“And by MacArthur’s frankly odd decision to have him command it as an additional duty,” Ridgway went on without replying. “Without relieving him of his post as chief of staff, which is what normally would happen.”
“He hasn’t discussed that with me, either,” Pickering said. “But that could damned well be because he doesn’t want Almond replaced by someone he didn’t choose.”
“And X Corps will be established as a separate corps, not as part of Eighth Army,” Ridgway said. “Not under General Walker’s command. That also raises questions in General Collins’s mind—and mine.”
“There could be a number of reasons for that,” Pickering said. “The first that comes to me is that Almond has been in on the Inchon invasion from the beginning, and Walker hasn’t. Neither Walker nor Almond has amphibious invasion experience. I get the feeling that MacArthur, who has enormous experience, plans to command the invasion itself, and that would be awkward if X Corps were under Eighth Army.”
Ridgway nodded.
“If the Inchon invasion goes forward,” Harriman said, “and fails—”
“I don’t think it will fail,” Pickering said.
“But if it does, it would be a monumental disaster, wouldn’t you agree?”
“For which Douglas MacArthur would take full responsibility, ” Pickering said. “I think he would resign if it did. And that’s another reason I think he wants to command it himself, so it will not fail.”
“General, you’ve been asking all the questions,” Howe said. “I’d like to ask one. What’s the problem between Collins and MacArthur?”
Ridgway hesitated a moment before deciding to answer the question.
“Quick answer: I don’t think General Collins thinks General MacArthur pays him, or the office he holds, the respect he and it deserve.”
“Blunt response,” Pickering said. "MacArthur respects the office of chief of staff—and understands its problems—because he served as chief of staff. He has five stars—he had them when General Collins had two. During World War Two, when Collins was a corps commander, MacArthur was a theater commander. He had more men under his command then—and I don’t think anyone faults his command of them—than are now in the entire U.S. Army. Under those circumstances, I think it’s understandable that MacArthur is not as awed by the chief of staff as the chief of staff might prefer.”
“But he’s subordinate to the chief of staff,” Harriman said.
“And he has been taking, and will take, his orders from the chief of staff,” Pickering said. “That does not mean he has to be very impressed with the officeholder personally. So far as MacArthur is concerned, the officeholder is just one more general, junior to him in rank and experience.”
“Is that how he will think of me?” Ridgway said.
“This may be violating a confidence, General: I hope not,” Pickering said. "MacArthur referred to you admiringly as about the best brain in the Army, or words to that effect.”
“I’ve never met him,” Ridgway said.
“Then it will be an interesting experience for you,” Howe said. “You’re tempted to back out of his presence with your head bowed.”
Pickering laughed.
“I have one more question for you, General Pickering,” Ridgway said.
“Shoot,” Pickering said.
“There has been some talk that Admiral Hillenkoetter will resign . . .”
“Voluntarily?” Howe asked.
Ridgway didn’t reply.
“. . . and that you will be offered the position.”
“I’m wholly unqualified to be Director of the CIA,” Pickering said. “If I was offered the job, I wouldn’t take it.”
“That will disappoint the President,” Howe said. “The last time I talked to him, he asked if I had come to know you well enough to have an opinion about you taking over the CIA. I told him I thought you’d do just fine.”
“Then, obviously, you don’t know me well enough,” Pickering said.
“Gentlemen,” Harriman said. “Doesn’t this about conclude our business?”
I think the sonofabitch has decided that since he can’t control the meeting—meaning me, Howe, and Ridgway— there’s no point to it.
They looked at each other, and Howe, Pickering, and Ridgway each shrugged or made other gestures indicating that he had nothing else to say or ask.
Harriman stood up.
“I’m going to stick around a little longer,” Pickering said. “I want to spend a little time with Ernie McCoy.”
“Me, too,” Howe said.
“Shall we send the car back for you?” Ridgway asked.
“Please,” Pickering said.
“Would you please tell Ernestine we very much appreciate her hospitality?” Harriman asked.
Pickering nodded.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said.
“Fleming,” Harriman said. “I regret the . . . tone . . . this sometimes reached.”
“Me, too,” Pickering said.
“You’re not going with us to meet General MacArthur tomorrow?” Ridgway asked.