MacArthur Inscribes Copy Of  Final West Point Speech To Another General

Douglas MacArthur gave the last great speech of his public life on May 12, 1962, less than two years before he died. Beset by health problems, MacArthur had finally begun to show his age. But after accepting the coveted Sylvanus Thayer Award, he bid farewell to his beloved West Point with a heartfelt, emotional address. As one account described it, by the end of his speech "there were tears in the eyes of big strapping Cadets who wouldn't have shed one before a firing squad." This copy of the speech is inscribed to General Burwell B. Bell, III, "To General Bell, With Cordial Regard, Douglas MacArthur."