1071. MACARTHUR'S COPY OF HIS "OLD SOLDIER'S JUST FADE AWAY" SPEECH A superb, most important MacArthur relic, a printed copy of his famous speech given before Congress on April 19, 1951, 4pp. 4to., printed by Speech Arts Studio, New York and once owned by the great military leader. The speech, given nine days after Truman had sacked MacArthur for insubordination, ranks as one of the most memorable speeches of all times. In it, MacArthur defended his philosophy of taking the war to China, denounced his nay-sayers, and concluded with the line: "...One of the most popular barrack ballads of that day proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away. And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good bye". This copy originates from the files of MacArthur's secretary at Sperry Rand Corp., and was the only copy found in her files. She remained in MacArthur's employ until Nov. 6, 1961. Accompanied by a copy of the general's letter thanking her for her services. $600 - 800