http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthurBonus Army
His most controversial act came in 1932, when Hoover ordered him to disperse the "Bonus Army" of veterans who were in the capital protesting against the government. MacArthur was criticized for using excessive force to disperse the protesters. According to MacArthur, the demonstration had been taken over by communists and pacifists with, he claimed, only "one man in 10 being veterans." It should be noted, however, that no supporting historical evidence for MacArthur's multiple charges has ever surfaced. Recent scholarship including PBS's own The American Experience has shown that the Bonus Army was composed overwhelmingly of First World War veterans whose politics was representative of the era. Additionally, a general revulsion towards war and the military came in the wake of America's involvement in World War I. This attitude was evidenced by the success of films like "All Quiet on the Western Front", "The Big Parade" and "What Price Glory" as well as in the popularity of such anti-war authors as Robert Graves, Erich Maria Remarque and Siegfried Sassoon. Pacificism was not an uncommon or shameful belief among the general public of the 1930's. It is from this period that the Neutrality Acts sprang as an attempt to keep the US out of future foreign wars.
According to John Dower, "This successful campaign to absolve the Emperor of war responsibility knew no bounds. Hirohito was not merely presented as being innocent of any formal acts that might make him culpable to indictment as a war criminal. He was turned into an almost saintly figure who did not even bear moral responsibility for the war." "With the full support of MacArthur's headquarters, the prosecution functioned, in effect, as a defense team for the emperor."<17>
Calling the Chinese attack the beginning of "an entirely new war," MacArthur repeatedly requested authorization to strike Chinese bases in Manchuria, inside China. Truman was concerned that such actions would draw the Soviet Union into the conflict and risk nuclear war.
In April 1951, MacArthur's habitual disregard of his superiors<20> led to a crisis. He sent a letter to Representative Joe Martin (R-Massachusetts), the House Minority Leader, disagreeing with President Truman's policy of limiting the Korean war to avoid a larger war with China. This, and similar letters and statements, were seen by Truman as a violation of the American constitutional principle that military commanders are subordinate to civilian leadership, and usurpation of the President's authority to make foreign policy. Generals aren't supposed to make policy statements without the approval of their superiors. MacArthur had ignored this principle out of necessity while de-facto ruler of Japan. MacArthur by this time had not been back to the United States for more than twenty years and suffered from paranoia,
self-destructive impulses, and political aspirations, he had visions of running against Truman in the 1952 elections. Surrounding himself with sycophants and publicity spinners, MacArthur effectively cut himself off from Washington and ignored suggestions and even orders from superiors, as he felt that none were superior to him. By this time President Truman decided MacArthur was insubordinate, and relieved him of command, leading to a storm of controversy.
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