Note 27 — Chapter III · THE EFFECT OF THE MEMORANDUM
Reading edition
Congressional Record, August 2, 1961, p. 13436, col. 2,m. Civilian control is not controversial. In his May 12, 1962 speech to the West Point Cadets, General Douglas MacArthur emphasized that political problems were “not for your professional participation or military solution.” Congressional Record, May 31, 1962, p. A4009, col. 1,t.
Admiral Arleigh A. Burke testified: “No mature U.S. military officer I know of has ever questioned it. Indeed, it is a sacred part of our military tradition itself. If a military man cannot reconcile his convictions with his civilian superior’s orders, he has only the recourse of leaving the service.”
“But the principle of civilian control can be perverted. Civilian control of the military is properly exerted by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the secretaries of the individual military departments over the military services, within the guidelines laid down by Congress. The senior civilians in the Government have the final decision on all problems affecting the military posture of the United States. This is proper and correct.”
“In my opinion, it is improper that civilian control should be exercised in any other echelon but at the top. It should not be extended to every subordinate military echelon. To be specific, orders and directives to the military should come from the top civilian elements to the senior military people. They should not come from junior civilian elements to junior military people.” (Military Cold War Education and Speech Review Policies, Part 1, pp. 21-22).
General MacArthur further said: “While for the purpose of administration and command the Armed forces are within the executive branch of the Government, they are accountable as well to the Congress, charged with the policymaking responsibility, and to the people, ultimate repository of all national power. Yet so inordinate has been the application of the Executive power that members of the armed services have been subjected to the most arbitrary and ruthless treatment for daring to speak the truth in accordance with conviction and conscience.” (as quoted by General Edward M. Almond, Ibid., Part 2, p. 714.)