The transformative power of fatherhood takes center stage, showcasing how MacArthur's life changed with the arrival of his son. Mornings filled with playful chaos and old army songs illustrate the joy and vulnerability of being a dad. As he embraced this new role, his guarded demeanor softened, revealing a more alive and loving side. The emotional journey of fatherhood is beautifully highlighted, portraying how profound connections can reshape even the most powerful figures, leading to serenity in life.
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MacArthur's Morning Routine
General MacArthur's son Arthur would wake him up at 7 a.m. every day.
They would sing army songs together, a ritual that brought joy to MacArthur.
insights INSIGHT
Transformative Power of Fatherhood
MacArthur, a powerful man, transformed after becoming a father.
Fatherhood brought him serenity, laughter, and a newfound capacity for love.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Embrace Fatherhood
Embrace the gift of fatherhood and let it change you.
Let fatherhood give you serenity, keep you changing, and allow yourself to have fun.
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William Manchester's 'American Caesar' is a detailed biography of General Douglas MacArthur, chronicling his military career and his role in shaping American history during World War II and the Korean War. The book delves into MacArthur's complex personality, his leadership style, and his controversial decisions, offering a nuanced examination of one of the most influential military figures of the 20th century.
We talked before about how MacArthur had a kind of scheduled morning craziness with his son Arthur, who would enter his room promptly at 7am and pummel his father awake. Then together they’d sing songs—old army songs Douglas had taught him—with Arthur still slurring his R’s—while dad shaved and got ready for work.
As William Manchester observes in his amazing biography of the complicated man, MacArthur believed that his son was the only one who appreciated his singing. “He was wrong,” Manchester wrote. “Everyone around him appreciated it because they saw the changes the boy had wrought in him.” MacArthur, whose only child was born when he was 58, and was already one of the most powerful men in the army, had always been active and firm. But with a young boy running around, he became alive in a way that he had never been before. He laughed. He loved. He let his guard down.
Manchester beautifully captures what fatherhood has done for countless fathers for all time:
A snapshot of the three MacArthurs, taken on the boy’s third birthday, shows Arthur in a sailor suit, his mother in a flower-trimmed frock, and his father in khaki. The General’s expression can only be described as adoring. Acclaim, achievements, decorations, and high rank had come to him early. Now, in his sixties, he had found serenity.
You have been given a wonderful gift—actually that’s not quite right, you have helped create a wonderful gift. Now you have to give yourself over to it. You have to truly accept it and let it into your heart. Not just once, for the first time, when they are young and so irresistibly cute, but over and over again as you both get older.
Let it keep making you better. Let it give you serenity. Have fun. Get crazy. Be adoring. Relax your guard. Keep changing. You deserve it and so does everyone around you.
The Daily Dad 