George Marshall: Washington’s Birthday Remarks at Princeton University

George Marshall directed the U.S. Army in the largest war in its history, building it from a tiny force to more than eight million. Before Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941, Marshall led the effort to prepare the nation for war. Afterward, he helped direct the war effort and lead the United States and its allies to victory. Marshall became President Franklin Roosevelt’s leading military adviser and helped draft many of his memos on strategy and military matters. He also helped craft American strategy to win World War II and secure peace in its aftermath. He played a leading role in fashioning American foreign policy, which centered on rebuilding Europe and containing the Soviet Union. In his role as secretary of state in the administration of Harry Truman, Marshall delivered his Washington’s Birthday Remarks at Princeton University, emphasizing the postwar leadership of the United States on the world stage. Marshall’s carefully worded arguments often proved critical in swaying public, government, and military opinion.