His stand on Presidency –
Gen. MacArthur: I’m not a candidate, would not accept
Position is made ‘entirely unequivocal’
Allied HQ, Southwest Pacific (UP) –
Gen. Douglas MacArthur declared unequivocally today that he is not a candidate for the Presidency of the United States and would not accept the nomination if it were offered to him.
Gen. MacArthur’s statement repudiated the efforts of some political leaders in the United States to place his name before the Republican convention in Chicago in June.
“In order to make my position entirely unequivocal, I request that no action be taken that would link my name in any way with the nomination, his statement said, “I do not covet it, nor would I accept it.”
Gen. MacArthur said his statement was prompted by a number of critical newspaper articles which charged that the candidacy of any high-ranking officer on active service at the front would be detrimental to the war effort.
His statement follows:
On my return from the Hollandia operations, I have had brought to my attention a number of newspaper articles professing in the strongest terms a widespread public opinion that it is detrimental to our war effort to have an officer in high position, on active service at the front, considered for nomination for the office of President.
I have on several occasions announced that I was not a candidate for the position. Nevertheless, in view of these circumstances, in order to make my position entirely unequivocal, I request that no action be taken that would link my name in any way with the nomination. I do not covet it, nor would I accept it.