General Patton

[timetraveller]

If Patton had lived .. would he have went on to become the Next President ? .

[Kaplanr]

Any particular reason to think he would have? He had noteriety and celebrity going for him, but the for the most part the American people tend to blow through that pretty quickly.

He didn't have the universal exposure that Ike or McArthur had, and we see where that took Mac after the war. Ike's advantages were he actually had brains, his roles from N. Africa through the ETO honed his political and diplomatic skills, and he ran NATO. If Patton had lived and been a precursor of the anti-communist stance taken in the Cold War, he would have been preaching a dogma that Americans weren't ready to hear in 1945-46.

I don't see it, he didn't have the political or intellectual legs to pull it off. Maybe if he'd done the Ike and became a university president and built some constituencies then maybe he has a better chance.

[ronnieraygun]

If Patton had lived .. would he have went on to become the Next President ? .


No. His mouth could not be checked. That makes him ineligible for just about anything. Also, he was old school. He was into being a general and military leader. The other stuff was not a priority for him - today, we take that for granted that once you leave something you are supposed to be a non-profit chairman or honorary head of a foundation somewhere. Not Patton.

[One Man Gang]

Patton was a lot of things, but presidential timber wasn't one of them.

After the "de-Nazification" flare-up which cost him command of 3rd Army, not to mention the slapping incident in Sicily which cost him the American command of OVERLORD, he had made powerfull enemies in the media of the day. There is no way he could have made it through the 1948 presidential campaign.

RonnieRay is right, he was an Army officer, first, last, and always.

More than likely he would have been retired (forcibly) and retreated to California to write his memoirs, a critical history of the European Campaign, and a first-person account of life in the Roman legions. His memoirs and the critical history would not have served him well as he harbored too much resentment against Ike, the British in general, and Montgomery in particular, to be dispassionate. Also he probably would have roused himself to vehemently object to Truman's desegregation order which would also have sullied his legacy. I base that on his comments in War As I Knew It.

All-in-all, as painful as it is to say so, Georgie died at precisely the right time. His reputation and legacy remain intact.

That said, we shall not see his like again, and more's the pity.

[jupiter]

Besides, he was a hell of a warrior, his men loved him, but he never has a good relation with politicians, in ancient Rome maybe he could be a emperor, but not president in actual times (50's).

[Connaught Ranger]

To get a good handle on Patton read:

"LUCKY FORWARD"

The History Of General George Patton's Third U.S. Army.

by Colonel Robert S. Allen.

Originally written in 1947, my copy dated 1965.

Connaught Ranger.:)

[One Man Gang]

See also:
Carlo d'Este, Patton: A Genius for War

Martin Blumenson, The Patton Papers 1888-1945

and of course:

General George S. Patton, Jr. War As I Knew It

[LineDoggie]

George S. Patton running for President?

His Zombie corpse is on the way to slap you one right now, just for thinking this.

Man was a Soldier

[Chalkblock]

No I do not think so. He was a good General and all that, but TACT was not one of his strong points. I think if he had lived one of several things would of happen
1) He would of been sent to West Point to be the Commandant there.
2) He may of been picked to replace MacArthur in Korea
3) He would of been forced to retire as he was as unstable in following orders as MacArthur. But if I want a SOB to kick Ass and inspire the Troops anywhere it would be Patton

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

Would he have served as far as Vietnam?

[LineDoggie]

Megaraptor;3786083']Would he have served as far as Vietnam?

His Son did, 3 tours in Vietnam in fact. He commanded the 11th Armored Cav Regt from 1968

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton_IV


"Find the bastards, then Pile on" was his standing orders

[Chalkblock]

I do not think so in 1960 he would of been 75 Years Old.

His son did serve in Nam, but was under investigation for treatment to prisoners.
Seemed that they did not get any medical treatment until they talked and then after, they disappeared. Do not get me wrong I say use what you have to find and kill the enemy as they did to us and our troops taken prisoner.

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

Patton Lives!

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/xyUX6wV1lBQ

[Limeyfellow]

If Patton had lived he probably end up being kicked out the job for not keeping his mouth shut. Pretty much the same thing that happened to MacArthur. Interesting enough there was a new book out that investigates the claim that Patton was offed.

[chuckster]

There were other generals who would have been competition for him. General Eisenhower for instance, who did become president. Another more qualified rival was Omar Bradley, who certainly had more tact and discipline than Patton.

[LineDoggie]

I do not think so in 1960 he would of been 75 Years Old.

His son did serve in Nam, but was under investigation for treatment to prisoners.
Seemed that they did not get any medical treatment until they talked and then after, they disappeared. Do not get me wrong I say use what you have to find and kill the enemy as they did to us and our troops taken prisoner.


funny, cant find anything about that. Couldnt have been tangible as he was promoted twice after that to Major General and Officer Commanding 2nd Armored Division "Hell on Wheels"

[Chalkblock]

I'll have to look myself too. I remember a New Broadcast on the news back in the 70's sometime from Nam. If I find it I will posted it.