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| 1951, Jan. 4 |
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| Pres. Truman stated in his weekly news conference that the U.S. probably would not bomb China without a formal congressional declaration of war. | 1 |
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| Jan. 5 |
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| The Senate opened the “great debate” on American foreign policy with an attack on the administration by Sen. Robert A. Taft. | 2 |
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| Jan. 6 |
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| It was revealed that U.S. arms and ammunition were being sent to Nationalist China to strengthen the defenses of Taiwan. | 3 |
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| Feb. 26 |
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| The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting the presidency to two terms, came into force. | 4 |
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| March 12 |
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| The Senate committee to investigate organized crime in interstate commerce (the Kefauver Committee) held its first public hearings in New York City. Two weeks of sensational disclosures followed. | 5 |
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| April 4 |
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| After three months of debate, the Senate approved (69–21) a resolution expressing the “sense” of its members on the issue of sending troops to Europe. It affirmed the president's plan to send four divisions to Europe, but served notice that no additional divisions should be sent without further congressional approval. | 6 |
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| April 11 |
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| Gen. Douglas MacArthur was relieved of all his commands in the Far East, to be succeeded by Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway (See April 10). In an address to a joint session of Congress on April 19, MacArthur presented his arguments against the administration's policies. On April 24 the Senate voted to conduct an investigation of the U.S. Far Eastern policy and the dismissal of MacArthur. Hearings during May 3–June 25 ended in approval of a limited war in Korea. | 7 |
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| April 25 |
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| Secretary of State Acheson revealed a U.S. commitment, undertaken ten weeks earlier, to give military aid to the Chinese Nationalist government for “the legitimate self-defense of Formosa.” | 8 |
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| June 4 |
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| The Supreme Court upheld (6–2) the Smith Act and the conviction of 11 Communists. | 9 |
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| June 19 |
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| Pres. Truman signed a military manpower bill extending the draft until July 1, 1955; lowering the draft age to 18; and authorizing universal military training to take effect at an unspecified date. | 10 |
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