Q: How did Admiral Nimitz feel going into the surrender, [when] word came
that MacArthur was going to receive the surrender?
LAMAR: When Admiral Nimitz saw the order that Truman had made, letting
MacArthur run the ceremony and be the principal signer, he felt that the Navy
was being badly treated, because we had done a good job, during the war. And,
he let the the Secretary of the Navy know, to inform the President that if
that's the way he wanted to do it, he would not come. So, Truman realizing
that he had made a public relations mistake, put out a new order on which
Admiral Nimitz would be the signer for the U.S., and that the ceremony could
take place on a battleship.
back to Interview Transcripts
|
PBS Terms of Use Privacy Policy
Pledge Your Support
Stories to Go