned to duties with the Civilian Conservation Corps, during which time he meets young widow Katherine Boyce Tupper, whom he soon marries.
A Brigadier General by 1936, George is nominated Army Chief of Staff by President F.D. Roosevelt, in 1939, when German troops invade Poland. And the United States enters WWII in 1941.
By now a Five-Star General, George Marshall orchestrates the largest military mobilization in U.S. history, with his precise maneuvers, while sacrificing self-promotion, and taking a back seat when F.D.R. asks whether George wishes to be bestowed the position of supreme commander. D.D. Eisenhower, instead, receives the promotion.
In 1947, Harvard University assigns George an honorary Doctorate, and during his eight-minute acceptance speech, he outlines the Marshall Plan, to restore Europe in the aftermath of WWII.
In 1948, the U.S.S.R. invades Czechoslovakia, causing George Marshall to promote NATO alliance to prevent the outbreak of the Cold War.
After this, George once again decides to retire, so Katherine and he return to Virginia--for one day--before President Truman appoints him Secretary of State, a position which he accepts through 1949, retiring again because of ill health, but then the American National Red Cross names him as its President.
Once again, upon completion of his duties, war breaks out in Korea, and the U.S. becomes involved. President Truman then appoints George as Secretary of Defense, in 1950.
While multitudes outside the U.S. hail George C. Marshall a hero, U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy blacklists him as a traitor to his country. (McCarthy's the one responsible for those HUAC attacks on Hollywood.)
In 1953, George receives the Nobel Peace prize for devising the Marshall Plan, with many outside the U.S.A. saying that no one since has ever deserved the honor as much as the non-political patriot George C. Marshall, Jr.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Larry I. Bland (Director, Marshall Papers, George C. Marshall Foundation), Thomas E. Camden (George C. Marshall Foundation Research Library), Ambassador Paul Nitze (Special Adviser to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control), Colonel Rod Paschall, USA (Retired) (Author: "Witness to War: Korea"), H. Merrill Pasco (Secretary of the War Department General Staff), General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired) (former Chairman of Join Chiefs of Staff), and Mark A Stoler (Professor of History, University of Vermont), with Jack Perkins (Narrator), and Peter Graves (Host).
helpful•10
- WeatherViolet
- Jul 12, 2010
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content