Miscellaneous
In his new book George Marshall: Defender of the Republic, David Roll chronicles the extraordinary life of American soldier and statesman George Marshall, who rose through the ranks to ultimately become Chief of Staff under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. He later also served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under President Truman. According to Winston Churchill, Marshall was World War II’s “organizer of victory,” and is considered by President Truman to be “the greatest military man that this country ever produced.” Secretary Marshall is perhaps best known for his role in proposing and supporting the European Recovery Program – also known as the Marshall Plan – for which he was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. David Roll works to restore Secretary Marshall back to his rightful role as one of the most widely admired figures in U.S. history. Through his use of primary source evidence, Roll challenges several historical assumptions while offering an authentic and nuanced account of Secretary Marshall. In addition to discussing Secretary Marshall’s WWII legacy, Roll discusses his roles as Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and Special Envoy to China – roles that are often not considered when examining Marshall’s overall legacy.This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.