Last summer, when I firstlearned the George C. Marhsall house was in Leesburg, I’ve been wanting to visit, since I had always been intrigued with his Marshall Plan after WWII.
Today I asked to work it in to our day for my Mother’s Day treat!
GEORGE C. MARSHALL ARMY SERVICE
In 1880, George C. Marshall was born in Pennsylvania, then graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1901.
Under presidents Roosevelt and Truman, Marshall served as Chief of Staff of the US Army, directing strategy in WWII.
Dubbing Marshall the ‘organizer of victory, Churchill gifted him a piece of art he painted, a copy of which we saw displayed in the house, because the original was sold at auction in 2006 for a hefty price.
After the war, Marshall was appointed to Secretary of State under Truman.
RETIREMENT, CHINA, SECRETARY OF STATE
After Marshall retired from the Army, Truman sent Marshall to China to establish relations between Chiang Kai-shek (America’s ally) and Mao Zedong’s communist party, with hopes it would prevent the renewal of the Chinese Civil War.
Threatening to withdraw needed American aid, his only leverage possible, both sides refused.
In 1947 after two years of diplomatic effort, Marshall returned to America, where Truman appointed Marshall as Secretary of State.
Meanwhile, Marshall insisted US troops not go to China, disagreeing with Washington DC’s views that Chiang’s success was vital to American interests.
In 1949, the Communists won their civil war.
MARSHALL PLAN
In 1947, as Secretary of State, Marshall encouraged economic and political aid from the US, for post-war Europe’s recovery.
After the Great Depression’s propulsion of Europe into a second world war, the Marshall Plan provided hope to countries further destroyed from Hitler’s assault…especially with the threat of the Iron Curtain miles away.
While Marshall called his idea the European Recovery Program, Truman insisted calling it the Marshall Plan, instead of listening to advisors that it be named after the president.
Due to Cold War tensions, the program was opened to Stalin, who denied the Eastern bloc’s participation.
From 1948 to 1952, Europe experienced the fastest period of growth ever in their history from the Marshall Plan’s assistance from 1948 to 1952, resulting in Marshall winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953, the first for an Army general.
ISRAEL
Sadly, Marshall did not support the recognition of the state of Israel.
OUR VISIT TO MARSHALL’S LEESBURG HOME
So, for my fascination the single paragraph in history texts about the Marshall Plan, I wanted to visit…and I learned even more about the Marshall Plan!
HISTORY OF HIS LEESBURG HOME
Purchasing this 3.88-acre property in 1941 for $16,000, about an hour west of Washington DC, Marshall only ever owned one other home.
After he passed away in 1960, his wife gave their home to their daughter, when she relocated to their winter home in North Carolina, the only other private home they ever owned.
When the daughter decided to sell the house in the 1990s, the citizens of Leesburg formed the George C. Marshall Home Preservation Fund (now the George C. Marshall International Center) to raise money to purchase the home for $2.3 million.
Restoring the home to its 1950s appearance, the foundation spent $4.5 million on reservations.
Donations literally came from far and wide, including from grateful nations in Europe, remembering all Marshall did for them as an American representative after World War II.
Further funding also came from private citizens, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and many others.
GARDENS
While Mrs. Marshall loved roses, she let some teenagers use them for a prom one year.
The beautiful gardens were restored by the Garden Club of Virginia.
DÉCOR FROM CHINA
Unlike most historical homes converted to museums, over 90% of the furnishings and décor belonged to the Marshalls.
With much of the décor from their time in China, some of it was gifted to them from a frequent guest to the home, their old friend, Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek!
DÉCOR FROM COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
While walking through the hallway I was pleasantly surprised by these prints from Colonial Williamsburg of the Governor’s Palace and Bruton Parish Church.
Asking for that story, I wondered how this very busy man ever found time to visit Colonial Williamsburg? Was he a huge fan?
While in Washington DC with Winston Churchill and others when diplomatic topics reached the hot-topic zone, Marshall took them on a time-travel adventure to the 4mph society for respite…which happily resulted in much calmer spirits!
{Although the docent said she found the story in The Colonial Williamsburg Journal, I’ve not discovered that yet.}
LAFAYETTE SIGHTING
Throughout the tour we learned how much the people of Europe loved George Marshall.
After the house tour, we took our time reading all the engraved bricks on the pathway to see the names of the donors, who wanted to help the town of Leesburg purchase Marshall’s old home.
Any surprise that this is my favorite brick? (see header photo)
Lafayette, we are here perfectly summarizes Marshall’s aid to Europe.
My hero, Lafayette, would be proud!
