General George C. Marshall is an icon, a paragon of leadership. His relevance as a strategic leader is achieving consensus for and organizing, resourcing, and directing the readiness and mobilization of the United State’s (US) armed forces across a vast enterprise to ensure the viability of the United States from 1939 through 1945. Most senior leaders working at the strategic level maintain a network of professional and personal relationships, but it is hard to imagine that Marshall valued personal relationships; rather, he tolerated them. His aversion of attention was not a secret. Major General (Retired) Josiah Bunting III reported that, “George Marshall remains for most a remote presence, an unknowable and distant entity, a noble
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President Roosevelt once remarked that Marshall gave him “the most loyal support as chief of staff that any President could wish.” Marshall also earned the confidence of the American people and US legislators. President Roosevelt’s decision to give General Eisenhower the task of leading the allied invasion of Western Europe in June 1944 highlights this point. The president kept Marshall in Washington DC because “he was the only general available who could keep the confidence and trust of the Congress and the people of the United States.” Marshall was a respected man of character; his apolitical decisions and studied advice served the truth rather than the political expediency of his civilian masters. Many were committed to, confident in, and respectful of Marshall. He was relevant to the challenges of his civilian masters; his insight into the global enterprise was essential to US …show more content…
Throughout his career, Marshall cultivated his uncompromising integrity, frankness, and service to the nation. Marshall maintained a strict attendance to business and loathed self-promotion. In fact, Marshall’s “reputation for straightforwardness and integrity” was a powerful source of influence in shaping the opinions, behaviors, and decisions of others. However, President Roosevelt and Marshall did not always agree. Marshall could have leveraged his influence to seek support for his ideas from members of the US Congress, European allies, or by stirring popular opinion through the media. Rather, he tailored his behavior by subordinating his candor to the president; protecting the trust of the American people in the US Army and in the US government by remaining loyal to President Roosevelt. Marshall’s behavioral capacity enhanced his relevance by adapting to the requirements of the strategic environment and the organization he
President Roosevelt once remarked that Marshall gave him “the most loyal support as chief of staff that any President could wish.” Marshall also earned the confidence of the American people and US legislators. President Roosevelt’s decision to give General Eisenhower the task of leading the allied invasion of Western Europe in June 1944 highlights this point. The president kept Marshall in Washington DC because “he was the only general available who could keep the confidence and trust of the Congress and the people of the United States.” Marshall was a respected man of character; his apolitical decisions and studied advice served the truth rather than the political expediency of his civilian masters. Many were committed to, confident in, and respectful of Marshall. He was relevant to the challenges of his civilian masters; his insight into the global enterprise was essential to US …show more content…
Throughout his career, Marshall cultivated his uncompromising integrity, frankness, and service to the nation. Marshall maintained a strict attendance to business and loathed self-promotion. In fact, Marshall’s “reputation for straightforwardness and integrity” was a powerful source of influence in shaping the opinions, behaviors, and decisions of others. However, President Roosevelt and Marshall did not always agree. Marshall could have leveraged his influence to seek support for his ideas from members of the US Congress, European allies, or by stirring popular opinion through the media. Rather, he tailored his behavior by subordinating his candor to the president; protecting the trust of the American people in the US Army and in the US government by remaining loyal to President Roosevelt. Marshall’s behavioral capacity enhanced his relevance by adapting to the requirements of the strategic environment and the organization he