It goes without saying that the nature of the Korean War has accentuated enormously the controversy between the Truman Administration and General MacArthur. Indeed, with the passage of time the war itself has become the focus of contemporary debate. It was not a war that mobilized the emotional and physical energies of the entire American people. Not only was it a limited war; it was a most peculiar kind of limited war. It was an undeclared war against an unidentified enemy. Its aims were generally uncomprehended, possibly because they were never adequately explained by the Truman Administration. And the conduct of the war was as equivocal as its purpose. - Preface.

The anticipations, 1945-1950 -- The choice, June 1950 -- Land war and preventive war, July-August 1950 -- An option of difficulties, Summer 1950 -- The frontiers of containment, September 15-October 15, 1950 -- Dizziness from success, October 16-November 28, 1950 -- An entirely new war, November 28, 1950-January 17, 1951 -- The recall, February 1-April 11, 1951 -- The insubordinate? -- Total victory -- The wrong war -- Triumph and tragedy.