identifier
stringlengths 1
43
| dataset
stringclasses 3
values | question
stringclasses 4
values | rank
int64 0
99
| url
stringlengths 14
1.88k
| read_more_link
stringclasses 1
value | language
stringclasses 1
value | title
stringlengths 0
200
| top_image
stringlengths 0
125k
| meta_img
stringlengths 0
125k
| images
listlengths 0
18.2k
| movies
listlengths 0
484
| keywords
listlengths 0
0
| meta_keywords
listlengths 1
48.5k
| tags
null | authors
listlengths 0
10
| publish_date
stringlengths 19
32
⌀ | summary
stringclasses 1
value | meta_description
stringlengths 0
258k
| meta_lang
stringclasses 68
values | meta_favicon
stringlengths 0
20.2k
| meta_site_name
stringlengths 0
641
| canonical_link
stringlengths 9
1.88k
⌀ | text
stringlengths 0
100k
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 33
|
https://www.biography.com/political-figures/harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Quotes, Facts & WW2
|
[
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/search.f1c199c.svg",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/close.38e3324.svg",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/logos/logo.5ec9b18.svg?primary=%2523ffffff",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/play.db7c035.svg?primary=%2523ffffff",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=640:* 640w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=980:* 980w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1024:* 1120w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1120:* 1200w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1200:* 1920w",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=640:* 640w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=768:* 980w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=980:* 1120w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=980:* 1200w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=980:* 1920w",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-theodore-roosevelt-sitting-in-an-automobile-news-photo-1721078436.jpg?crop=0.805xw:1.00xh;0.0992xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/franklin-delano-roosevelt-1882-1945-32nd-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-1933-1945-giving-one-of-his-fireside-broadcasts-to-the-american-nation-during-photo-by-universal-history-archivegetty.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/vintage-american-history-painting-of-royalty-free-illustration-1693947567.jpg?crop=0.758xw:0.628xh;0.141xw,0.186xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/joe-biden-wife-car-accident-gettyimages-515342964.jpg?crop=0.545xw:0.698xh;0.00650xw,0.0729xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/republican-presidential-candidate-former-u-n-ambassador-news-photo-1709824211.jpg?crop=0.580xw:0.868xh;0.357xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/bio-oppenheimer-and-truman-649dcfc170b6c.jpg?crop=0.503xw:1.00xh;0.236xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/who-killed-jfk-655d6b19b8b24.jpeg?crop=0.506xw:0.900xh;0.200xw,0.0456xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-97347150.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-646427982.jpg?crop=0.992xw:0.992xh;0.00321xw,0.00321xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/jimmy-carter-democratic-presidential-candidate-and-his-wife-rosalynn-share-a-moment-aboard-his-campaign-plane-getty.jpg?crop=0.665xw:1.00xh;0.144xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/abraham-lincoln-the-sixteenth-president-of-the-united-news-photo-1689291310.jpg?crop=0.782xw:0.662xh;0.188xw,0.137xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/walt-nauta-aid-to-former-president-donald-trump-follows-news-photo-1686680759.jpg?crop=0.473xw:0.707xh;0.252xw,0.0240xh&resize=360:*",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/logos/logo.5ec9b18.svg?primary=%2523ffffff",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/social/x.3361b6d.svg?primary=%2523ffffff&id=social-button-icon",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/social/facebook.a5a3a69.svg?primary=%2523ffffff&id=social-button-icon",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/social/instagram.f282b14.svg?primary=%2523ffffff&id=social-button-icon",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/logos/network-logo.04aa008.svg?primary=%2523ffffff"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"School: Independence High School (now William Chrisman High School)",
"Last Name: Truman",
"First Name: Harry",
"Death Year: 1972",
"Death State: Missouri",
"Death Month/Day: December 26",
"Death City: Kansas City",
"Birth Month/Day: May 8",
"Birth City: Lamar",
"Birth Year: 1884",
"Life Events/Experience: Held Political Office",
"Industry/Interest Area: World Politics",
"Affiliations: U.S. Democrat",
"Industry/Interest Area: U.S. Politics",
"Group: Who Is On Your Money?",
"Birth State: Missouri",
"Death Month: 12",
"Birth Month: 5",
"Astrological Sign: Taurus",
"Death Country: United States",
"Birth Country: United States"
] | null |
[] |
2014-04-03T01:23:39
|
Sworn in as the 33rd president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt's sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.
|
en
|
/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/favicon.3635572.ico
|
Biography
|
https://www.biography.com/political-figures/harry-s-truman
|
(1884-1972)
Who Was Harry S. Truman?
Harry S. Truman was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s vice president for just 82 days before Roosevelt died and Truman became the 33rd president. In his first months in office, he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, ending World War II. His policy of communist containment started the Cold War, and he initiated U.S. involvement in the Korean War. Truman left office in 1953 and died in 1972.
Early Life
Truman was the first of three children born to John Anderson Truman, a farmer and mule trader, and his wife, Martha Ellen Truman. Truman was named in honor of his maternal uncle, Harrison Young, but his parents couldn’t decide on a middle name. After more than a month, they settled on simply using the letter “S” as a tribute to both his maternal grandfather, Solomon Young, and his paternal grandfather, Anderson Shipp Truman.
Truman grew up on the family farm in Independence, Missouri, and did not attend college. He worked a variety of jobs after high school, first as a timekeeper for a railroad construction company, and then as a clerk and a bookkeeper at two separate banks in Kansas City. After five years, he returned to farming and joined the National Guard.
Military Career
When World War I erupted, Truman volunteered for duty. Though he was 33 years-old—two years older than the age limit for the draft—and eligible for exemption as a farmer, he helped organize his National Guard regiment, which was ultimately called into service in the 129th Field Artillery. Truman was promoted to captain in France and assigned Battery D, which was known for being the most unruly battery in the regiment. In spite of a generally shy and modest temperament, Truman captured the respect and admiration of his men and led them successfully through heavy fighting during the Meuse-Argonne campaign.
Early Involvement in Politics
After the war, Truman returned home and married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace in 1919, with whom he had one daughter, Mary Margaret. That same year, he made a foray into business when he and an associate, Eddie Jacobson, set up a hat shop in Kansas City. But with America experiencing an economic decline in the early 1920s, the business failed in 1922. With the closing of the business, Truman owed $20,000 to creditors. He refused to accept bankruptcy and insisted on paying back all the money he borrowed, which took more than 15 years.
About this time, he was approached by Democratic boss Thomas Pendergast, whose nephew James served with Truman during the war. Pendergast appointed Truman to a position as an overseer of highways, and after a year, chose him to run for one of three county-judge positions in Jackson County. He was elected judge, which was an administrative rather than a judicial position, but he was defeated when he ran for a second term. Truman ran again in 1926 and was elected as a presiding judge, a position he held until he ran for senator.
Senator
Truman was elected to the United States Senate in 1934. In his first term, he served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which was responsible for allocating tax money for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal projects, and the Interstate Commerce Committee, which oversaw railroads, shipping, and interstate transport. Along with Senator Burton Wheeler, Truman began investigating railroads, and in 1940, he initiated legislation that imposed tighter federal regulation on the railroads, which helped him establish his reputation as a man of integrity.
By the time Truman was up for reelection in 1940, Thomas Pendergast had been convicted of tax evasion and associated with voter fraud, and many predicted Truman’s connection to Pendergast would result in a defeat. Truman didn’t try to hide or distort his relationship with Pendergast, however, and his reputation as a frank and ethical man helped him win re-election, albeit narrowly.
In his second term, Truman chaired a special committee to investigate the National Defense Program to prevent war profiteering and wasteful spending in defense industries. He gained public support and recognition for his straightforward reports and practical recommendations, and he won the respect of his colleagues and the populace alike.
Vice Presidency
When Roosevelt had to choose a running mate for the 1944 presidential election, he deemed his acting vice president, Henry Wallace, unacceptable. Wallace was disliked by many of the senior Democrats in Washington, and since it was apparent that Roosevelt might not survive his fourth term, the vice presidential pick was especially important. Truman’s popularity, as well as his reputation as a fiscally responsible man and a defender of citizens’ rights, made him an attractive option. Truman was initially reluctant to accept, but once he received the nomination, he campaigned vigorously.
Roosevelt and Truman were elected in November 1944, and Truman took the oath of office on January 20, 1945. He served as vice president just 82 days before Roosevelt died of a massive stroke, and he was sworn in as president on April 12, 1945.
With no prior experience in foreign policy, Truman was thrust into the role of commander in chief and charged with ending a world war. In the first six months of his term, he announced the Germans’ surrender, dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—ending World War II—and signed the charter ratifying the United Nations.
After the War
In spite of these early successes, Truman’s diplomatic situation was beset with challenges. Although the Soviet Union had been a powerful ally to the United States during the war, international relations deteriorated quickly when it became apparent that the Soviets intended to remain in control of Eastern European nations that were expected to be reestablished according to their pre-Hitler governments. This, along with the exclusion of the Soviets from the reconstruction of Asia, began the Cold War.
Re-Election
Republicans won both houses of Congress in 1946, which was seen as a judgment of Truman’s policies, and polls indicated that re-election was all but impossible. So certain seemed the victory of New York Governor Thomas Dewey that the “Chicago Tribune” famously went to press with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” before many polling locations had released results. The final outcome was a win for Truman with 49.5 percent of the vote, compared with Dewey’s 45.1 percent, and was one of the greatest upsets in the history of American elections.
Harry Truman holds up the newspaper cover that falsely predicted his defeat.
The Korean War
Truman announced his domestic policy initiative, the “Fair Deal” program, in his 1949 State of the Union address. Building on Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” it included universal health care, an increase in the minimum wage, more funding for education and a guarantee of equal rights under the law for all citizens.
The program was a mixed success. In 1948, racial discrimination was banned in federal government hiring practices, the military was desegregated and the minimum wage had gone up. National health insurance was rejected, as was more money for education.
The Korean War broke out in June 1950, and Truman swiftly committed U.S. troops to the conflict. He believed that North Korea’s invasion of South Korea was a challenge from the Soviets, and that, if left unchecked, it could escalate to another world war and to further communist aggression. After a brief wave of public support for his decision, criticism mounted.
Truman initially endorsed a rollback strategy and encouraged General Douglas MacArthur to breach the 38th parallel, bringing forces into North Korea to take over the government. But when China sent 300,000 troops to the aid of North Korea, Truman changed tactics. He reverted to the containment strategy, focusing on preserving the independence of South Korea rather than eliminating communism in the north. MacArthur publicly disagreed. To Truman, this was insubordination and a challenge to his authority, and he dismissed MacArthur in April 1951. MacArthur was a popular general, and Truman’s already-weak approval rating declined further.
Steel Strike
Truman’s challenges were not limited to international affairs. On the home front, he was struggling to manage a labor dispute between the United Steel Workers of America and the major steel mills. The union demanded a wage increase, but the mill owners refused to grant it unless the government allowed them to increase the prices of their consumer goods, which had been capped by the Wage Stabilization Board. Unable to broker an agreement and unwilling to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which was passed in spite of his veto in 1947 and would have allowed him to seek an injunction that prevented the union from striking, Truman seized the steel mills in the name of the government.
The steel companies responded by filing a suit against the government, and the case, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company v. Sawyer (sometimes referred to as "The Steel Seizure Case") went before the Supreme Court. The Court found in favor of the steel mills and forced Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to give the mills back to the owners. Truman's handling of this dispute further tarnished his reputation with the American people.
Post-Presidency and Death
In March 1952, Truman announced that he would not run for re-election. He gave his support to Governor Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic nominee, though Stevenson was distancing himself from the president because of his poor approval rating.
After retiring from the presidency, Truman returned to Independence, Missouri, where he wrote his memoirs, oversaw the construction of his presidential library and took long walks. He died on December 26, 1972, and is buried next to Bess in the courtyard of the Truman Library.
QUICK FACTS
Name: Harry S. Truman
Birth Year: 1884
Birth date: May 8, 1884
Birth State: Missouri
Birth City: Lamar
Birth Country: United States
Gender: Male
Best Known For: Sworn in as the 33rd president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt's sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.
Astrological Sign: Taurus
Schools
Independence High School (now William Chrisman High School)
Death Year: 1972
Death date: December 26, 1972
Death State: Missouri
Death City: Kansas City
Death Country: United States
Fact Check
We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us!
CITATION INFORMATION
Article Title: Harry S. Truman Biography
Author: Biography.com Editors
Website Name: The Biography.com website
Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/harry-s-truman
Access Date:
Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
Last Updated: April 15, 2021
Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
QUOTES
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 92
|
https://twitter.com/mostateparks/status/1788192446016274497
|
en
|
x.com
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
X (formerly Twitter)
| null | ||||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 64
|
https://theclio.com/entry/33964
|
en
|
Harry Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/app-bar-logo-85bcdf195c567dbecc94e4b99e78e9a5.png",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80049.jpg",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80050.jpg",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80051.jpg",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/twitter-d6525199f36e4e7cb451233398cee7e0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/fb-05c6c74da3ed97647d396039e976f44e.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/fb-05c6c74da3ed97647d396039e976f44e.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/twitter-d6525199f36e4e7cb451233398cee7e0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/instagram-f90d7f573b3958d8e34d3045f571fec0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/tumblr-ea0854cdd01cf0751b15cf07f1491ade.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/neh-30b8993268c0df506f84e9e1723481a5.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/knight-0c26ecb2d54ca356efea474eed7ae0ed.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/WTKF_logo_2020-ceada665713f26ff8f228696d2e51107.jpg",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/umkc-logo-a4711c4a99a86938c78fba657a6f2796.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
There have been countless examples of powerful and influential beings coming from humble beginnings. Harry Truman is one such example. A baby born in a minuscule house rose to become the most recognizable political figure on Earth. President Harry Truman was born on May 8th, 1884 in the small rural town of Lamar, Missouri. A small six room house and barn diagonally across the street were all that the Truman family could call theirs. The property accounts for a mere two and a half acres signaling Truman as a man who came from very little and rose to be the most powerful man on planet Earth. It was in this house located in this small town that a boy was born who would make a decision sixty-one years later that would completely change the direction and landscape of human history.
|
en
|
/_next/static/images/clio-logo-background-small-451d24efda1e099e31bcf2230362805a.jpg
|
Clio
|
https://theclio.com/entry/33964
|
Mattie Young grew up on a farm in the Kansas City Region. The land that the Young household owned was approximately 600 acres and well off. Mattie enjoyed the frequent gatherings and dances that would take place in her family’s parlor rooms or on neighboring farms. It is believed that at one such social event Mattie met John Truman who was freshly back from serving in the Civil War. The two participated in a hypothesized lengthy courtship until they decided to marry in 1881. John was thirty and Mattie was twenty-nine.
The Wedding was small but traditional. John suffered from “little man’s syndrome” standing at five foot four while his new wife clocked in at five foot six. For this reason, John decided the wedding portrait should feature his likeness seated. The two bought a newly constructed house in Lamar, Missouri for $685 and for an additional $200 John purchased a small barn on the same block and used it to sell mules and open his business. Mattie’s family is reported to have found the Truman residence an abysmal and soul-sucking place but Mattie herself remained positive all the same.
During their time in Lamar, Mattie gave birth to two babies. The first baby died in childbirth but the second was a boy and was born on May 8th, 1884. The Truman couple didn’t give him a name right away and he went approximately a month before his birth was registered with the county. John and Mattie deliberated for weeks over the child’s middle name trying to decide to name him after John’s family or Mattie’s. With Solomon and Shipp on the table and no viable way to break a tie, they decided to make his middle name simply S. It would stand for nothing which was common for their Scotch-Irish heritage. In honor of his Uncle Harrison, the baby was named Harry- Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States. He would never have any memories of his first home in Lamar. That small baby boy born in the southernmost room, barely big enough for a bed, would be the direct successor to a president who saved a nation from a Great Depression and pushed through a world war, he himself would be the man who first utilized an atomic bomb, and his doctrine would shape American foreign policy for 30 years following his own presidency. This small minuscule house in rural Missouri is where a boy was born who would change the world.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 31
|
https://has-fallen.fandom.com/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180224125435
|
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180224125435
|
[
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/e/e6/Site-logo.png/revision/latest?cb=20210713163954",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180224125435",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/d/de/Flag_of_the_United_States.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/20?cb=20130123191015",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/6a181c72-e8bf-419b-b4db-18fd56a0eb60",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/6c42ce6a-b205-41f5-82c6-5011721932e7",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/464fc70a-5090-490b-b47e-0759e89c263f",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/f7bb9d33-4f9a-4faa-88fe-2a0bd8138668"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Has Fallen Wiki"
] |
2024-07-03T16:38:30+00:00
|
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was an American politician who served as the 33rd President of the United States from 1945 to 1953 and the 34th Vice President of the United States from January 20, 1945 to April 12, 1945. As the final running mate of President Franklin D...
|
en
|
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/4/4a/Site-favicon.ico/revision/latest?cb=20211224032515
|
Has Fallen Wiki
|
https://has-fallen.fandom.com/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was an American politician who served as the 33rd President of the United States from 1945 to 1953 and the 34th Vice President of the United States from January 20, 1945 to April 12, 1945. As the final running mate of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, Truman succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945. He was succeeded by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Biography[]
Truman was born in Missouri and spent most of his youth on his family's farm. In the last five months of World War I, he served in combat in France as an artillery officer. After the war, he briefly owned a haberdashery and joined the Democratic Party political machine of Tom Pendergast in Kansas City, Missouri. Truman was first elected to public office as a county official and became a U.S. Senator in 1935. He gained national prominence as head of the Truman Committee formed in March 1941, which exposed waste, fraud, and corruption in wartime contracts.
During World War II, while Nazi Germany surrendered a few weeks after Truman assumed the presidency, the war with Imperial Japan was expected to last another year or more. Truman approved the use of atomic weapons against Japan, intending to force Japan's surrender and spare American lives in a planned invasion; the decision remains controversial. His presidency was a turning point in foreign affairs, as his government supported an internationalist foreign policy in conjunction with European allies. Following the war, Truman assisted in the founding of the United Nations, issued the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, and passed the $13 billion Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, including the Axis Powers, whereas the wartime allied Soviet Union became the peacetime enemy, and the Cold War began. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift of 1948 and the creation of NATO in 1949. When communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, he immediately sent in U.S. troops and gained UN approval for the Korean War. After initial success, the UN forces were thrown back by Chinese intervention and the conflict was stalemated through the final years of Truman's presidency.
On domestic issues, bills endorsed by Truman often faced opposition from a conservative Congress dominated by the South, but his administration successfully guided the American economy through post-war economic challenges. He said civil rights was a moral priority and in 1948 submitted the first comprehensive legislation; in addition, he issued Executive Orders the same year to start racial integration in the military and federal agencies. Corruption in Truman's administration, which was linked to certain members in the cabinet and senior White House staff, was brought up as a central issue in the 1952 presidential campaign. Adlai Stevenson, Truman's successor as Democratic nominee, lost to Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Commander of the Allied Armed Forces. Popular and scholarly assessments of Truman's presidency were initially poor, but became more positive over time, following his retirement from politics.
In the late 1940's, Truman gut the White House interior walls for security purposes. This was proved effective as Connor Asher and Mike Banning used the walls to hide from the Koreans for United Freedom during the White House Siege in 2013.
Appearances[]
In-universe: Truman is still acknowledged, albeit not mentioned or discussed in Olympus Has Fallen. He is shown in one of the Treasury Department's main hallway entrances.
See also[]
|
||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 28
|
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/truman_harry_s.shtml
|
en
|
Historic Figures: Harry S Truman (1884
|
http://www.bbc.co.uk/favicon.ico
|
http://www.bbc.co.uk/favicon.ico
|
[
"https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/2e00d1d53e9c3bd91993196aa19a1d88589969f0.png",
"https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/d33c52fb8bd516111402a694597604b8951dd7ad.jpg",
"https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/b83623508ad5dc6b7d615989b4b3e89cd6946136.jpg",
"https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/0dd5b3117955adde20b5c309087de919447b3964.jpg",
"https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/a8e42f8fe987b7cc9bf2d43b74b2c74b2448d2e3.png",
"https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/56d45f8a17f5078a20af9962c992ca4678450765.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"history",
"harry s truman",
"president",
"usa",
"world war two",
"cold war"
] | null |
[] |
2006-09-04T00:00:00
|
World War Two US president, ordered atomic bombings of Japan
|
en
|
http://www.bbc.co.uk/favicon.ico
| null |
Truman was the 33rd president of the United States who oversaw the end of World War Two, including the atomic bombing of Japan, and the new challenges of the Cold War.
Harry Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on 8 May 1884. After leaving school he held a series of clerical positions, as well as farming. In 1917, he joined the US Army and fought in World War One. He returned home in 1919 and married Bess Wallace. They had one daughter.
In 1923, he was appointed a judge in Jackson County, a mainly administrative position, and in his spare time studied at Kansas City Law School. He became active in Democrat politics in Missouri and was elected to the senate in 1934 and re-elected in 1940. In 1941, he headed the Truman Committee investigating waste and fraud in the US defence programme. It was estimated to have saved around $15 billion and made Truman a national figure.
Franklin Roosevelt selected Truman as vice president in 1944. In April 1945, with the end of World War Two in sight, Roosevelt died and Truman became president. With very little preparation he faced huge responsibilities in the final months of the war, including authorising the use of the atomic bomb against Japan, and planning the post-war world. Two months after taking office he witnessed the signing of United Nations Charter.
Truman was unable to achieve many of his immediate post-war domestic aims because of opposition within his own party and the Republican Party regaining control of congress. In foreign policy, he responded to the growing threat from the Soviet Union. He issued the Truman Doctrine, justifying support for any country the US believed to be threatened by communism. He introduced the Marshall Plan, which spent more than $13 billion in rebuilding Europe. When the Soviets blockaded the western sectors of Berlin in the summer of 1948, Truman authorised a massive airlift of supplies until the Soviets backed down. The fear of the spread of communism in Europe led to the establishment in 1949 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a defence alliance between Western European countries, Canada and the US.
Truman expected to lose the 1948 presidential election as his pro-civil rights actions had alienated many southern Democrats. Nonetheless, he won and foreign policy again dominated in his second term. In the summer of 1950, he authorised US military involvement in the Korean War.
Truman retired from politics in 1952 and died in Kansas City on 26 December 1972.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 53
|
https://www.springfieldmo.org/listing/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/838/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,q_75,w_949/v1/clients/springfield/Enews_footer_113caa35-5996-4387-803b-36b703a9f089.jpg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/enewsletter-title-white.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,q_75,w_949/v1/clients/springfield/right_bg_b91118bc-b948-44ef-84e9-a02470a999d7.jpg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/springfield-guide-title-white.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/greencountyLogo_Rev_47f24915-4dd6-46a9-ab77-887806887405.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Spfld_Sports_Comm_Logo_reverse_f546151f-ab01-4fc1-a982-e472a5b12837.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Springfield_Chamber_logo_cmyk_Vertical_Rev_a07b303a-1149-4082-83b5-c13b226f1819.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/VisitMologo_white_f848aca2-e2fb-432b-9159-9a98633ab746.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Brand_USA_Logo_Rev_e4ab77d6-57f7-4e7c-b472-df04df0bf45d.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Springfield_City_Logo_Rev_26a76f5b-f4e1-4305-a1f8-09f5cc874612.png",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/ta-logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/sv-logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/f_jpg,q_75,w_150/v1/clients/springfield/default_image_63cf57a3-d7ca-47ce-b385-5725d179044e.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Harry S. Truman, the only Missourian ever elected U.S. President, was born here on May 8, 1884. Truman's family stayed in the six room home until he was almost one year old. Furnishings from the period fill the house. Guided tours are free.
|
en
|
https://www.springfieldmo.org/listing/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/838/
|
Your browser is not supported for this experience.
We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 48
|
https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/statue/truman/
|
en
|
National Statuary Hall Collection
|
[
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/logo.svg",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/icons/fullscreen.svg",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/statues/large/truman.webp",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/statues/small/blair.webp",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/app.webp",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/home/app-store.webp",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/home/google-play.webp",
"https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/apps/nshc/img/logo-footer.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Collection of 100 statues donated by each of the 50 states to honor notable people in the stateâs history.
|
en
|
../../favicons/apple-touch-icon.png
| null |
About This Statue
President Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri and was raised in Independence. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Truman enlisted in the Army, serving first as an artillery instructor. In Europe, he earned his men's respect and distinguished himself as captain of an artillery battery.
Returning home after the war, Truman was elected a judge of the Jackson County Court in 1922.
He later served as a U.S. Senator from Missouri from 1935-1945.
During World War II, he headed the Senate war investigating committee, checking into waste and corruption and saving perhaps as much as 15 billion dollars.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Truman as his vice-presidential running mate on the way to winning an unprecedented fourth term in 1944.
Eighty-two days after taking their oaths of office, Roosevelt died, leaving Truman to serve as president during the final months of World War II.
Truman won election to a full term as president in 1948.
Major developments during his presidency included the formation of NATO, the start of the Cold War, establishment of a postwar economy, and racial integration of the armed services.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 8
|
https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-in-brief
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman: Life in Brief
|
https://millercenter.org/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
https://millercenter.org/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
[
"https://millercenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumb_2x_360x360/public/auth-hamby_alonzo-116x116.jpg?itok=1BSjcnvF"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Alonzo L. Hamby"
] |
2016-10-04T16:15:18-04:00
|
en
|
/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
Miller Center
|
https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-in-brief
|
Harry S. Truman became President of the United States with the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945. During his nearly eight years in office, Truman confronted enormous challenges in both foreign and domestic affairs. Truman's policies abroad, and especially toward the Soviet Union in the emerging Cold War, would become staples of American foreign policy for generations. At home, Truman protected and reinforced the New Deal reforms of his predecessor, guided the American economy from a war-time to a peace-time footing, and advanced the cause of African-American civil rights. Historians now rank Truman among the nation's best Presidents.
Student and Soldier
Harry Truman was a child of Missouri. Born on May 8, 1884, in the town of Lamar, Truman grew up in Independence, only ten miles east of Kansas City. As a child he devoured history books and literature, played the piano enthusiastically, and dreamed of becoming a great soldier. His poor eyesight made a commission to West Point impossible, however, and his family's financial problems kept him from attending a four-year college.
Truman instead worked on the family farm between 1906 and 1914. Though he detested farming, it was during this difficult time that he fell in love with Virginia "Bess" Wallace, whom he had met as a child. Bess refused Harry's marriage proposal in 1911 but the romance continued. They wed in 1919 and five years later had their first and only child, Mary Margaret.
In 1914, after his father's death, Truman tried unsuccessfully to earn a living as an owner and operator of a small mining company and oil business, all the while remaining involved with the farm. In 1917, Truman's National Guard unit shipped out to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force fighting the world war. The soldiering life suited Truman, who turned his battery—which had a reputation for unruliness and ineffectiveness—into a top-notch unit.
A Career in Politics
Back home from the war, Truman opened a men's furnishings store (shirts, ties, underwear, sock, etc.—no suits, coats, or shoes) with an army buddy. The shop failed, however, after only a few years. In 1922, Thomas J. Pendergast, the Democratic boss of Kansas City, asked Truman to run for a judgeship on the county court of Jackson County's eastern district. Truman served one term, was defeated for a second, and then became presiding judge in 1926, a position he held until 1934. As presiding judge, Truman managed the county's finances during the early years of the Great Depression. Despite his association with the corrupt Pendergast, Truman established a reputation for personal integrity, honesty, and efficiency.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate with help of the Pendergast political machine. Senator Truman supported the New Deal, although he proved only a marginally important legislator. He became a national figure during World War II when he chaired the "Truman Committee" investigating government defense spending. President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose Truman as his running mate in the 1944 presidential campaign largely because the Missourian passed muster with Southern Democrats and party officials. The Roosevelt-Truman ticket won a comfortable victory over its Republican opposition, though Truman would serve only eighty-two days as vice president. With the death of FDR on April 12, 1945, Harry S. Truman became the thirty-third President of the United States.
Truman and Post-War America
Truman took office as World War II in Europe drew to a close. The German leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide in Berlin only two weeks into Truman's presidency and the allies declared victory in Europe on May 7, 1945. The war in the Pacific, however, was far from being over; most experts believed it might last another year and require an American invasion of Japan. The U.S. and British governments, though, had secretly begun to develop the world's most deadly weapon—an atomic bomb. Upon its completion and successful testing in the summer of 1945, Truman approved its use against Japan. On August 6 and 9, 1945, the U.S. Army Air Force dropped atomic bombs on two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, immediately killing upwards of 100,000 people (with perhaps twice that number dying from the aftereffects of radiation poisoning). Japanese emperor Hirohito agreed to surrender days later, bringing World War II to a close.
Truman faced unprecedented and defining challenges in international affairs during the first years of his presidency. American relations with the Soviet Union—nominal allies in the battle against Germany and Japan—began to deteriorate even before victory in World War II. Serious ideological differences—the United States supported democratic institutions and market principles, while Soviet leaders were totalitarian and ran a command economy—separated the two countries. But it was the diverging interests of the emerging superpowers in Europe and Asia which sharpened their differences.
In response to what it viewed as Soviet threats, the Truman administration constructed foreign policies to contain the Soviet Union's political power and counter its military strength. By 1949, Soviet and American policies had divided Europe into a Soviet-controlled bloc in the east and an American-supported grouping in the west. That same year, a communist government sympathetic to the Soviet Union came to power in China, the world's most populous nation. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, which would last for over forty years, had begun.
At home, President Truman presided over the difficult transition from a war-time to a peace-time economy. During World War II, the American government had intervened in the nation's economy to an unprecedented degree, controlling prices, wages, and production. Truman lobbied for a continuing government role in the immediate post-war economy and also for an expansive liberal agenda that built on the New Deal. Republicans and conservative Democrats attacked this strategy and the President mercilessly. An immediate postwar economy characterized by high inflation and consumer shortages further eroded Truman's support and contributed to the Democrats losing control of Congress in the 1946 midterm elections. Newly empowered Republicans and conservative Democrats stymied Truman's liberal proposals and began rolling back some New Deal gains, especially through the Taft-Hartley labor law moderately restricting union activity.
Election of 1948
Truman's political fortunes reached their low point in 1946 and 1947, a nadir from which few observers believed the President could recover to win a second term. Freed from shouldering primary responsibility for the nation's economy (which began to stabilize) and the nearly impossible burden of uniting the disparate Democratic party behind a progressive agenda, Truman let the Republicans try to govern. When they faltered or pushed conservative programs, Truman counterattacked with skill, fire, and wit. The President also took steps to energize his liberal Democratic base, especially blacks, unions, and urban dwellers, issuing executive orders that pushed forward the cause of African-American civil rights and vetoing (unsuccessfully) the Taft-Hartley bill.
Truman won the presidential nomination of a severely divided Democratic party in the summer of 1948 and faced New York's Republican governor Thomas Dewey in the general election. Few expected him to win, but the President waged a vigorous campaign that excoriated Republicans in Congress as much as it attacked Dewey. Truman defeated Dewey in November 1948, capping one of the most stunning political comebacks in American history.
A Troubled Second Term
Truman viewed his reelection as a mandate for a liberal agenda, which he presented under the name "The Fair Deal." The President miscalculated, however, as the American public and conservatives in both parties on Capitol Hill rejected most of his program. He did win passage of some important liberal legislation that raised the minimum wage and expanded Social Security. Moreover, the American economy began a period of sustained growth in the early 1950s that lasted for nearly two decades. Increasingly, though, his administration was buffeted by charges of corruption and being "soft on communism." The latter critique was extremely damaging as anti-communism became one of the defining characteristics of early Cold War American political culture. Some of the most virulent (and irresponsible) anti-communists, like Wisconsin's Republican senator Joseph McCarthy, lambasted the administration and the State Department, in particular.
Significant foreign policy challenges persisted into Truman's second term. The President committed the United States to the defense of South Korea in the summer of 1950 after that nation, an American ally, was invaded by its communist neighbor, North Korea. The American military launched a counterattack that pushed the North Koreans back to the Chinese border, whereupon the Chinese entered the war in the fall of 1950. The conflict settled into a bloody and grisly stalemate that would not be resolved until Truman left office in 1953. The Korean War globalized the Cold War and spurred a massive American military build-up that began the nuclear arms race in earnest.
Truman in Perspective
Truman's popularity sank during his second term, due largely to accusations of corruption, charges that the administration was "soft on communism," and the stalemated Korean War. Unsurprisingly, Truman chose not to run in 1952. The Democratic Party's candidate, Governor Adlai Stevenson, lost to war hero and Republican General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the fall election.
Truman's legacy has become clearer and more impressive in the years since he left office. Most scholars admit that the President faced enormous challenges domestically, internationally, and politically. While he occasionally failed to measure accurately the nation's political tenor and committed some significant policy blunders, Truman achieved notable successes. Domestically, he took important first steps in civil rights, protected many of the New Deal's gains, and presided over an economy that would enjoy nearly two decades of unprecedented growth. In foreign affairs, the President and his advisers established many of the basic foundations of America foreign policy, especially in American-Soviet relations, that would guide the nation in the decades ahead. On the whole, Truman is currently celebrated by the public, politicians, and scholars alike.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 12
|
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/truman/timeline/
|
en
|
Truman Timeline
|
[
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/themes/truman-library/assets/images/layout/truman-library-print-logo.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-baby.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/79-27-brothers-Harry-and-John-e1413574021357.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/84-43-Mary-Jane-Truman.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/young-bess-wallace.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-high-school-photo1.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/farm-collage2.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/29-0113a-Courtship-letter-to-bess.gif",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-is-sworn.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/1918-ship-arrives-in-brest-france.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-bess-and-truman-get-married.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-recession.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Untitled-3.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/judge-truman.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-badge.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/58-442-Truman-Committee.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/72-18-376-truman-vp-nomination-1944.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/swearing-in-1945.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ve-day.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/potsdam.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/bomb1.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/vj-press-conference.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TIME2.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-doctrine.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Truman-Sig-Blue.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/israel.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/displaced-persons.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/berlinairlift.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/1948convention.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/9981-headline.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-second-term.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-inagaurated.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-us-aids-sout-korea.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/assassination-weapons.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/hume-letter1.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/macarthur.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-ike.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/groundbreaking.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-memoir-starts.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/library-dedication.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-mr-citizen.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-statue.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-senate-address.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/funeral.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/32x32instG.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/plugins/gdpr-cookie-compliance/dist/images/gdpr-logo.png",
"https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/846321975/?guid=ON&script=0"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2014-06-02T00:02:42+00:00
|
A timeline of the historic life of President Harry S. Truman.
|
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/themes/truman-library/favicon.ico
|
Truman Library Institute
|
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/truman/timeline/
|
The Trumans move to 619 Crysler Street in Independence, Missouri.
Young Harry meets Bess Wallace for the first time in First Presbyterian Church’s Sunday School. He was six years old and she was five. “I saw a beautiful curly haired girl there,” Truman remembered years later. “I thought (and still think) she was the most beautiful girl I ever saw. She had tanned skin, blond hair, golden as sunshine, and the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen or ever will see.”
In January, Harry becomes seriously ill with diphtheria and is forced to drop out of the second grade at the Noland School. After starting to recover, he suffered a relapse and became paralyzed for perhaps a few months. His parents pushed him around in a baby carriage or laid him on the floor with a book to read. According to his sister, Mary Jane, it was during these months of immobility that he developed his lifelong love of reading.
Harry Truman graduates from Independence High School.
No grading books or report cards survive to indicate what kind of student Harry was in high school, but Harry later reflected that he was, academically, “along about the middle.” In an essay on “Courage,” Harry wrote that “a true heart[,] a strong mind and a great deal of courage and I think a man will get through the world,” which describes fairly well the attitude he would try to bring to his presidency many years later.
Among Harry’s classmates was Charles G. Ross, who would forty-four years later become Truman’s White House press secretary.
June 28
Harry and Bess are married on June 28 at Trinity Episcopal in Independence, Missouri.
Shortly before the wedding, Truman and Eddie Jacobson open a haberdashery at 104 West 12th Street in downtown Kansas City. After brief initial success, the store went bankrupt during the recession of 1921. Harry and Eddie remained close friends, and Jacobson’s advice to Truman later played a role in the U.S. government’s decision to recognize Israel.
May
Truman is selected as one of the 10 most useful officials in Washington, D.C. in a poll by Look Magazine.
July 21
Truman is nominated for the office of vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Jan 20
Truman is inaugurated for his second term as president. In his inaugural address, he calls for a “bold new program” to help underprivileged peoples of the earth (Point IV Program).
Aug 10
Truman signs the National Security Act Amendment, establishing a unified Department of Defense.
May 8
Truman becomes the first former president to address the U. S. Senate while it is in formal session. The Senate honors him on his 80th birthday.
July 30
President Johnson signs the Medicare bill at the Truman Library. Mr. and Mrs. Truman will receive Medicare registration cards numbers one and two in January 1966. On his Medicare application form, Truman writes “Farmer” on the line next to “Former Occupation.”
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 10
|
https://historicmissouri.org/files/show/732
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home Lamar Missouri
|
[
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/theme_uploads/3d68dd11bb094a945ba3310c7ca9430b.png",
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/fullsize/3efeab4402aec2df02717e986042bb1d.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home is a State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri, and was built in 1881. This photo shows the southeast corner of the Truman family house with an Austrian tree once planted to celebrate the birth of Harry S. Truman. The tree was removed in 2012 and a piece of it is on display.
|
en
|
Historic Missouri
| null |
The Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home is a State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri, and was built in 1881. This photo shows the southeast corner of the Truman family house with an Austrian tree once planted to celebrate the birth of Harry S. Truman. The tree was removed in 2012 and a piece of it is on display.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 3
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e7/Cscr-featured.svg/20px-Cscr-featured.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1b/Semi-protection-shackle.svg/20px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Harry_S_Truman_Signature.svg/128px-Harry_S_Truman_Signature.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Flag_of_the_United_States_%281912-1959%29.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%281912-1959%29.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/US-O6_insignia.svg/25px-US-O6_insignia.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Harry_ca._1897.jpg/220px-Harry_ca._1897.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Trumanhist.JPG/220px-Trumanhist.JPG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Harry_S._Truman_in_his_World_War_I_Army_uniform.jpg/220px-Harry_S._Truman_in_his_World_War_I_Army_uniform.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Harry_S._Truman_WW_I.jpg/220px-Harry_S._Truman_WW_I.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Officers%2C_129th_Field_Artillery%2C_at_regimental_headquarters_at_Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Chesnay_near_Courcemont%2C_France%2C_March_1919._Cap_-_NARA_-_530949.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Officers%2C_129th_Field_Artillery%2C_at_regimental_headquarters_at_Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Chesnay_near_Courcemont%2C_France%2C_March_1919._Cap_-_NARA_-_530949.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/TrumanWedding.PNG/220px-TrumanWedding.PNG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Senate_Desk_Truman.jpg/220px-Senate_Desk_Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Truman-Mother-LIFE-1944.jpg/220px-Truman-Mother-LIFE-1944.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg/220px-RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_taking_the_oath_of_office_as_President_of_the_United_States_in_the_Cabinet_Room_of_the..._-_NARA_-_199062.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_taking_the_oath_of_office_as_President_of_the_United_States_in_the_Cabinet_Room_of_the..._-_NARA_-_199062.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-29645-0001%2C_Potsdamer_Konferenz%2C_Stalin%2C_Truman%2C_Churchill.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-29645-0001%2C_Potsdamer_Konferenz%2C_Stalin%2C_Truman%2C_Churchill.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg/220px-Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_reading_the_announcement_of_Japan%27s_surrender_to_assembled..._-_NARA_-_199171.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_reading_the_announcement_of_Japan%27s_surrender_to_assembled..._-_NARA_-_199171.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/President_Truman_with_Greek_sponge_divers..jpg/220px-President_Truman_with_Greek_sponge_divers..jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Charles_Griffith_Ross.jpg/220px-Charles_Griffith_Ross.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Truman_receives_menorah.jpg/220px-Truman_receives_menorah.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/President_Truman_with_Governor_Dewey_at_dedication_of_the_Idlewild_Airport_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-President_Truman_with_Governor_Dewey_at_dedication_of_the_Idlewild_Airport_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/ElectoralCollege1948.svg/250px-ElectoralCollege1948.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Dewey_Defeats_Truman.jpg/220px-Dewey_Defeats_Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg/220px-Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Photograph_of_President_Truman_and_Indian_Prime_Minister_Jawaharlal_Nehru%2C_with_Nehru%27s_sister%2C_Madame_Pandit%2C_waving..._-_NARA_-_200154.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_and_Indian_Prime_Minister_Jawaharlal_Nehru%2C_with_Nehru%27s_sister%2C_Madame_Pandit%2C_waving..._-_NARA_-_200154.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Photograph_of_the_Shah_of_Iran_speaking_at_Washington_National_Airport%2C_during_ceremonies_welcoming_him_to_the_United..._-_NARA_-_200143.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Photograph_of_the_Shah_of_Iran_speaking_at_Washington_National_Airport%2C_during_ceremonies_welcoming_him_to_the_United..._-_NARA_-_200143.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/HarryTruman.jpg/220px-HarryTruman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/White-house-1950-interior-shell.jpg/220px-White-house-1950-interior-shell.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Nuvola_apps_kaboodle.svg/16px-Nuvola_apps_kaboodle.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Harry_S_Truman_-_NARA_-_530677_%282%29.jpg/220px-Harry_S_Truman_-_NARA_-_530677_%282%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office_with_the_Democratic_nominees_for_President_and_Vice_President..._-_NARA_-_200393.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office_with_the_Democratic_nominees_for_President_and_Vice_President..._-_NARA_-_200393.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_conferring_with_labor_leader_Walter_Reuther%2C_president_of_the..._-_NARA_-_200406.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_conferring_with_labor_leader_Walter_Reuther%2C_president_of_the..._-_NARA_-_200406.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Lyndon_Johnson_signing_Medicare_bill%2C_with_Harry_Truman%2C_July_30%2C_1965.jpg/250px-Lyndon_Johnson_signing_Medicare_bill%2C_with_Harry_Truman%2C_July_30%2C_1965.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Photograph_of_President_John_F._Kennedy%2C_on_his_first_full_day_in_office%2C_greeting_former_President_Harry_S._Truman..._-_NARA_-_200436.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_John_F._Kennedy%2C_on_his_first_full_day_in_office%2C_greeting_former_President_Harry_S._Truman..._-_NARA_-_200436.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_and_JFK_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_and_JFK_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/TrumanFuneralWreath.jpg/220px-TrumanFuneralWreath.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Harry_S._and_Bess_Truman_graves_July_2007.jpg/220px-Harry_S._and_Bess_Truman_graves_July_2007.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Truman_pass-the-buck.jpg/220px-Truman_pass-the-buck.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Harry_S_TRuman_1973_Issue-8c.jpg/165px-Harry_S_TRuman_1973_Issue-8c.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg/27px-Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/23px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/26px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/15px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/PD-icon.svg/12px-PD-icon.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/100px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/100px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg/80px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/FDR_in_1933.jpg/100px-FDR_in_1933.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/100px-Harry_S._Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/P_vip.svg/19px-P_vip.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/A_coloured_voting_box.svg/19px-A_coloured_voting_box.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/21px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/poweredby_mediawiki.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"
] |
2001-08-23T21:11:09+00:00
|
en
|
/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
President of the United States from 1945 to 1953
"Harry Truman" redirects here. For other uses, see Harry Truman (disambiguation).
Harry S. Truman[b] (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States senator from Missouri from 1935 to 1945 and briefly as the 34th vice president in 1945 under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assuming the presidency after Roosevelt's death, Truman implemented the Marshall Plan in the wake of World War II to rebuild the economy of Western Europe and established both the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain the expansion of Soviet communism. He proposed numerous liberal domestic reforms, but few were enacted by the conservative coalition that dominated the Congress.
Truman was raised in Independence, Missouri, and during World War I fought in France as a captain in the Field Artillery. Returning home, he opened a haberdashery in Kansas City, Missouri, and was elected as a judge of Jackson County in 1922. Truman was elected to the United States Senate from Missouri in 1934. Between 1940 and 1944, he gained national prominence as chairman of the Truman Committee, which was aimed at reducing waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts.
Truman was elected vice president in the 1944 presidential election and assumed the presidency upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. It was only when Truman assumed the presidency that he was informed about the ongoing Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb. Truman authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the world war. Truman's administration engaged in an internationalist foreign policy by working closely with Britain. Truman staunchly denounced isolationism. He energized the New Deal coalition during the 1948 presidential election, despite a divided Democratic Party, and won a surprise victory against Republican Party nominee Thomas E. Dewey that secured his own presidential term.
Truman presided over the onset of the Cold War in 1947. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan in 1948. With the involvement of the US in the Korean War of 1950–1953, South Korea repelled the invasion by North Korea. Domestically, the postwar economic challenges such as strikes and inflation created a mixed reaction over the effectiveness of his administration. In 1948, he proposed Congress pass comprehensive civil rights legislation. Congress refused, so Truman issued Executive Order 9980 and Executive Order 9981, which prohibited discrimination in federal agencies and desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces.
Investigations revealed corruption in parts of the Truman administration, and this became a major campaign issue in the 1952 presidential election, although they did not implicate Truman himself. He was eligible for reelection in 1952 but, with poor polling, he chose not to run. Truman went into a retirement marked by the founding of his presidential library and the publication of his memoirs. It was long thought that his retirement years were financially difficult for Truman, resulting in Congress establishing a pension for former presidents, but evidence eventually emerged that he amassed considerable wealth, some of it while still president. When he left office, Truman's administration was heavily criticized. Despite this controversy, scholars rank Truman in the first quartile of American presidents. In addition, critical reassessment of his presidency has improved his reputation among historians and the general population.[7]
Early life, family, and education
Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884, the oldest child of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. He was named for his maternal uncle, Harrison "Harry" Young. His middle initial, "S", is not an abbreviation of one particular name. Rather, it honors both his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, a somewhat common practice in the American South at the time.[b] A brother, John Vivian, was born soon after Harry, followed by sister Mary Jane. While Truman's ancestry was primarily English, he also had some Scots-Irish, German, and French ancestry.[10][11]
John Truman was a farmer and livestock dealer. The family lived in Lamar until Harry was ten months old, when they moved to a farm near Harrisonville, Missouri. They next moved to Belton and in 1887 to his grandparents' 600-acre (240 ha) farm in Grandview. When Truman was six, his parents moved to Independence, Missouri, so he could attend the Presbyterian Church Sunday School. He did not attend a conventional school until he was eight years old. While living in Independence, he served as a Shabbos goy for Jewish neighbors, doing tasks for them on Shabbat that their religion prevented them from doing on that day.[14][15][16]
Truman was interested in music, reading, history, and math,[17] all encouraged by his mother, with whom he was very close. As president, he solicited political as well as personal advice from her. Truman learned to play the piano at age seven and took lessons from Mrs. E.C. White, a well-respected teacher in Kansas City. He got up at five o'clock every morning to practice the piano, which he studied more than twice a week until he was fifteen, becoming quite a skilled player. Truman worked as a page at the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City; his father had many friends active in the Democratic Party who helped young Harry to gain his first political position.
After graduating from Independence High School in 1901,[23] Truman took classes at Spalding's Commercial College, a Kansas City business school. He studied bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing but stopped after a year.
Working career
Truman was employed briefly in the mailroom of The Kansas City Star[25] before making use of his business college experience to obtain a job as a timekeeper for construction crews on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, which required him to sleep in workmen's camps along the rail lines. Truman and his brother Vivian later worked as clerks at the National Bank of Commerce in Kansas City.[27]
In 1906, Truman returned to the Grandview farm, where he lived until entering the army in 1917. During this period, he courted Bess Wallace.[29] He proposed in 1911, but she turned him down. Believing Wallace turned him down because he did not have much money, Truman later said he intended to propose again, but he wanted to have a better income than that earned by a farmer. In fact, Wallace later told Truman she did not intend to marry, but if she did, it would be to him. Still determined to improve his finances, during his years on the farm and immediately after World War I, Truman became active in several business ventures. These included a lead and zinc mine near Commerce, Oklahoma, a company that bought land and leased the oil drilling rights to prospectors, and speculation in Kansas City real estate. Truman occasionally derived some income from these enterprises, but none proved successful in the long term.[33]
Truman is the only president since William McKinley (elected in 1896) who did not earn a college degree.[34] In addition to having briefly attended business college, from 1923 to 1925 he took night courses toward an LL.B. at the Kansas City Law School (now the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law) but dropped out after losing reelection as county judge. He was informed by attorneys in the Kansas City area that his education and experience were probably sufficient to receive a license to practice law but did not pursue it because he won election as presiding judge.[36]
While serving as president in 1947, Truman applied for a law license.[37] A friend who was an attorney began working out the arrangements, and informed Truman that his application had to be notarized. By the time Truman received this information he had changed his mind, so he never followed up. After the discovery of Truman's application in 1996 the Missouri Supreme Court issued him a posthumous honorary law license.[38]
Military service
National Guard
Due to the lack of funds for college, Truman considered attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which had no tuition, but he was refused an appointment because of poor eyesight. He enlisted in the Missouri National Guard in 1905 and served until 1911 in the Kansas City-based Battery B, 2nd Missouri Field Artillery Regiment, in which he attained the rank of corporal. At his induction, his eyesight without glasses was unacceptable 20/50 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left (past the standard for legal blindness). The second time he took the test, he passed by secretly memorizing the eye chart. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, gray eyed, dark haired and of light complexion.[42]
World War I
When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, Truman rejoined Battery B, successfully recruiting new soldiers for the expanding unit, for which he was elected as their first lieutenant.[43] Before deployment to France, Truman was sent for training to Camp Doniphan, Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma, when his regiment was federalized as the 129th Field Artillery.[44] The regimental commander during its training was Robert M. Danford, who later served as the Army's Chief of Field Artillery. Truman recalled that he learned more practical, useful information from Danford in six weeks than from six months of formal Army instruction, and when Truman served as an artillery instructor, he consciously patterned his approach on Danford's.
Truman also ran the camp canteen with Edward Jacobson, a clothing store clerk he knew from Kansas City. Unlike most canteens funded by unit members, which usually lost money, the canteen operated by Truman and Jacobson turned a profit, returning each soldier's initial $2 investment and $10,000 in dividends in six months. At Fort Sill, Truman met Lieutenant James M. Pendergast, nephew of Tom Pendergast, a Kansas City political boss, a connection that had a profound influence on Truman's later life.[47]
In mid-1918, about one million soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were in France. Truman was promoted to captain effective April 23,[49] and in July became commander of the newly arrived Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division.[51] Battery D was known for its discipline problems, and Truman was initially unpopular because of his efforts to restore order. Despite attempts by the men to intimidate him into quitting, Truman succeeded by making his corporals and sergeants accountable for discipline. He promised to back them up if they performed capably and reduce them to private if they did not. In an event memorialized in battery lore as "The Battle of Who Run", his soldiers began to flee during a sudden night attack by the Germans in the Vosges Mountains; Truman succeeded at ordering his men to stay and fight, using profanity from his railroad days. The men were so surprised to hear Truman use such language that they immediately obeyed.
Truman's unit joined in a massive prearranged assault barrage on September 26, 1918, at the opening of the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[53] They advanced with difficulty over pitted terrain to follow the infantry, and set up an observation post west of Cheppy.[53] On September 27, Truman saw through his binoculars an enemy artillery battery deploying across a river in a position which would allow them to fire upon the neighboring 28th Division.[53] Truman's orders limited him to targets facing the 35th Division, but he ignored this and patiently waited until the Germans had walked their horses well away from their guns, ensuring they could not relocate out of range of Truman's battery.[53] He then ordered his men to open fire, and their attack destroyed the enemy battery.[53] His actions were credited with saving the lives of 28th Division soldiers who otherwise would have come under fire from the Germans. Truman was given a dressing down by his regimental commander, Colonel Karl D. Klemm, who threatened to convene a court-martial, but Klemm never followed through, and Truman was not punished.[53]
In other action during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, Truman's battery provided support for George S. Patton's tank brigade, and fired some of the last shots of the war on November 11, 1918. Battery D did not lose any men while under Truman's command in France. To show their appreciation for his leadership, his men presented him with a large loving cup upon their return to the United States after the war.
The war was a transformative experience in which Truman manifested his leadership qualities. He had entered the service in 1917 as a family farmer who had worked in clerical jobs that did not require the ability to motivate and direct others, but during the war, he gained leadership experience and a record of success that greatly enhanced and supported his post-war political career in Missouri.
Truman was brought up in the Presbyterian and Baptist churches,[57] but avoided revivals and sometimes ridiculed revivalist preachers.[58] He rarely spoke about religion, which to him, primarily meant ethical behavior along traditional Protestant lines.[59] Truman once wrote in a letter to his future wife, Bess: "You know that I know nothing about Lent and such things..."[60] Most of the soldiers he commanded in the war were Catholics, and one of his close friends was the 129th Field Artillery's chaplain, Monsignor L. Curtis Tiernan.[61] The two remained friends until Tiernan's death in 1960. Developing leadership and interpersonal skills that later made him a successful politician helped Truman get along with his Catholic soldiers, as he did with soldiers of other Christian denominations and the unit's Jewish members.[63][64]
Officers' Reserve Corps
Truman was honorably discharged from the Army as a captain on May 6, 1919.[65] In 1920, he was appointed a major in the Officers Reserve Corps.[66] He became a lieutenant colonel in 1925 and a colonel in 1932.[67] In the 1920s and 1930s he commanded 1st Battalion, 379th Field Artillery Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division.[68] After promotion to colonel, Truman advanced to command of the regiment.[69]
After his election to the U.S. Senate, Truman was transferred to the General Assignments Group, a holding unit for less active officers, although he had not been consulted in advance.[70] Truman protested his reassignment, which led to his resumption of regimental command.[70] He remained an active reservist until the early 1940s.[71] Truman volunteered for active military service during World War II, but was not accepted, partly because of age, and partly because President Franklin D. Roosevelt desired senators and congressmen who belonged to the military reserves to support the war effort by remaining in Congress, or by ending their active duty service and resuming their congressional seats.[72] He was an inactive reservist from the early 1940s until retiring as a colonel in the then redesignated U.S. Army Reserve on January 20, 1953.[73]
Military awards and decorations
Truman was awarded a World War I Victory Medal with two battle clasps (for St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne) and a Defensive Sector Clasp. He was also the recipient of two Armed Forces Reserve Medals.[74]
Politics
Jackson County judge
After his wartime service, Truman returned to Independence, where he married Bess Wallace on June 28, 1919. The couple had one child, Mary Margaret Truman.
Shortly before the wedding, Truman and Jacobson opened a haberdashery together at 104 West 12th Street in downtown Kansas City. After brief initial success, the store went bankrupt during the recession of 1921. Truman did not pay off the last of the debts from that venture until 1935, when he did so with the aid of banker William T. Kemper, who worked behind the scenes to enable Truman's brother Vivian to buy Truman's $5,600 promissory note during the asset sale of a bank that had failed in the Great Depression. The note had risen and fallen in value as it was bought and sold, interest accumulated and Truman made payments, so by the time the last bank to hold it failed, it was worth nearly $9,000. Thanks to Kemper's efforts, Vivian Truman was able to buy it for $1,000. Jacobson and Truman remained close friends even after their store failed, and Jacobson's advice to Truman on Zionism later played a role in the U.S. Government's decision to recognize Israel.
With the help of the Kansas City Democratic machine led by Tom Pendergast, Truman was elected in 1922 as County Court judge of Jackson County's eastern district—Jackson County's three-judge court included judges from the western district (Kansas City), the eastern district (the county outside Kansas City), and a presiding judge elected countywide. This was an administrative rather than a judicial court, similar to county commissions in many other jurisdictions. Truman lost his 1924 reelection campaign in a Republican wave led by President Calvin Coolidge's landslide election to a full term. Two years selling automobile club memberships convinced him that a public service career was safer for a family man approaching middle age, and he planned a run for presiding judge in 1926.
Truman won the job in 1926 with the support of the Pendergast machine, and he was re-elected in 1930. As presiding judge, Truman helped coordinate the Ten Year Plan, which transformed Jackson County and the Kansas City skyline with new public works projects, including an extensive series of roads and construction of a new Wight and Wight-designed County Court building. Also in 1926, he became president of the National Old Trails Road Association, and during his term he oversaw dedication of 12 Madonna of the Trail monuments to honor pioneer women.
In 1933, Truman was named Missouri's director for the Federal Re-Employment program (part of the Civil Works Administration) at the request of Postmaster General James Farley. This was payback to Pendergast for delivering the Kansas City vote to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election. The appointment confirmed Pendergast's control over federal patronage jobs in Missouri and marked the zenith of his power. It also created a relationship between Truman and Roosevelt's aide Harry Hopkins and assured Truman's avid support for the New Deal.
U.S. Senator from Missouri
After serving as a county judge, Truman wanted to run for governor or Congress,[85][86] but Pendergast rejected these ideas. Truman then thought he might serve out his career in some well-paying county sinecure;[86] circumstances changed when Pendergast reluctantly backed him as the machine's choice in the 1934 Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, after Pendergast's first four choices had declined to run. In the primary, Truman defeated Congressmen John J. Cochran and Jacob L. Milligan with the solid support of Jackson County, which was crucial to his candidacy. Also critical were the contacts he had made statewide in his capacity as a county official, member of the Freemasons,[c] military reservist,[d] and member of the American Legion.[e] In the general election, Truman defeated incumbent Republican Roscoe C. Patterson by nearly 20 percentage points in a continuing wave of pro-New Deal Democrats elected during the Great Depression.
Truman assumed office with a reputation as "the Senator from Pendergast". He referred patronage decisions to Pendergast but maintained that he voted with his own conscience. He later defended the patronage decisions by saying that "by offering a little to the machine, [he] saved a lot". In his first term, Truman spoke out against corporate greed and the dangers of Wall Street speculators and other moneyed special interests attaining too much influence in national affairs. Though he served on the high-profile Appropriations and Interstate Commerce Committees, he was largely ignored by President Roosevelt and had trouble getting calls returned from the White House.
During the U.S. Senate election in 1940, U.S. Attorney Maurice Milligan (former opponent Jacob Milligan's brother) and former governor Lloyd Stark both challenged Truman in the Democratic primary. Truman was politically weakened by Pendergast's imprisonment for income tax evasion the previous year; the senator had remained loyal, having claimed that Republican judges (not the Roosevelt administration) were responsible for the boss's downfall. St. Louis party leader Robert E. Hannegan's support of Truman proved crucial; he later brokered the deal that put Truman on the national ticket. In the end, Stark and Milligan split the anti-Pendergast vote in the Senate Democratic primary and Truman won by a total of 8,000 votes. In the November election, Truman defeated Republican Manvel H. Davis by 51–49 percent. As senator, Truman opposed both Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. Two days after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Truman said:
If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia, and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances.[99]
This quote without its last part later became a staple in Soviet and later Russian propaganda as "evidence" of an American conspiracy to destroy the country.[100][101]
Truman Committee
Further information: Truman Committee
In late 1940, Truman traveled to various military bases. The waste and profiteering he saw led him to use his chairmanship of the Committee on Military Affairs Subcommittee on War Mobilization to start investigations into abuses while the nation prepared for war. A new special committee was set up under Truman to conduct a formal investigation; the White House supported this plan rather than weather a more hostile probe by the House of Representatives. The main mission of the committee was to expose and fight waste and corruption in the gigantic government wartime contracts.
Truman's initiative convinced Senate leaders of the necessity for the committee, which reflected his demands for honest and efficient administration and his distrust of big business and Wall Street. Truman managed the committee "with extraordinary skill" and usually achieved consensus, generating heavy media publicity that gave him a national reputation.[102] Activities of the Truman Committee ranged from criticizing the "dollar-a-year men" hired by the government, many of whom proved ineffective, to investigating a shoddily built New Jersey housing project for war workers.[104] In March 1944, Truman attempted to probe the expensive Manhattan Project but was persuaded by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to discontinue with the investigation.[106]: 634
The committee reportedly saved as much as $15 billion (equivalent to $260 billion in 2023), and its activities put Truman on the cover of Time magazine. According to the Senate's historical minutes, in leading the committee, "Truman erased his earlier public image as an errand-runner for Kansas City politicos", and "no senator ever gained greater political benefits from chairing a special investigating committee than did Missouri's Harry S. Truman."
Vice presidency (1945)
Roosevelt's advisors knew that Roosevelt might not live out a fourth term and that his vice president would very likely become the next president. Henry Wallace had served as Roosevelt's vice president for four years and was popular on the left, but he was viewed as too far to the left and too friendly to labor for some of Roosevelt's advisers. The President and several of his confidantes wanted to replace Wallace with someone more acceptable to Democratic Party leaders. Outgoing Democratic National Committee chairman Frank C. Walker, incoming chairman Hannegan, party treasurer Edwin W. Pauley, Bronx party boss Ed Flynn, Chicago Mayor Edward Joseph Kelly, and lobbyist George E. Allen all wanted to keep Wallace off the ticket. Roosevelt told party leaders that he would accept either Truman or Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.[114]
State and city party leaders strongly preferred Truman, and Roosevelt agreed. Truman had repeatedly said that he was not in the race and that he did not want the vice presidency, and he remained reluctant. One reason was that his wife and sister Mary Jane were both on his Senate staff payroll, and he feared negative publicity. Truman did not campaign for the vice-presidential spot, though he welcomed the attention as evidence that he had become more than the "Senator from Pendergast". Truman's nomination was dubbed the "Second Missouri Compromise" and was well received. The Roosevelt–Truman ticket achieved a 432–99 electoral-vote victory in the election, defeating the Republican ticket of Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York and running mate Governor John Bricker of Ohio. Truman was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 1945. After the inauguration, Truman called his mother, who instructed him, "Now you behave yourself."[118]
Truman's brief vice-presidency was relatively uneventful. Truman mostly presided over the Senate and attended parties and receptions. He kept the same offices from his Senate years, mostly only using the Vice President's official office in the Capitol to greet visitors. Truman was the first vice president to have a Secret Service agent assigned to him. Truman envisioned the office as a liaison between the Senate and the president. On April 10, 1945,[120] Truman cast his only tie-breaking vote as president of the Senate, against a Robert A. Taft amendment that would have blocked the postwar delivery of Lend-Lease Act items contracted for during the war.[121][122] Roosevelt rarely contacted him, even to inform him of major decisions; the president and vice president met alone together only twice during their time in office.
In one of his first acts as vice president, Truman created some controversy when he attended the disgraced Pendergast's funeral. He brushed aside the criticism, saying simply, "He was always my friend and I have always been his." He had rarely discussed world affairs or domestic politics with Roosevelt; he was uninformed about major initiatives relating to the war and the top-secret Manhattan Project, which was about to test the world's first atomic bomb. In an event that generated negative publicity for Truman, he was photographed with actress Lauren Bacall sitting atop the piano at the National Press Club as he played for soldiers.[125]
Truman had been vice president for 82 days when President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Truman, presiding over the Senate, as usual, had just adjourned the session for the day and was preparing to have a drink in House Speaker Sam Rayburn's office when he received an urgent message to go immediately to the White House, where Eleanor Roosevelt told him that her husband had died after a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Truman asked her if there was anything he could do for her; she replied, "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now!" He was sworn in as president at 7:09 p.m. in the West Wing of the White House, by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone.[129]
Presidency (1945–1953)
At the White House, Truman replaced Roosevelt holdovers with old confidants. The White House was badly understaffed with no more than a dozen aides; they could barely keep up with the heavy workflow of a greatly expanded executive department. Truman acted as his own chief of staff on a daily basis, as well as his own liaison with Congress—a body he already knew very well. He was not well prepared to deal with the press, and never achieved the jovial familiarity of FDR. Filled with latent anger about all the setbacks in his career, he bitterly mistrusted journalists. He saw them as enemies lying in wait for his next careless miscue. Truman was a very hard worker, often to the point of exhaustion, which left him testy, easily annoyed, and on the verge of appearing unpresidential or petty. In terms of major issues, he discussed them in depth with top advisors. He mastered the details of the federal budget as well as anyone. Truman was a poor speaker reading a text. However, his visible anger made him an effective stump speaker, denouncing his enemies as his supporters hollered back at him "Give Em Hell, Harry!"[130]
Truman surrounded himself with his old friends and appointed several to high positions that seemed well beyond their competence, including his two secretaries of the treasury, Fred Vinson and John Snyder. His closest friend in the White House was his military aide Harry H. Vaughan, who knew little of military or foreign affairs and was criticized for trading access to the White House for expensive gifts. Truman loved to spend as much time as possible playing poker, telling stories and sipping bourbon. Alonzo Hamby notes that:
... to many in the general public, gambling and bourbon swilling, however low-key, were not quite presidential. Neither was the intemperant "give 'em hell" campaign style nor the occasional profane phrase uttered in public. Poker exemplified a larger problem: the tension between his attempts at an image of leadership necessarily a cut above the ordinary and an informality that at times appeared to verge on crudeness.
First term (1945–1949)
Assuming office
On his first full day, Truman told reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don't know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me."
Truman asked all the members of Roosevelt's cabinet to remain in place, but he soon replaced almost all of them, especially with old friends from his Senate days.
Dropping atomic bombs on Japan
Truman benefited from a honeymoon period from the success in defeating Nazi Germany in Europe and the nation celebrated V-E Day on May 8, 1945, his 61st birthday.
Although Truman was told briefly on the afternoon of April 12 that he had a new, highly destructive weapon, it was not until April 25 that Secretary of War Henry Stimson told him the details:
We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire destruction prophesied in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous Ark.
— Harry Truman, writing about the atomic bomb in his diary on July 25, 1945[140]
Truman journeyed to Berlin for the Potsdam Conference with Joseph Stalin and the British leader Winston Churchill. He was there when he learned the Trinity test—the first atomic bomb—on July 16 had been successful. He hinted to Stalin that he was about to use a new kind of weapon against the Japanese. Though this was the first time the Soviets had been officially given information about the atomic bomb, Stalin was already aware of the bomb project—having learned about it through atomic espionage long before Truman did.
In August, the Japanese government refused surrender demands as specifically outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. With the invasion of Japan imminent, Truman approved the schedule for dropping the two available bombs. Truman maintained the position that attacking Japan with atomic bombs saved many lives on both sides; a military estimate for the invasion of Japan submitted to Truman by Herbert Hoover indicated that an invasion could take at least a year and result in 500,000 to 1,000,000 Allied casualties.[144] A study done for the staff of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson by William Shockley estimated that invading Japan would cost 1.7–4 million American casualties, including 400,000–800,000 fatalities, and five to ten million Japanese fatalities if Japanese civilians participated in the defense of Japan.[145] The U.S. Army Service Forces estimated in their document "Redeployment of the United States Army after the Defeat of Germany," that between June 1945 and December 1946 the Army would be required to furnish replacements for 43,000 dead and evacuated wounded every month during this period.[146] From analysis of the replacement schedule and projected strengths in overseas theaters, it suggested that Army losses alone in those categories, excluding the Navy and Marine Corps, would be approximately 863,000 through the first part of 1947, of whom 267,000 would be killed or missing.[147]
Hiroshima was bombed on August 6, and Nagasaki three days later, leaving 105,000 dead.[148] The Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 9 and invaded Manchuria. Japan agreed to surrender the following day.
Supporters[f] of Truman's decision argue that, given the tenacious Japanese defense of the outlying islands, the bombings saved hundreds of thousands of lives of Allied prisoners, Japanese civilians, and combatants on both sides that would have been lost in an invasion of Japan. Some modern criticism has argued that the use of nuclear weapons was unnecessary, given that conventional attacks or a demonstrative bombing of an uninhabited area might have forced Japan's surrender, and therefore assert that the attack constituted a crime of war.[151][152][153] In 1948 Truman defended his decision to use atomic bombs:
As President of the United States, I had the fateful responsibility of deciding whether or not to use this weapon for the first time. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. But the President cannot duck hard problems—he cannot pass the buck. I made the decision after discussions with the ablest men in our Government, and after long and prayerful consideration. I decided that the bomb should be used to end the war quickly and save countless lives—Japanese as well as American.[154]
Truman continued to strongly defend himself in his memoirs in 1955–1956, stating many lives could have been lost had the United States invaded mainland Japan without the atomic bombs. In 1963, he stood by his decision, telling a journalist "it was done to save 125,000 youngsters on the U.S. side and 125,000 on the Japanese side from getting killed and that is what it did. It probably also saved a half million youngsters on both sides from being maimed for life."[155]
Labor unions, strikes and economic issues
See also: Strike wave of 1946
The end of World War II was followed by an uneasy transition from war to a peacetime economy. The costs of the war effort had been enormous, and Truman was intent on diminishing military services as quickly as possible to curtail the government's military expenditures. The effect of demobilization on the economy was unknown, proposals were met with skepticism and resistance, and fears existed that the nation would slide back into depression. In Roosevelt's final years, Congress began to reassert legislative power and Truman faced a congressional body where Republicans and conservative southern Democrats formed a powerful "conservative coalition" voting bloc. The New Deal had greatly strengthened labor unions and they formed a major base of support for Truman's Democratic Party. The Republicans, working with big business, made it their highest priority to weaken those unions.[156] The unions had been promoted by the government during the war and tried to make their gains permanent through large-scale strikes in major industries. Meanwhile, price controls were slowly ending, and inflation was soaring. Truman's response to the widespread dissatisfaction was generally seen as ineffective.
When a national rail strike threatened in May 1946, Truman seized the railroads in an attempt to contain the issue, but two key railway unions struck anyway. The entire national railroad system was shut down, immobilizing 24,000 freight trains and 175,000 passenger trains a day.[158] For two days, public anger mounted. His staff prepared a speech that Truman read to Congress calling for a new law, whereby railroad strikers would be drafted into the army. As he concluded his address, he was handed a note that the strike had been settled on presidential terms; nevertheless, a few hours later, the House voted to draft the strikers. The bill died in the Senate.[160]
Approval rating falls; Republicans win Congress in 1946
The president's approval rating dropped from 82 percent in the polls in January 1946 to 52 percent by June. This dissatisfaction led to large Democratic losses in the 1946 midterm elections, and Republicans took control of Congress for the first time since 1930. When Truman dropped to 32 percent in the polls, Democratic Arkansas Senator William Fulbright suggested that Truman resign; the president said he did not care what Senator "Halfbright" said.
Truman cooperated closely with the Republican leaders on foreign policy but fought them bitterly on domestic issues. The power of the labor unions was significantly curtailed by the Taft–Hartley Act which was enacted over Truman's veto. Truman twice vetoed bills to lower income tax rates in 1947. Although the initial vetoes were sustained, Congress overrode his veto of a tax cut bill in 1948. In one notable instance of bipartisanship, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which replaced the secretary of state with the Speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate as successor to the president after the vice president.
Proposes "Fair Deal" liberalism
As he readied for the 1948 election, Truman made clear his identity as a Democrat in the New Deal tradition, advocating for national health insurance,[165] and repeal of the Taft–Hartley Act. He broke with the New Deal by initiating an aggressive civil rights program which he termed a moral priority. His economic and social vision constituted a broad legislative agenda that came to be called the "Fair Deal." Truman's proposals were not well received by Congress, even with renewed Democratic majorities in Congress after 1948. The Solid South rejected civil rights as those states still enforced segregation. Only one of the major Fair Deal bills, the Housing Act of 1949, was ever enacted.[168] Many of the New Deal programs that persisted during Truman's presidency have since received minor improvements and extensions.
Marshall Plan, Cold War, and China
As a Wilsonian internationalist, Truman supported Roosevelt's policy in favor of the creation of the United Nations and included Eleanor Roosevelt on the delegation to the first UN General Assembly. With the Soviet Union expanding its sphere of influence through Eastern Europe, Truman and his foreign policy advisors took a hard line against the USSR. In this, he matched U.S. public opinion which quickly came to believe the Soviets were intent upon world domination.
Although he had little personal expertise on foreign matters, Truman listened closely to his top advisors, especially George Marshall and Dean Acheson. The Republicans controlled Congress in 1947–1948, so he worked with their leaders, especially Senator Arthur H. Vandenburg, chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee.[173] He won bipartisan support for both the Truman Doctrine, which formalized a policy of Soviet containment, and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to help rebuild postwar Europe.
To get Congress to spend the vast sums necessary to restart the moribund European economy, Truman used an ideological argument, arguing that communism flourishes in economically deprived areas. As part of the U.S. Cold War strategy, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 and reorganized military forces by merging the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment (later the Department of Defense) and creating the U.S. Air Force. The act also created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Council. On November 4, 1952, Truman authorized the official, though at the time, confidential creation of the National Security Agency (NSA).[178][179]
Truman did not know what to do about China, where the Nationalists and Communists were fighting a large-scale civil war. The Nationalists had been major wartime allies and had large-scale popular support in the United States, along with a powerful lobby. General George Marshall spent most of 1946 in China trying to negotiate a compromise but failed. He convinced Truman the Nationalists would never win on their own and a very large-scale U.S. intervention to stop the Communists would significantly weaken U.S. opposition to the Soviets in Europe. By 1949, the Communists under Mao Zedong had won the civil war, the United States had a new enemy in Asia, and Truman came under fire from conservatives for "losing" China.[180]
Berlin airlift
Further information: Berlin Blockade
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. The Allies had not negotiated a deal to guarantee supply of the sectors deep within the Soviet-occupied zone. The commander of the U.S. occupation zone in Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, proposed sending a large armored column across the Soviet zone to West Berlin with instructions to defend itself if it were stopped or attacked. Truman believed this would entail an unacceptable risk of war. He approved Ernest Bevin's plan to supply the blockaded city by air.
On June 25, the Allies initiated the Berlin Airlift, a campaign to deliver food, coal and other supplies using military aircraft on a massive scale. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before, and no single nation had the capability, either logistically or materially, to accomplish it. The airlift worked; ground access was again granted on May 11, 1949. Nevertheless, the airlift continued for several months after that. The Berlin Airlift was one of Truman's great foreign policy successes; it significantly aided his election campaign in 1948.
Recognition of Israel
Truman had long taken an interest in the history of the Middle East and was sympathetic to Jews who sought to re-establish their ancient homeland in Mandatory Palestine. As a senator, he announced support for Zionism; in 1943 he called for a homeland for those Jews who survived the Nazi regime. However, State Department officials were reluctant to offend the Arabs, who were opposed to the establishment of a Jewish state in the large region long populated and dominated culturally by Arabs. Secretary of Defense James Forrestal warned Truman of the importance of Saudi Arabian oil in another war; Truman replied he would decide his policy on the basis of justice, not oil. U.S. diplomats with experience in the region were opposed, but Truman told them he had few Arabs among his constituents.
Palestine was secondary to the goal of protecting the "Northern Tier" of Greece, Turkey, and Iran from communism, as promised by the Truman Doctrine. Weary of both the convoluted politics of the Middle East and pressure by Jewish leaders, Truman was undecided on his policy and skeptical about how the Jewish "underdogs" would handle power.[185][186] He later cited as decisive in his recognition of the Jewish state the advice of his former business partner, Eddie Jacobson, a non-religious Jew whom Truman absolutely trusted.
Truman decided to recognize Israel over the objections of Secretary of State George Marshall, who feared it would hurt relations with the populous Arab states. Marshall believed the paramount threat to the United States was the Soviet Union and feared Arab oil would be lost to the United States in the event of war; he warned Truman the United States was "playing with fire with nothing to put it out". Truman recognized the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, eleven minutes after it declared itself a nation. Of his decision to recognize the Israeli state, Truman said in an interview years later: "Hitler had been murdering Jews right and left. I saw it, and I dream about it even to this day. The Jews needed some place where they could go. It is my attitude that the American government couldn't stand idly by while the victims [of] Hitler's madness are not allowed to build new lives."
Calls for Civil Rights
Under his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Fair Employment Practices Committee was created to address racial discrimination in employment,[191] and in 1946, Truman created the President's Committee on Civil Rights. On June 29, 1947, Truman became the first president to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The speech took place at the Lincoln Memorial during the NAACP convention and was carried nationally on radio. In that speech, Truman laid out the need to end discrimination, which would be advanced by the first comprehensive, presidentially proposed civil rights legislation. Truman on "civil rights and human freedom", declared:[192]
It is my deep conviction that we have reached a turning point in the long history of our country's efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens … it is more important today than ever before to ensure that all Americans enjoy these rights. … [And] When I say all Americans, I mean all Americans … Our immediate task is to remove the last remnants of the barriers which stand between millions of our citizens and their birthright. There is no justifiable reason for discrimination because of ancestry, or religion, or race, or color. We must not tolerate such limitations on the freedom of any of our people and on their enjoyment of basic rights which every citizen in a truly democratic society must possess. Every man should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in making the public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trial in a fair court. We must ensure that these rights – on equal terms – are enjoyed by every citizen. To these principles I pledge my full and continued support. Many of our people still suffer the indignity of insult, the harrowing fear of intimidation, and, I regret to say, the threat of physical injury and mob violence. Prejudice and intolerance in which these evils are rooted still exist. The conscience of our nation, and the legal machinery which enforces it, have not yet secured to each citizen full freedom from fear.
In February 1948, Truman delivered a formal message to Congress requesting adoption of his 10-point program to secure civil rights, including anti-lynching, voter rights, and elimination of segregation. "No political act since the Compromise of 1877," argued biographer Taylor Branch, "so profoundly influenced race relations; in a sense it was a repeal of 1877."[193]
1948 election
The 1948 presidential election is remembered for Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory. In the spring of 1948, Truman's public approval rating stood at 36 percent, and the president was nearly universally regarded as incapable of winning the general election. At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Truman attempted to unify the party with a vague civil rights plank in the party platform. His intention was to assuage the internal conflicts between the northern and southern wings of his party. Events overtook his efforts. A sharp address given by Mayor Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis—as well as the local political interests of a number of urban bosses—convinced the convention to adopt a stronger civil rights plank, which Truman approved wholeheartedly.[196] Truman delivered an aggressive acceptance speech attacking the 80th Congress, which Truman called the "Do Nothing Congress," and promising to win the election and "make these Republicans like it."
Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home—but not for housing. They are strong for labor—but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage—the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all—but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine—for people who can afford them ... They think American standard of living is a fine thing—so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.
— Harry S. Truman, October 13, 1948, St. Paul, Minnesota, Radio Broadcast[198][199][200][201]
Within two weeks of the 1948 convention Truman issued Executive Order 9981, ending racial discrimination in the Armed Services, and Executive Order 9980 to end discrimination in federal agencies.[202][203] Truman took a considerable political risk in backing civil rights, and many seasoned Democrats were concerned the loss of Dixiecrat support might seriously weaken the party. South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond, a segregationist, declared his candidacy for the presidency on a Dixiecrat ticket and led a full-scale revolt of Southern "states' rights" proponents. This rebellion on the right was matched by one on the left, led by Wallace on the Progressive Party ticket. The Democratic Party was splitting three ways and victory in November seemed unlikely. For his running mate, Truman accepted Kentucky Senator Alben W. Barkley, though he really wanted Justice William O. Douglas, who turned down the nomination.
Truman's political advisors described the political scene as "one unholy, confusing cacophony." They told Truman to speak directly to the people, in a personal way.[206] Campaign manager William J. Bray said Truman took this advice, and spoke personally and passionately, sometimes even setting aside his notes to talk to Americans "of everything that is in my heart and soul."[207]
The campaign was a 21,928-mile (35,290 km) presidential odyssey. In a personal appeal to the nation, Truman crisscrossed the United States by train; his "whistle stop" speeches from the rear platform of the presidential car, Ferdinand Magellan, came to represent his campaign. His combative appearances captured the popular imagination and drew huge crowds. Six stops in Michigan drew a combined half-million people; a full million turned out for a New York City ticker-tape parade.
The large crowds at Truman's whistle-stop events were an important sign of a change in momentum in the campaign, but this shift went virtually unnoticed by the national press corps. It continued reporting Republican Thomas Dewey's apparent impending victory as a certainty. The three major polling organizations stopped polling well before the November 2 election date—Roper in September, and Crossley and Gallup in October—thus failing to measure the period when Truman appears to have surged past Dewey.
In the end, Truman held his progressive Midwestern base, won most of the Southern states despite the civil rights plank, and squeaked through with narrow victories in a few critical states, notably Ohio, California, and Illinois. The final tally showed the president had secured 303 electoral votes, Dewey 189, and Thurmond only 39. Henry Wallace got none. The defining image of the campaign came after Election Day, when an ecstatic Truman held aloft the erroneous front page of the Chicago Tribune with a huge headline proclaiming "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Full elected term (1949–1953)
Truman's second inauguration was the first ever televised nationally.
Hydrogen bomb decision
The Soviet Union's atomic bomb project progressed much faster than had been expected, and they detonated their first bomb on August 29, 1949. Over the next several months there was an intense debate that split the U.S. government, military, and scientific communities regarding whether to proceed with the development of the far more powerful hydrogen bomb. The debate touched on matters from technical feasibility to strategic value to the morality of creating a massively destructive weapon. On January 31, 1950, Truman made the decision to go forward on the grounds that if the Soviets could make an H-bomb, the United States must do so as well and stay ahead in the nuclear arms race. The development achieved fruition with the first U.S. H-bomb test on October 31, 1952, which was officially announced by Truman on January 7, 1953.
Korean War
Further information: Korean War
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army under Kim Il-sung invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War. In the early weeks of the war, the North Koreans easily pushed back their southern counterparts. Truman called for a naval blockade of Korea, only to learn that due to budget cutbacks, the U.S. Navy could not enforce such a measure.
Truman promptly urged the United Nations to intervene; it did, authorizing troops under the UN flag led by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. Truman decided he did not need formal authorization from Congress, believing that most legislators supported his position; this would come back to haunt him later when the stalemated conflict was dubbed "Mr. Truman's War" by legislators. Rockoff writes that "President Truman responded quickly to the June invasion by authorizing the use of U.S. troops and ordering air strikes and a naval blockade. He did not, however, seek a declaration of war, or call for full mobilization, in part because such actions might have been misinterpreted by Russia and China. Instead, on July 19 he called for partial mobilization and asked Congress for an appropriation of $10 billion for the war."[224] Cohen writes that: "All of Truman's advisers saw the events in Korea as a test of American will to resist Soviet attempts to expand their power, and their system. The United States ordered warships to the Taiwan Strait to prevent Mao's forces from invading Taiwan and mopping up the remnants of Chiang Kai-shek's army there."[225]
However, on July 3, 1950, Truman did give Senate Majority Leader Scott W. Lucas a draft resolution titled "Joint Resolution Expressing Approval of the Action Taken in Korea". Lucas stated Congress supported the use of force, the formal resolution would pass but was unnecessary, and the consensus in Congress was to acquiesce. Truman responded he did not want "to appear to be trying to get around Congress and use extra-Constitutional powers," and added that it was "up to Congress whether such a resolution should be introduced."[226]
By August 1950, U.S. troops pouring into South Korea under UN auspices were able to stabilize the situation. Responding to criticism over readiness, Truman fired his secretary of defense, Louis A. Johnson, replacing him with the retired General Marshall. With UN approval, Truman decided on a "rollback" policy—liberation of North Korea. UN forces led by General Douglas MacArthur led the counterattack, scoring a stunning surprise victory with an amphibious landing at the Battle of Inchon that nearly trapped the invaders. UN forces marched north, toward the Yalu River boundary with China, with the goal of reuniting Korea under UN auspices.
China surprised the UN forces with a large-scale invasion in November. The UN forces were forced back to below the 38th parallel, then recovered. By early 1951 the war became a fierce stalemate at about the 38th parallel where it had begun. Truman rejected MacArthur's request to attack Chinese supply bases north of Yalu, but MacArthur promoted his plan to Republican House leader Joseph Martin, who leaked it to the press. Truman was gravely concerned further escalation of the war might lead to open conflict with the Soviet Union, which was already supplying weapons and providing warplanes (with Korean markings and Soviet aircrew). Therefore, on April 11, 1951, Truman fired MacArthur from his commands.
The dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur was among the least politically popular decisions in presidential history. Truman's approval ratings plummeted, and he faced calls for his impeachment from, among others, Senator Robert A. Taft. Fierce criticism from virtually all quarters accused Truman of refusing to shoulder the blame for a war gone sour and blaming his generals instead. Others, including Eleanor Roosevelt and all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly supported Truman's decision. MacArthur meanwhile returned to the United States to a hero's welcome, and addressed a joint session of Congress, a speech the president called "a bunch of damn bullshit."
Truman and his generals considered the use of nuclear weapons against the Chinese army, but ultimately chose not to escalate the war to a nuclear level.[235] The war remained a frustrating stalemate for two years, with over 30,000 Americans killed, until an armistice ended the fighting in 1953. In February 1952, Truman's approval mark stood at 22 percent according to Gallup polls, which is the all-time lowest approval mark for a sitting U.S. president, though it was matched by Richard Nixon in 1974.[238]
Worldwide defense
The escalation of the Cold War was highlighted by Truman's approval of NSC 68, a secret statement of foreign policy. It called for tripling the defense budget, and the globalization and militarization of containment policy whereby the United States and its NATO allies would respond militarily to actual Soviet expansion. The document was drafted by Paul Nitze, who consulted State and Defense officials and was formally approved by President Truman as the official national strategy after the war began in Korea. It called for partial mobilization of the U.S. economy to build armaments faster than the Soviets. The plan called for strengthening Europe, weakening the Soviet Union, and building up the United States both militarily and economically.
Truman was a strong supporter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which established a formal peacetime military alliance with Canada and democratic European nations of the Western Bloc following World War II. The treaty establishing it was widely popular and easily passed the Senate in 1949; Truman appointed General Eisenhower as commander. NATO's goals were to contain Soviet expansion in Europe and to send a clear message to communist leaders that the world's democracies were willing and able to build new security structures in support of democratic ideals. The United States, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, and Canada were the original treaty signatories. The alliance resulted in the Soviets establishing a similar alliance, called the Warsaw Pact.
General Marshall was Truman's principal adviser on foreign policy matters, influencing such decisions as the U.S. choice against offering direct military aid to Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist Chinese forces in the Chinese Civil War against their communist opponents. Marshall's opinion was contrary to the counsel of almost all of Truman's other advisers; Marshall thought propping up Chiang's forces would drain U.S. resources necessary for Europe to deter the Soviets. When the communists took control of the mainland, establishing the People's Republic of China and driving the nationalists to Taiwan, Truman would have been willing to maintain some relationship between the United States and the new government, but Mao was unwilling. Truman announced on January 5, 1950, that the United States would not engage in any dispute involving the Taiwan Strait, and that he would not intervene in the event of an attack by the PRC.[244]
On June 27, 1950, after the outbreak of fighting in Korea, Truman ordered the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent further conflict between the communist government on the China mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan.[246]
Truman usually worked well with his top staff – the exceptions were Israel in 1948 and Spain in 1945–1950. Truman was a very strong opponent of Francisco Franco, the right-wing dictator of Spain. He withdrew the American ambassador (but diplomatic relations were not formally broken), kept Spain out of the UN, and rejected any Marshall Plan financial aid to Spain. However, as the Cold War escalated, support for Spain was strong in Congress, the Pentagon, the business community and other influential elements especially Catholics and cotton growers.
Liberal opposition to Spain had faded after the Wallace element broke with the Democratic Party in 1948; the CIO became passive on the issue. As Secretary of State Acheson increased his pressure on Truman, the president stood alone in his administration as his own top appointees wanted to normalize relations. When China entered the Korean War and pushed American forces back, the argument for allies became irresistible. Admitting he was "overruled and worn down," Truman relented and sent an ambassador and made loans available.[247]
Soviet espionage and McCarthyism
In August 1948, Whittaker Chambers, a former spy for the Soviets and a senior editor at Time magazine, testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He said an underground communist network had worked inside the U.S. government during the 1930s, of which Chambers had been a member, along with Alger Hiss, until recently a senior State Department official. Chambers did not allege any spying during the Truman presidency. Although Hiss denied the allegations, he was convicted in January 1950 for perjury for denials under oath.
The Soviet Union's success in exploding an atomic weapon in 1949 and the fall of the nationalist Chinese the same year led many Americans to conclude subversion by Soviet spies was responsible and to demand that communists be rooted out from the government and other places of influence. Hoping to contain these fears, Truman began a "loyalty program" with Executive Order 9835 in 1947.[250] However, Truman got himself into deeper trouble when he called the Hiss trial a "red herring".[251] Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy accused the State Department of harboring communists and rode the controversy to political fame, leading to the Second Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism. McCarthy's stifling accusations made it difficult to speak out against him. This led Truman to call McCarthy "the greatest asset the Kremlin has" by "torpedo[ing] the bipartisan foreign policy of the United States."[255]
Charges that Soviet agents had infiltrated the government were believed by 78 percent of the people in 1946 and became a major campaign issue for Eisenhower in 1952. Truman was reluctant to take a more radical stance, because he felt it could threaten civil liberties and add to a potential hysteria. At the same time, he felt political pressure to indicate a strong national security. It is unclear to what extent President Truman was briefed of the Venona intercepts, which discovered widespread evidence of Soviet espionage on the atom bomb project and afterward.[258][259] Truman continued his own loyalty program for some time while believing the issue of communist espionage was overstated.[258] In 1949, Truman described American communist leaders, whom his administration was prosecuting, as "traitors". Truman would later state in private conversations with friends that his creation of a loyalty program had been a "terrible" mistake.
In 1950, Truman vetoed the McCarran Internal Security Act, which was passed by Congress just after the start of the Korean War and was aimed at controlling communists in America. Truman called the Act, "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press, and assembly since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798," a "mockery of the Bill of Rights" and a "long step toward totalitarianism".[262][263] His veto was immediately overridden by Congress and the Act became law. In the mid-1960s, parts of the Act were found to be unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court.[264][265]
Blair House and assassination attempt
In 1948, Truman ordered an addition to the exterior of the White House: a second-floor balcony in the south portico, which came to be known as the Truman Balcony. The addition was unpopular. Some said it spoiled the appearance of the south facade, but it gave the First Family more living space. Meanwhile, structural deterioration and a near-imminent collapse of the White House led to a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the building's interior from 1949 to 1952. Architectural and engineering investigations during 1948 deemed it unsafe for occupancy. Truman, his family, and the entire residence staff were relocated across the street into Blair House during the renovations. As the newer West Wing, including the Oval Office, remained open, Truman walked to and from his work across the street each morning and afternoon.
External videos Newsreel scenes in English of the assassination attempt on U.S. President Harry S. Truman
On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. On the street outside the residence, Torresola mortally wounded a White House policeman, Leslie Coffelt. Before he died, the officer shot and killed Torresola. Collazo was wounded and stopped before he entered the house. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in 1952. Truman commuted his sentence to life in prison. To try to settle the question of Puerto Rican independence, Truman allowed a plebiscite in Puerto Rico in 1952 to determine the status of its relationship to the United States. Nearly 82 percent of the people voted in favor of a new constitution for the Estado Libre Asociado, a continued 'associated free state.'[270]
Steel and coal strikes
Further information: 1952 steel strike
In response to a labor/management impasse arising from bitter disagreements over wage and price controls, Truman instructed his Secretary of Commerce, Charles W. Sawyer, to take control of a number of the nation's steel mills in April 1952. Truman cited his authority as commander in chief and the need to maintain an uninterrupted supply of steel for munitions for the war in Korea. The Supreme Court found Truman's actions unconstitutional, however, and reversed the order in a major separation-of-powers decision, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952). The 6–3 decision, which held that Truman's assertion of authority was too vague and was not rooted in any legislative action by Congress, was delivered by a court composed entirely of justices appointed by either Truman or Roosevelt. The high court's reversal of Truman's order was one of the notable defeats of his presidency.[271]
Scandals and controversies
In 1950, the Senate, led by Estes Kefauver, investigated numerous charges of corruption among senior administration officials, some of whom received fur coats and deep freezers in exchange for favors. A large number of employees of the Internal Revenue Bureau (today the IRS) were accepting bribes; 166 employees either resigned or were fired in 1950, with many soon facing indictment. When Attorney General J. Howard McGrath fired the special prosecutor in early 1952 for being too zealous, Truman fired McGrath. Truman submitted a reorganization plan to reform the IRB; Congress passed it, but corruption was a major issue in the 1952 presidential election.
On December 6, 1950, Washington Post music critic Paul Hume wrote a critical review of a concert by the president's daughter Margaret Truman:
Miss Truman is a unique American phenomenon with a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality ... [she] cannot sing very well ... is flat a good deal of the time—more last night than at any time we have heard her in past years ... has not improved in the years we have heard her ... [and] still cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish.
Truman wrote a scathing response:
I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an 'eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay.' It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively that you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work. Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below! Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry.
Truman was criticized by many for the letter. However, he pointed out that he wrote it as a loving father and not as the president.
In 1951, William M. Boyle, Truman's longtime friend and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was forced to resign after being charged with financial corruption.[280]
Civil rights
A 1947 report by the Truman administration titled To Secure These Rights presented a detailed ten-point agenda of civil rights reforms. Speaking about this report, international developments have to be taken into account, for with the UN Charter being passed in 1945, the question of whether international human rights law could be applicable also on an inner-land basis became crucial in the United States. Though the report acknowledged such a path was not free from controversy in the 1940s United States, it nevertheless raised the possibility for the UN-Charter to be used as a legal tool to combat racial discrimination in the United States.[281]
In February 1948, the president submitted a civil rights agenda to Congress that proposed creating several federal offices devoted to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices. This provoked a storm of criticism from southern Democrats in the runup to the national nominating convention, but Truman refused to compromise, saying: "My forebears were Confederates ... but my very stomach turned over when I had learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of Army trucks in Mississippi and beaten."
Tales of the abuse, violence, and persecution suffered by many African American veterans upon their return from World War II infuriated Truman and were major factors in his decision to issue Executive Order 9981, in July 1948, requiring equal opportunity in the armed forces. In the early 1950s after several years of planning, recommendations and revisions between Truman, the Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity and the various branches of the military, the services became racially integrated. Truman later appointed people who aligned with civil rights agenda. He appointed fellow colonel and civil rights icon Blake R. Van Leer to the board of the United States Naval Academy and UNESCO who had a focus to work against racism through influential statements on race.[286][287]
Executive Order 9980, also in 1948, made it illegal to discriminate against persons applying for civil service positions based on race. A third, in 1951, established the Committee on Government Contract Compliance, which ensured defense contractors did not discriminate because of race.
Administration and cabinet
Foreign policy
From 1947 until 1989, world affairs were dominated by the Cold War, in which the U.S. and its allies faced the Soviet Union and its allies. There was no large-scale fighting but instead several local civil wars as well as the ever-present threat of a catastrophic nuclear war.[290][291]
Unlike Roosevelt, Truman distrusted Stalin and the Soviet Union, and did not have FDR's faith in the UN to soften major tensions. Nevertheless, he cooperated in terms of dividing control over Germany. Soviet efforts to use its army to control politics in Eastern Europe and Iran angered Washington. The final break came in 1947 when the Labour government in London could no longer afford to help Greece fight communism and asked Washington to assume responsibility for suppressing the Communist uprising there.[292][293] The result was the Truman Doctrine of 1947–48 which made it national policy to contain Communist expansion.[294]
Truman was supported by the great majority of Democrats, after he forced out the Henry Wallace faction that wanted good terms with Moscow.[295] Truman's policy had the strong support of most Republicans, who led by Senator Arthur Vandenberg overcame the isolationist Republicans led by Senator Robert A. Taft.[296]
In 1948, Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which supplied Western Europe—including Germany—with US$13 billion in reconstruction aid. Stalin vetoed any participation by East European nations. A similar program was operated by the United States to restore the Japanese economy. The U.S. actively sought allies, which it subsidized with military and economic "foreign aid", as well as diplomatic support. The main diplomatic initiative was the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, committing the United States to nuclear defense of Western Europe. The result was a peace in Europe, coupled with the fear of Soviet invasion and a reliance on American protection.[297] The United States operated a worldwide network of bases for its Army, Navy and Air Force, with large contingents stationed in Germany, Japan and South Korea.[298] Washington had a weak intelligence community before 1942, and the Soviets had a very effective network of spies. The solution was to create the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1947.[299] Economic and propaganda warfare against the communist world became part of the American toolbox.[300]
The containment policy was developed by State Department official George Kennan in 1947.[301] Kennan characterized the Soviet Union as an aggressive, anti-Western power that necessitated containment, a characterization which would shape US foreign policy for decades to come. The idea of containment was to match Soviet aggression with force wherever it occurred while not using nuclear weapons. The policy of containment created a bipolar, zero-sum world where the ideological conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States dominated geopolitics. Due to the antagonism on both sides and each countries' search for security, a tense worldwide contest developed between the two states as the two nations' governments vied for global supremacy militarily, culturally, and politically.[302]
The Cold War was characterized by a lack of global hot wars. Instead there were proxy wars, fought by client states and proxies of the United States and Soviet Union. The most important was Korean War (1950–1953), a stalemate that drained away Truman's base of support. Truman made five international trips during his presidency.[303]
1952 election
In 1951, the United States ratified the 22nd Amendment, making a president ineligible for election to a third term or for election to a second full term after serving more than two remaining years of a term of a previously elected president. The latter clause did not apply to Truman's situation in 1952 because of a grandfather clause exempting the incumbent president.
Therefore, he seriously considered running for another term in 1952 and left his name on the ballot in the New Hampshire primary. However, all his close advisors, pointing to his age, his failing abilities, and his poor showing in the polls, talked him out of it.[305] At the time of the 1952 New Hampshire primary (March 11, 1952), no candidate had won Truman's backing. His first choice, Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, had declined to run. Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson had also turned Truman down, Vice President Barkley was considered too old, and Truman distrusted and disliked Senator Kefauver, who had made a name for himself by his investigations of the Truman administration scandals.
Truman let his name be entered in the New Hampshire primary by supporters. The highly unpopular Truman was handily defeated by Kefauver; 18 days later the president formally announced he would not seek a second full term. Truman was eventually able to persuade Stevenson to run, and the governor gained the nomination at the 1952 Democratic National Convention.
Eisenhower gained the Republican nomination, with Senator Nixon as his running mate, and campaigned against what he denounced as Truman's failures: "Korea, communism and corruption". He pledged to clean up the "mess in Washington," and promised to "go to Korea." Eisenhower defeated Stevenson decisively in the general election, ending 20 years of Democratic presidents. While Truman and Eisenhower had previously been on good terms, Truman felt annoyed that Eisenhower did not denounce Joseph McCarthy during the campaign. Similarly, Eisenhower was outraged when Truman accused the former general of disregarding "sinister forces ... Anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, and anti-foreignism" within the Republican Party.
Post-presidency (1953–1972)
Financial situation
Before being elected as Jackson County judge, Truman had earned little money, and was in debt from the failure of his haberdashery. His election as senator in 1934 carried with it a salary of $10,000 (equivalent to $228,000 in 2023), high for the time, but the need to maintain two homes, with one in expensive Washington, Margaret Truman's college expenses, and contributions to the support of needy relatives, left the Trumans little extra money. He likely had around $7,500 (equivalent to $127,000 in 2023) in cash and government bonds when nominated for vice president.[311]
His finances were transformed by his accession to the presidency, which carried with it a salary of $75,000 (equivalent to $1,269,000 in 2023), which was increased to $100,000 (equivalent to $1,281,000 in 2023) in 1949. This was a higher salary than any Major League Baseball star, except Joe DiMaggio, who also earned $100,000 in his final two seasons (1950 and 1951). Beginning in 1949, the president was also granted a $50,000 (equivalent to $640,000 in 2023) expense allowance, which was initially tax-free, and did not have to be accounted for. Although the allowance became taxable later in his presidency, Truman never reported it on his tax return, and converted some of the funds to cash he kept in the White House safe and later in a safe deposit box in Kansas City.[311]
Upon leaving the presidency, Truman returned to Independence, Missouri, to live at the Wallace home he and Bess had shared for years with her mother. In a biography that contributed greatly to the myth that Truman was near penury after departing the White House,[311] David McCullough stated that the Trumans had little alternative than to return to Independence, for his only income was his army pension of $112.56 per month (equivalent to $1,282 in 2023), and he had only been able to save a modest amount from his salary as president. In February 1953, Truman signed a book deal for his memoirs, and in a draft will dated December of that year listed land worth $250,000 (equivalent to $2,847,000 in 2023), savings bonds of the same amount, and cash of $150,000 (equivalent to $1,708,000 in 2023).[311] He wrote, "Bonds, land, and cash all come from savings of presidential salary and free expense account. It should keep you and Margaret comfortably."[311]
The writing of the memoirs was a struggle for Truman, and he went through a dozen collaborators during the project, not all of whom served him well, but he remained heavily involved in the result. For the memoirs, Truman received a payment of $670,000 (equivalent to $7,620,522 in 2023). The memoirs were a commercial and critical success.[319] They were published in two volumes: Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions (1955) and Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Years of Trial and Hope (1956).
Former members of Congress and the federal courts received a federal retirement package; President Truman himself ensured that former servants of the executive branch of government received similar support. In 1953, however, there was no such benefit package for former presidents, and Congressional pensions were not approved until 1946, after Truman had left the Senate, so he received no pension for his Senate service. Truman, behind the scenes, lobbied for a pension, writing to congressional leaders that he had been near penury but for the sale of family farmlands, and in February 1958, in the first televised interview of a former US president that aired on CBS, Truman claimed that "If I hadn't inherited some property that finally paid things through, I'd be on relief right now."[311] That year, Congress passed the Former Presidents Act, offering a $25,000 (equivalent to $264,014 in 2023) yearly pension to each former president, and it is likely that Truman's claim to be in difficult financial straits played a role in the law's enactment. The only other living former president at the time, Herbert Hoover, also took the pension, even though he did not need the money; reportedly, he did so to avoid embarrassing Truman.
Truman's net worth improved further in 1958 when he and his siblings sold most of the family farm to a Kansas City real estate developer. When he was serving as a county judge, Truman borrowed $31,000 (equivalent to $353,030 in 2023) by mortgaging the farm to the county school fund, which was legal at the time. When Republicans controlled the court in 1940, they foreclosed in an effort to embarrass Truman politically, and his mother and sister Mary Jane had to vacate the home. In 1945, Truman organized a syndicate of supporters who purchased the farm with the understanding that they would sell it back to the Trumans. Harry and Vivian Truman purchased 87 acres in 1945, and Truman purchased another portion in 1946. In January 1959, Truman calculated his net worth as $1,046,788.86 (equivalent to $10,941,000 in 2023), including a share in the Los Angeles Rams football team. Nevertheless, the Trumans always lived modestly in Independence, and when Bess Truman died in 1982, almost a decade after her husband, the house was found to be in poor condition due to deferred maintenance.[311]
Bess Truman's personal papers were made public in 2009,[326] including financial records and tax returns. The myth that Truman had been in straitened circumstances after his presidency was slow to dissipate; Paul Campos wrote in 2021, "The current, 20,000-plus-word Wikipedia biography of Truman goes so far as to assert that, because his earlier business ventures had failed, Truman left the White House with 'no personal savings.' Every aspect of this narrative is false."[311][g]
Truman Library and academic positions
Truman's predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had organized his own presidential library, but legislation to enable future presidents to do something similar had not been enacted. Truman worked to garner private donations to build a presidential library, which he donated to the federal government to maintain and operate—a practice adopted by his successors.
He testified before Congress to have money appropriated to have presidential papers copied and organized. He was proud of the bill's passage in 1957. Max Skidmore, in his book on the life of former presidents, wrote that Truman was a well-read man, especially in history. Skidmore added that the presidential papers legislation and the founding of his library "was the culmination of his interest in history. Together they constitute an enormous contribution to the United States—one of the greatest of any former president."
Truman taught occasional courses at universities, including Yale, where he was a Chubb Fellow visiting lecturer in 1958.[329] In 1962, Truman was a visiting lecturer at Canisius College.[330]
Politics
Truman supported Adlai Stevenson's second bid for the White House in 1956, although he had initially favored Democratic governor W. Averell Harriman of New York. He continued to campaign for Democratic senatorial candidates for many years.
In 1960 Truman gave a public statement announcing he would not attend the Democratic Convention that year, citing concerns about the way that the supporters of John F. Kennedy had gained control of the nominating process, and called on Kennedy to forgo the nomination for that year.[333] Kennedy responded with a press conference where he bluntly rebuffed Truman's advice.[334]
Despite his supportive stance on civil rights during his presidency, Truman expressed criticism of the civil rights movement during the 1960s. In 1960, he stated that he believed the sit-in movement to be part of a Soviet plot.[335] Truman's statement garnered a response from Martin Luther King Jr., who wrote a letter to the former president stating that he was "baffled" by the accusation, and demanded a public apology.[336] Truman would later criticize King following the Selma march in 1965, believing the protest to be "silly" and claiming that it "can't accomplish a darn thing except to attract attention."[337] In 1963, Truman voiced his opposition to interracial marriage, believing that daughters of white people would never love someone of an opposite color.[338][339]
Upon turning 80 in 1964, Truman was feted in Washington, and addressed the Senate, availing himself of a new rule that allowed former presidents to be granted privilege of the floor.
Medicare
After a fall in his home in late 1964, Truman's physical condition declined. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and gave the first two Medicare cards to Truman and his wife Bess to honor the former president's fight for government health care while in office.
Death
On December 5, 1972, Truman was admitted to Kansas City's Research Hospital and Medical Center with pneumonia. He developed multiple organ failure, fell into a coma, and died at 7:50 a.m. on December 26, at the age of 88.[341]
Bess Truman opted for a simple private service at the library rather than a state funeral in Washington. A week after the funeral, foreign dignitaries and Washington officials attended a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral.[342]
Bess Truman died in 1982 and was buried next to her husband at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.
Tributes and legacy
Legacy
When he left office in 1953, Truman was one of the most unpopular chief executives in history. His job approval rating of 22% in the Gallup Poll of February 1952 was lower than Richard Nixon's 24% in August 1974, the month that Nixon resigned. American public feeling towards Truman grew steadily warmer with the passing years; as early as 1962, a poll of 75 historians conducted by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. ranked Truman among the "near great" presidents. The period following his death consolidated a partial rehabilitation of his legacy among both historians and members of the public. Truman died when the nation was consumed with crises in Vietnam and Watergate, and his death brought a new wave of attention to his political career. In the early and mid-1970s, Truman captured the popular imagination much as he had in 1948, this time emerging as a kind of political folk hero, a president who was thought to exemplify an integrity and accountability many observers felt was lacking in the Nixon White House. This public reassessment of Truman was aided by the popularity of a book of reminiscences which Truman had told to journalist Merle Miller beginning in 1961, with the agreement that they would not be published until after Truman's death.
Truman had his latter-day critics as well. After a review of information available to Truman about the presence of espionage activities in the U.S. government, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan concluded that Truman was "almost willfully obtuse" concerning the danger of American communism. In 2010, historian Alonzo Hamby concluded that "Harry Truman remains a controversial president." However, Truman has fared well in polls ranking the presidents, consistently being listed in the top ten; this includes a 2022 poll by the Siena College Research Institute, which placed him in seventh.
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 caused Truman advocates to claim vindication for Truman's decisions in the postwar period. According to Truman biographer Robert Dallek, "His contribution to victory in the cold war without a devastating nuclear conflict elevated him to the stature of a great or near-great president." The 1992 publication of David McCollough's favorable biography of Truman further cemented the view of Truman as a highly regarded chief executive. According to historian Daniel R. McCoy in his book on the Truman presidency:
Harry Truman himself gave a strong and far-from-incorrect impression of being a tough, concerned and direct leader. He was occasionally vulgar, often partisan, and usually nationalistic ... On his own terms, Truman can be seen as having prevented the coming of a third world war and having preserved from Communist oppression much of what he called the free world. Yet clearly he largely failed to achieve his Wilsonian aim of securing perpetual peace, making the world safe for democracy, and advancing opportunities for individual development internationally.
Sites and honors
In 1956, Truman traveled to Europe with his wife. In Britain, he received an honorary degree in Civic Law from Oxford University and met with Winston Churchill. In 1959, he was given a 50-year award by the Masons, recognizing his longstanding involvement: he was initiated on February 9, 1909, into the Belton Freemasonry Lodge in Missouri. In 1911, he helped establish the Grandview Lodge, and he served as its first Worshipful Master. In September 1940, during his Senate re-election campaign, Truman was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri; Truman said later that the Masonic election assured his victory in the general election. In 1945, he was made a 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General and an Honorary Member of the supreme council at the Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Southern Jurisdiction Headquarters in Washington D.C. Truman was also a member of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and a card-carrying member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Two of his relatives were Confederate soldiers.
In 1975, the Truman Scholarship was created as a federal program to honor U.S. college students who exemplified dedication to public service and leadership in public policy.
In 1983 the Harry S. Truman State Office Building in Jefferson City was completed.[360]
In 2004, the President Harry S. Truman Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering was created as a distinguished postdoctoral three-year appointment at Sandia National Laboratories. In 2001, the University of Missouri established the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs to advance the study and practice of governance. The University of Missouri's Missouri Tigers athletic programs have an official mascot named Truman the Tiger. On July 1, 1996, Northeast Missouri State University became Truman State University—to mark its transformation from a teachers' college to a highly selective liberal arts university and to honor the only Missourian to become president. A member institution of the City Colleges of Chicago, Harry S. Truman College in Chicago, Illinois, is named in his honor for his dedication to public colleges and universities. In 2000, the headquarters for the State Department, built in the 1930s but never officially named, was dedicated as the Harry S. Truman Building.
Despite Truman's attempt to curtail the naval carrier arm, which led to the 1949 Revolt of the Admirals, an aircraft carrier is named after him. The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was christened on September 7, 1996. The 129th Field Artillery Regiment is designated "Truman's Own" in recognition of Truman's service as commander of its D Battery during World War I.
In 1991, Truman was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, and a bronze bust depicting him is on permanent display in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. In 2006, Thomas Daniel, grandson of the Trumans, accepted a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame to honor his late grandfather. In 2007, John Truman, a nephew, accepted a star for Bess Truman. The Walk of Fame is in Marshfield, Missouri, a city Truman visited in 1948.
In 2004, international relations scholar Rachel Kleinfeld and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy Matthew Spence founded the Truman National Security Project. In 2013, they launched the Truman Center for National Policy. Both organizations were named after Truman.[368]
A statue of Harry S. Truman was installed in the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on September 29, 2022, as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection.[369]
On the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in 2023, South Korea erected a statue of Truman in Dabu-dong, Gyeongsangbuk-do to commemorate him sending US troops to defend the country.[370]
Other sites associated with Truman include:
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site includes the Wallace House at 219 N. Delaware in Independence and the family farmhouse at Grandview, Missouri (Truman sold most of the farm for Kansas City suburban development including the Truman Corners Shopping Center).
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site is the house where Truman was born and spent 11 months in Lamar, Missouri.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum – The Presidential library in Independence
Harry S. Truman Little White House – Truman's winter getaway at Key West, Florida
See also
Electoral history of Harry S. Truman
"Harry Truman", a 1975 hit song by the band Chicago
List of members of the American Legion
List of presidents of the United States
Truman (film)
Truman Day
Truman National Security Project
Notes
References
Bibliography
Biographies of Truman
Burnes, Brian (2003). Harry S. Truman: His Life and Times. Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Star Books. ISBN 978-0-9740009-3-0.
Dallek, Robert (2008). Harry S. Truman. New York: Times Books. ISBN 978-0-8050-6938-9.
Daniels, Jonathan (1998). The Man of Independence. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1190-9.
Donovan, Robert J. (1983). Tumultuous Years: 1949–1953. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-01619-2.
Ferrell, Robert H. (1994). Harry S. Truman: A Life. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-1050-0.
Hamby, Alonzo L., ed. (1974). Harry S. Truman and the Fair Deal. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath & Co. ISBN 978-0-669-87080-0.
Hamby, Alonzo L. (1995). Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-504546-8.
Judis, John B. (2014). Genesis: Truman, American Jews, and the Origins of the Arab/Israeli Conflict. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-16109-5.
Freeland, Richard M. (1970). The Truman Doctrine and the Origins of McCarthyism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-8147-2576-4.
Giglio, James N. (2001). Truman in Cartoon and Caricature. Kirksville, Missouri: Truman State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8138-1806-1.
Kirkendall, Richard S. (1989). Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia. Boston: G. K. Hall Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8161-8915-1.
McCoy, Donald R. (1984). The Presidency of Harry S. Truman. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-0252-0.
McCullough, David (1992). Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-86920-5.
Margolies, Daniel S. ed. A Companion to Harry S. Truman (2012); 614pp; emphasis on historiography; see Sean J. Savage, "Truman in Historical, Popular, and Political Memory," pp. 9–25. excerpt
Miller, Merle (1974). Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman. New York: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 978-0-399-11261-4.
Mitchell, Franklin D. (1998). Harry S. Truman and the News Media: Contentious Relations, Belated Respect. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1180-1.
Oshinsky, David M. (2004). "Harry Truman". In Brinkley, Alan; Dyer, Davis (eds.). The American Presidency. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-618-38273-6.
Pietrusza, David (2011). 1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year That Transformed America. New York: Union Square Press. ISBN 978-1-4027-6748-7.
Scarborough, Joe (2020). Saving Freedom. New York: Harper Collins.
Books
Ambrose, Stephen E. (1983). Eisenhower: 1890–1952. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-44069-5.
Binning, William C.; Esterly, Larry E.; Sracic, Paul A. (1999). Encyclopedia of American Parties, Campaigns, and Elections. Westport, CT: Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-8131-1755-3.
Chambers II, John W. (1999). The Oxford Companion to American Military History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507198-0.
Cohen, Eliot A.; Gooch, John (2006). Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War. New York: Free Press. ISBN 978-0-7432-8082-2.
Current, Richard Nelson; Freidel, Frank Burt; Williams, Thomas Harry (1971). American History: A Survey. Vol. II. New York: Knopf.
Eakin, Joanne C.; Hale, Donald R., eds. (1995). Branded as Rebels. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. ASIN B003GWL8J6.
Eisler, Kim Isaac (1993). A Justice for All: William J. Brennan, Jr., and the Decisions that Transformed America. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-76787-7.
Evans, M. Stanton (2007). Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies. New York: Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-23866-5.
Goodwin, Doris Kearns (1994). No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-64240-2.
Haas, Lawrence J. Harry & Arthur: Truman, Vandenberg, and the Partnership That Created the Free World (2016)
Hamilton, Lee H. (2009). "Relations between the President and Congress in Wartime". In James A. Thurber (ed.). Rivals for Power: Presidential–Congressional Relations. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-6142-7.
Holsti, Ole (1996). Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-06619-3.
Kloetzel, James E.; Charles, Steve, eds. (April 2012). Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog. Vol. 1. Sidney, OH: Scott Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-89487-460-4.
Lenczowski, George (1990). American Presidents and the Middle East. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-0972-7.
MacGregor, Morris J. Jr. (1981). Integration of the Armed Services 1940–1965. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History. ISBN 978-0-16-001925-8.
Savage, Sean J. (1991). Roosevelt: The Party Leader, 1932–1945. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-1755-3.
Skidmore, Max J. (2004). After the White House: Former Presidents as Private Citizens (rev ed.). New York: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29559-2.
Stohl, Michael (1988). "National Interest and State Terrorism". The Politics of Terrorism. New York: CRC Press.
Stokesbury, James L. (1990). A Short History of the Korean War. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-688-09513-0.
Troy, Gil (2008). Leading from the Center: Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-00293-1.
Weinstein, Allen (1997). Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case (revised ed.). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-77338-X.
Young, Ken; Schilling, Warner R. (2019). Super Bomb: Organizational Conflict and the Development of the Hydrogen Bomb. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-4516-4.
Primary sources
Truman, Harry S. (1955). Memoirs: Year of Decisions. Vol. 1. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. online
——— (1956). Memoirs: Years of Trial and Hope. Vol. 2. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. online v 2
——— (1960). Mr. Citizen. Independence, MO: Independence Press.
Truman, Harry S. (2002). Ferrell, Robert H
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 2
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/biographical-sketch-harry-truman
|
en
|
Biographical Sketch: Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States
|
[
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/close.svg",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/sketch-harry-truman_0.gif",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-truman-library-institute.png",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-national-archives.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Image
|
en
|
/themes/custom/truman_library/favicon.ico
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/biographical-sketch-harry-truman
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884, the son of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen (Young) Truman. The family, which soon included another boy, Vivian, and a girl, Mary Jane moved several times during Truman's childhood and youth - first, in 1887, to a farm near Grandview, then, in 1890, to Independence, and finally, in 1902, to Kansas City. Young Harry attended public schools in Independence, graduating from high school in 1901. After leaving school, he worked briefly as a timekeeper for a railroad construction contractor, then as a clerk in two Kansas City banks. In 1906 he returned to Grandview to help his father run the family farm. He continued working as a farmer for more than ten years.
From 1905 to 1911, Truman served in the Missouri National Guard. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, he helped organize the 2nd Regiment of Missouri Field Artillery, which was quickly called into Federal service as the 129th Field Artillery and sent to France. Truman was promoted to Captain and given command of the regiment's Battery D. He and his unit saw action in the Vosges, Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. Truman joined the reserves after the war, rising eventually to the rank of colonel. He sought to return to active duty at the outbreak of World War II, but Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall declined his offer to serve.
On June 28, 1919, Truman married Bess Wallace, whom he had known since childhood. Their only child, Mary Margaret, was born on February 17, 1924. From 1919 to 1922 he ran a men's clothing store in Kansas City with his wartime friend, Eddie Jacobson. The store failed in the postwar recession. Truman narrowly avoided bankruptcy, and through determination and over many years he paid off his share of the store's debts.
Truman was elected in 1922, to be one of three judges of the Jackson County Court. Judge Truman whose duties were in fact administrative rather than judicial, built a reputation for honesty and efficiency in the management of county affairs. He was defeated for reelection in 1924, but won election as presiding judge in the Jackson County Court in 1926. He won reelection in 1930.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the United States Senate. He had significant roles in the passage into law of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 and the Transportation Act of 1940. After being reelected in 1940, Truman gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. This committee, which came to be called the Truman Committee, sought with considerable success to ensure that defense contractors delivered to the nation quality goods at fair prices.
In July 1944, Truman was nominated to run for Vice President with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On January 20, 1945, he took the vice-presidential oath, and after President Roosevelt's unexpected death only eighty-two days later on April 12, 1945, he was sworn in as the nations' thirty-third President.
Truman later called his first year as President a "year of decisions." He oversaw during his first two months in office the ending of the war in Europe. He participated in a conference at Potsdam, Germany, governing defeated Germany, and to lay some groundwork for the final stage of the war against Japan. Truman approved the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945. Japan surrendered on August 14, and American forces of occupation began to land by the end of the month. This first year of Truman's presidency also saw the founding of the United Nations and the development of an increasingly strained and confrontational relationship with the Soviet Union.
Truman's presidency was marked throughout by important foreign policy initiatives. Central to almost everything Truman undertook in his foreign policy was the desire to prevent the expansion of the influence of the Soviet Union. The Truman Doctrine was an enunciation of American willingness to provide military aid to countries resisting communist insurgencies; the Marshall Plan sought to revive the economies of the nations of Europe in the hope that communism would not thrive in the midst of prosperity; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization built a military barrier confronting the Soviet-dominated part of Europe. Truman's recognition of Israel in May 1948 demonstrated his support for democracy and his commitment to a homeland for the Jewish people. The one time during his presidency when a communist nation invaded a non-communist one -- when North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950 -- Truman responded by waging undeclared war.
In his domestic policies, Truman sought to accomplish the difficult transition from a war to a peace economy without plunging the nation into recession, and he hoped to extend New Deal social programs to include more government protection and services and to reach more people. He was successful in achieving a healthy peacetime economy, but only a few of his social program proposals became law. The Congress, which was much more Republican in its membership during his presidency than it had been during Franklin Roosevelt's, did not usually share Truman's desire to build on the legacy of the New Deal.
The Truman administration went considerably beyond the New Deal in the area of civil rights. Although, the conservative Congress thwarted Truman's desire to achieve significant civil rights legislation, he was able to use his powers as President to achieve some important changes. He issued executive orders desegregating the armed forces and forbidding racial discrimination in Federal employment. He also established a Committee on Civil Rights and encouraged the Justice Department to argue before the Supreme Court on behalf of plaintiffs fighting against segregation.
In 1948, Truman won reelection. His defeat had been widely expected and often predicted, but Truman's energy in undertaking his campaign and his willingness to confront issues won a plurality of the electorate for him. His famous "Whistlestop" campaign tour through the country has passed into political folklore, as has the photograph of the beaming Truman holding up the newspaper whose headline proclaimed, "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Truman left the presidency and retired to Independence in January 1953. For the nearly two decades of his life remaining to him, he delighted in being "Mr. Citizen," as he called himself in a book of memoirs. He spent his days reading, writing, lecturing and taking long brisk walks. He took particular satisfaction in founding and supporting his Library, which made his papers available to scholars, and which opened its doors to everyone who wished to have a glimpse of his remarkable life and career.
Harry S. Truman died on December 26, 1972. Bess Truman died on October 18, 1982. They are buried side by side in the Library's courtyard.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 11
|
https://mostateparks.com/page/54969/general-information
|
en
|
Missouri State Parks
|
[
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/themes/mogov_site/img/logo.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/region-map-small-pastel.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_shelter.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_tour.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_camping.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_lodging.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/modules/mo_cms_share/img/little_blue_email.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Truman%20Birthplace%20exterior.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Truman%20Birthplace%20interior2.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Beach-Closure-horz.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/DNRlogo_new.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2011-02-06T19:47:00-06:00
|
Presidential Beginnings Even with the most humble of beginnings, true greatness shines through. In the rural Missouri town of Lamar, the 33rd president of the United States was born. Harry S Truman endeared himself to the citizens of the state through his genuine country manners and his down-to-earth sensibility. His character and will to fight the odds were instilled in Harry
|
en
|
https://mostateparks.com/page/54969/general-information
|
Presidential Beginnings
Even with the most humble of beginnings, true greatness shines through. In the rural Missouri town of Lamar, the 33rd president of the United States was born. Harry S Truman endeared himself to the citizens of the state through his genuine country manners and his down-to-earth sensibility. His character and will to fight the odds were instilled in Harry at a young age in the "Show-Me State."
Harry Truman's roots were firmly in Missouri. Both sets of his grandparents moved to a place called Westport Landing - later renamed Kansas City - in the 1840s. His parents, John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young, were both born on farms in that area. After John Anderson and Martha Ellen were married in 1881, they moved to Lamar where John continued farming and dealing with livestock.
According to the official deed, in 1882, the Truman's purchased a 20-by-28-foot house for $685. On May 8, 1884, Harry S Truman was born in the downstairs southwest bedroom of the one and one-half story house. On that day, to celebrate the birth of his first child, John Anderson proudly planted an Austrian pine tree at the southeast corner of the house. The tree was removed in 2012 and a piece is on display in the site office.
When Harry was 11 months old, the Truman family moved from Lamar and over the next six years, lived in Harrisonville, Belton and Grandview. In 1890, the family settled in Independence, where Harry started his formal education. He graduated from high school in 1901 but never went to college. He entered the work force so his brother and sister could complete their education.
The long, hard, tedious hours of farm work that Harry put in as a young boy helped shape his character and stuck with him the rest of his life. He was employed as a timekeeper for a railroad contractor in the mailing room of the Kansas City Star and worked in two banks. Returning to his rural roots, he left the cosmopolitan life in 1906 to help manage the family farm near Grandview.
Truman seemed content as a farmer during this period of his life. If it hadn't been for the major turmoil in Europe, and America's entrance into the war, he might have remained a farmer for life. Instead, in 1917, Truman joined the U.S. Army to fight in World War I. He was shipped to France and it was there, under the most trying of circumstances, that he displayed his extraordinary leadership ability. He was promoted to commander of Battery D, 129th Field Artillery. His detachment was engaged in some of the fiercest combat action of the entire war in the Battle of Meuse-Argonne.
After his discharge from the Army, he married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth "Bess" Wallace, on June 28, 1919, in Independence. Trying his hand in the business world once again, he and a partner opened a men's clothing store in Kansas City. The business initially showed moderate success but eventually failed. Truman's values and character stayed intact, however, as he spent the next decade paying off every dollar of his debt.
It was a chance encounter with James Pendergast, the nephew of Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast, that started Truman up the ladder of politics. If not spectacular, his rise was steady. From his days as the eastern judge of the Jackson County Court, all the way to his two terms as president of the United States, Truman was always a unique and colorful political figure.
His list of White House accomplishments and controversies is legendary. He ended World War II with the atomic bomb. He enlisted Gen. Douglas MacArthur, a World War II hero, to "police" Korea during the Korean War and then fired him for his aggression. He integrated the U.S. military at a time when segregation ruled the land. While derailing Sen. Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist witch hunt, he prevented a railroad and steel mill strike by threatening to nationalize their operations. Truman's last controversial presidential act was his announcement that he would not seek a second full term as president in 1952.
In 1953, Truman and his wife returned to Independence. There were two dedications in his post-presidential life. The first was the dedication of the Harry S Truman Library and Museum in September 1957. The second was the April 19, 1959, dedication of his birthplace in Lamar as the Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site. Truman was there for the festivities.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 46
|
https://zuzuforkids.com/places/us/mo/lamar/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/reviews
|
en
|
Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site, Historic Site in Lamar, MO
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri is a significant venue that holds historical importance as the birthplace of former US President Harry S Truman. The site features the house where Truman was born and showcases his early years, military service, and presidency. The site is open year-round for free tours, but the office has specific hours of operation. On May 6th, the site will host a celebration to commemorate Truman's birthday, featuring historical demonstrations, vendors, and musical entertainment. The site is part of Missouri State Parks and is managed by the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. Truman's upbringing and experiences in Missouri greatly influenced his character and leadership abilities.
|
en
|
/favicon.ico
|
https://zuzuforkids.com/places/us/mo/lamar/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/reviews
| ||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 50
|
https://www.mapquest.com/directions/to/us/missouri/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site-8166892
|
en
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/favicon.ico
| null | ||||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 30
|
https://www.facebook.com/mostateparks/videos/harry-s-truman-birthplace-shs/788522565099207/
|
en
|
DYK: Today is the birthday of Missouri’s only president, Harry S Truman. President Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was born on May 8,...
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
DYK: Today is the birthday of Missouri’s only president, Harry S Truman. President Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was born on May 8,...
|
de
|
https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/yT/r/aGT3gskzWBf.ico
|
https://www.facebook.com/mostateparks/videos/harry-s-truman-birthplace-shs/788522565099207/
| ||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 0
|
https://mostateparks.com/park/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site
|
en
|
Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/themes/mogov_site/img/logo.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/region-map-small-pastel.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_shelter.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_tour.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_camping.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/megamenu_lodging.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/modules/mo_cms_share/img/little_blue_email.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15216570944.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15217125163.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15309485370.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15651116598.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15651411197.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15651703520.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15812906056.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15812907136.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15836545585.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/flickrcache/72157625842891171/15838108702.jpg",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/styles/related_park/public/park_images/DSCN0057.jpg?itok=tOCiMSBS",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/styles/related_park/public/GEDC0194.jpg?itok=VmQr8MbM",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/findmap_signpost_orig.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Beach-Closure-horz.png",
"https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/DNRlogo_new.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2010-12-10T08:40:00-06:00
|
See where the only U.S. president born in Missouri started at Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site. Visitors can view the small frame house where the future president was born, and see furnishings that reflect what a house in western Missouri would have looked like during the time Truman lived in the house.
|
en
|
https://mostateparks.com/park/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site
|
For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, click here to visit our Park and Site Status Map.
On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and site buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day.
Historic Site Grounds:
Sunrise to sunset, year-round
Site Office hours
March through October
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday
Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday
November through February
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday
On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and site buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24, 2023; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Presidents Day.
Tours:
Free tours are offered during the hours listed above.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 91
|
https://www.normandy1944.info/home/commanders/life-and-death-of-harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Life and death of Harry S. Truman
|
https://www.normandy1944.info/images/misc/favicon.ico
|
https://www.normandy1944.info/images/misc/favicon.ico
|
[
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/13/D-Day-Normandy-and-Beyond-logo-135a1f7e.png",
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/1f/D-Day-Normandy-and-Beyond-logo-1f9df9ab.png",
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/2a/d-day-normandy-beyond-commanders-harry-truman-back-2a4d3885.jpeg",
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/3e/d-day-normandy-beyond-commanders-harry-truman-3e7a2538.jpeg",
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/43/Harry-S-Truman-signature-436dcf30.png",
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/a2/us-victory-medal-a269c0ee.png",
"https://www.normandy1944.info/templates/yootheme/cache/8c/us-reserve-medal-8c8ea3cf.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Harry S Truman",
"33rd",
"President",
"USA",
"WW2",
"Atomic Bomb",
"Japan",
"Korea",
"Enola Gay",
"Cold war"
] | null |
[
"Everards"
] |
2022-06-12T07:23:30+02:00
|
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953 and a lifetime member of the Democratic Party.
|
en
|
/images/misc/favicon.ico
| null |
In the 1944 presidential elections, Harry Truman was elected 33rd Vice President of the United States. When President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, Truman became his successor in office. His main task at the start of his presidency would be to end World War 2. Truman's presidency was eventful, serving as president through the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, the founding of the United Nations, and most of the Korean War.
Truman was an informal president, with many well-known catchwords and catchphrases, such as "The buck stops here", meaning that he was the one who made the decisions and had and should bear the responsibility for them.
Atomic bomb on Japan
After the German surrender on May 7, 1945, the war raged further in the Far East. To bring the conflict to a swift end, Truman decided to use nuclear weapons against Japan. Truman did not hear of the existence of the atomic bomb until he became president, because his predecessor Roosevelt had not informed him about this. On August 6, 1945, the crew of the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. and three days later, on August 9, the city of Nagasaki also became the target of an atomic attack. The bombings killed more than 150.000 (80.000 in Hiroshima and 75.000 in Nagasaki), and that number died in the weeks that followed from injuries and radiation sickness. The immediate consequence of the use of nuclear weapons was the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, and with it the end of World War II.
The use of nuclear weapons against Japan is still a sensitive topic that can lead to heated discussions. Proponents argue that deploying the atomic bomb to shorten the war has saved many lives of civilians in the Japanese-occupied territories and of soldiers by avoiding a protracted, extremely bloody invasion of the Japanese islands. Opponents argue, however, that the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians through the targeted use of nuclear weapons against civilian targets is a war crime and unjustified under any circumstances, partly because of the long-term disastrous consequences.
Moreover, they question the necessity of dropping the atomic bombs before the Japanese capitulation, since Japan had already announced before August 6, 1945 that it wanted to surrender under certain conditions. However, the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945, threatening Japan with "immediate and utter destruction" if it did not surrender, was rejected by the Japanese government in what it called a "deadly silence". On August 9, just hours before the second bomb was dropped, the Soviet Union declared war on the Japanese puppet state of Manchuria and invaded it. This may have contributed to Japan's decision on August 15 to capitulate to the US after all.
Death
On December 5, 1972, Truman was admitted to Kansas City's Research Hospital and Medical Center with pneumonia. He developed multiple organ failure, fell into a coma, and died at 7:50 a.m. on December 26, at the age of 88. Bess Truman opted for a simple private service at the library rather than a state funeral in Washington. A week after the funeral, foreign dignitaries and Washington officials attended a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral. Bess Truman died in 1982 and was buried next to her husband at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 67
|
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/harry-s-truman-us-presidents-in-history.html
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman - US Presidents in History
|
[
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/f3/2c/4c/800px-harry-s-truman-nara-530677-2.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/0c/ad/1f/image-placeholder-title.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/68/5c/cf/james-buchanan.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/2b/7a/2a/shutterstock-220911775.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/64/26/53/shutterstock-1540829486.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/55/9b/2d/shutterstock-1149428213.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/63/8f/38/twa-flight-847-captain-john-testrake-with-hijacker-in-beirut.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/76/96/5e/shutterstock-615383279.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/c7/44/dc/the-death-of-socrates-by-jacques-louis-david.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/02/a5/07/drawing-of-frontispiece-of-leviathan.jpg",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200/upload/5e/9a/ff/final-obesity-01.png",
"https://www.worldatlas.com/nwa_assets/img/site/wa2_logo_text_white.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Janice Feng"
] |
2016-02-01T16:27:47-05:00
|
Sworn into office after the sudden death of President F.D. Roosevelt, Truman faced the immediate challenges of the end of WWII and the early Cold War.
|
en
|
/nwa_assets/img/site/favicon.png
|
WorldAtlas
|
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/harry-s-truman-us-presidents-in-history.html
|
Early Life
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8th, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri. His father was a farmer and the family lived on his farm. Truman's family moved around quite a lot when he was young and finally settled in Grandview when he was 13. As a child, he had a wide range of interests, including music, reading, and history. He graduated from Independence High School in 1901, and did not go to university. Instead, he worked at a series of different clerical jobs. At the same time, he enrolled in Spalding's Commercial College, but left shortly after. Later on he also took night courses at the Kansas City Law School, but again dropped out shortly after.
Rise to Power
Truman was always passionate about joining the military. In 1905, he enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard. And when the US entered World War One, he was elected the first lieutenant of a battery and later on promoted to captain. His unit was sent to France and Truman proved to be a good leader. Soon after leaving the army, he was elected county-judge in Jackson County in 1922 and was elected as a presiding judge in 1926. Then he decided to run for the Senate, was elected Senator in 1934 and served two terms. President Roosevelt nominated Truman to be his Vice President and they were elected in 1944. After Roosevelt died of a stroke, Truman was sworn in as president on April 12, 1945, as the 33rd President of the United States. He was also reelected in 1948.
Contributions
Truman was thrown into presidency unexpectedly and immediately he was charged with ending a world war. In the first months of his term, he announced Germany's surrender. He also authorized the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, an act that despite being controversial forced Japan to surrender, and signed the charter ratifying the United Nations. Domestically, he came up with the "Fair Deal" program, which was a continuation of the New Deal. He banned racial discrimination in federal hiring practices, increased minimum wage, and cut military expenses.
Challenges
Truman faced a very challenging diplomatic situation. Soon after the war, the world saw itself divided into two camps, with the US aligning with Western European powers, and the Soviet Union controlling Eastern European nations. The Korean War soon broke out in 1950, and Truman was compelled to make a quick judgement. He swiftly committed the US to the war as he believed that the spread of communism in Asia was threatening. As the situation worsened, the war became increasingly unpopular domestically and Truman's approval rating dropped. He was challenged domestically by a major labour dispute between steel workers and major steel mills. Unable to settle the dispute, Truman seized the mills, and later was ordered by the Supreme Court to give them back. His reputation was further tarnished.
Death and Legacy
Truman was admitted to the hospital with lung congestion caused by pneumonia. He developed multiple organ failure and died on December 5th, 1972, at the age of 88. A small memorial service was held for him at Washington National Cathedral. Assuming office at a difficult time and forced to react fast to rapidly changing international affairs, Truman was an exceptionally unpopular president when he was in office. But public evaluations grew more in favour of him after he left the office. He was praised for being hard-working, accountable, and honest. His post-war measures, although controversial, helped stabilize the tumultuous early Cold War situation. He also fostered racial equality in the US. Today a series of schools, public places and scholarships are named after him.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 32
|
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/images/nwe_header.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/5/52/Harry_S_Truman%2C_bw_half-length_photo_portrait%2C_facing_front%2C_1945-crop.jpg/225px-Harry_S_Truman%2C_bw_half-length_photo_portrait%2C_facing_front%2C_1945-crop.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/d/d2/HST_Uniform.PNG",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/9/94/TrumanWedding.PNG/250px-TrumanWedding.PNG",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/e/e0/Nagasakibomb.jpg/300px-Nagasakibomb.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/2/2d/Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg/200px-Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/3/32/LyndonJohnsonSigningMedicareBill.gif/300px-LyndonJohnsonSigningMedicareBill.gif",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/2/22/Harry_S._Truman_signature.png",
"https://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/skins/common/images/Cc.logo.circle.png",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki_88x31.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
https://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/favicon.ico
|
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Harry_S._Truman
|
Harry S. Truman 33rd President of the United States Term of office April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953 Preceded by Franklin D. Roosevelt Succeeded by Dwight D. Eisenhower Date of birth May 8, 1884 Place of birth Lamar, Missouri Date of death December 26, 1972 Place of death Kansas City, Missouri Spouse Bess Wallace Truman Political party Democrat
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953); as Vice President, he succeeded to the office upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Truman, whose personal style contrasted sharply with that of the patrician Roosevelt, was a folksy, unassuming president. He overcame the low expectations of many political observers who compared him unfavorably to his highly regarded predecessor. President Truman suddenly assumed office at a watershed moment in the twentieth century: the end of the Second World War both in Europe and Pacific took place in his first months in office; he was the only President ever to authorize the use of the atomic bomb (against Japan); he sponsored the creation of the United Nations; he presided over the rebuilding of Japan and helped rebuild Europe through the Marshall Plan; he recognized the new state of Israel; and the Cold War began in his first term which took the form of a hot conflict by 1950 in the Korean War. Although he was forced to abandon his re-election campaign in 1952 because of the quagmire in Korea and extremely low approval ratings, scholars today rank him among the better presidents.
Early life
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri, the eldest child of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. A brother, John Vivian, soon followed, along with sister Mary Jane Truman.
Did you know?
Truman's middle initial "S" honors his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young
Harry's father, John Truman, was a farmer and livestock dealer. Truman lived in Lamar until he was 11 months old. The family then moved to his grandparent's 600-acre farm at Grandview, Missouri. When Truman was six years old, his parents moved the family to Independence, Missouri, so he could attend school. After graduating from high school in 1901, Truman worked at a series of clerical jobs. He returned to the Grandview farm in 1906 and stayed there for the next decade.
For the rest of his life, Truman would hearken back nostalgically to the years he spent as a farmer, often for theatrical effect. The ten years of physically demanding work he put in at Grandview were real, however, and they were a formative experience. During this period he courted Bess Wallace and even proposed to her in 1911; she turned him down. Truman said he wanted to make more money than a farmer before he proposed again. He did propose to her again, successfully, in 1918 after coming back as a captain from World War I.
He was the only president after 1870 not to earn a college degree, although he studied for two years toward a law degree at the Kansas City Law School in the early 1920s.
World War I
With the onset of American participation in World War I, Truman enlisted in the Missouri National Guard. At his physical, his eyesight had been an unacceptable 20/50 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left eye; he passed by secretly memorizing the eye chart.
Before heading to France, he was sent for training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He ran the camp canteen, selling candy, cigarettes, shoelaces, sodas, tobacco, and writing paper to the soldiers. To help run the canteen, he enlisted the help of his Jewish friend Sergeant Edward Jacobson, who had experience in a Kansas City clothing store as a clerk. Another man he met at Fort Sill who would help him after the war was Lieutenant James M. Pendergast, the nephew of Thomas Joseph (T.J.) Pendergast, a Kansas City politician.
Truman was chosen to be an officer, and then commanded a regimental battery in France. His unit was Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery, 60th Brigade, 35th Division. Under Truman's command in France, the battery performed bravely under fire in the Vosges Mountains and did not lose a single man. Truman later rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, and always remained proud of his military background.
Marriage and early business career
At the war's conclusion, Truman returned to Independence and married his longtime love interest, Bess Wallace, on June 28, 1919. The couple had one child, Margaret.
A month before the wedding, banking on the success they had at Fort Sill and overseas, the men's clothing store of Truman & Jacobson opened in downtown Kansas City. After a few successful years, the store went bankrupt during a downturn in the farm economy in 1922; lower prices for wheat and corn meant fewer sales of silk shirts. In 1919, wheat had been selling for $2.15 a bushel, but in 1922 it was down to a catastrophic 88 cents a bushel. Truman blamed the fall in farm prices on the policies of the Republicans and Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, a factor that would influence his decision to become a Democrat. Truman worked for years to pay off the debts. He and his former business partner, Eddie Jacobson, were accepted together at Washington College in 1923. They would remain friends for the rest of their lives, and Jacobson's advice to Truman on the subject of Zionism would, decades later, play a critical role in Truman's decision to recognize the state of Israel.
Politics
Jackson County judge
In 1922, with the help of the Kansas City Democratic machine led by boss Tom Pendergast, Truman was elected judge of the county court of Jackson County, Missouri—an administrative, not judicial, position similar to county commissioners elsewhere. Although he was defeated for reelection in 1924, he won back the office in 1926, and was reelected in 1930. Truman performed his duties in this office diligently and won personal acclaim for several popular public works projects, including an extensive series of roads for the increase in automobile traffic, the construction of a new county court building, and the dedication of a series of 12 "Madonna of the Trail" monuments honoring pioneer women.
In 1922, Truman gave a friend $10 for an initiation fee for the Ku Klux Klan but later asked to get his money back; he was never initiated, never attended a meeting, and never claimed membership. Though it is a historical fact that Truman at times expressed anger towards Jews in his diaries, it is also worth remembering that his business partner and close friend Edward Jacobson was Jewish. Bess Truman however was proud that a Jew had never set foot in her or her mother's home.[1] Truman's attitudes toward blacks were typical of Missourians of his era. Years later, another measure of his racial attitudes would come to the forefront: tales of the abuse, violence, and persecution suffered by many African-American veterans upon their return from World War II infuriated Truman, and were a major factor in his decision to back civil rights initiatives and desegregate the armed forces.
U.S. Senator
In the 1934 election, Pendergast's political machine selected Truman to run for Missouri's open United States Senate seat, and he campaigned successfully as a New Deal Democrat in support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the Democratic primary, Truman defeated Tuck Milligan, the brother of federal prosecutor Maurice M. Milligan, who would eventually topple the Pendergast machine—and run against Truman in the 1940 primary election.
Widely considered a puppet of the big Kansas City political boss, Truman assumed office under a cloud as "the senator from Pendergast." Adding to the air of distrust was the disquieting fact that three people had been killed at the polls in Kansas City. In the tradition of machine politicians before and since, Truman did indeed direct New Deal political patronage through Boss Pendergast—but he insisted that he was an independent on his votes. Truman did have his standards, historian David McCullough later concluded, and he was willing to stand by them, even when pressured by the man who had emerged as the kingpin of Missouri politics.
Milligan began a massive investigation into the 1936 Missouri gubernatorial election that elected Lloyd C. Stark; 258 convictions resulted. More importantly, Milligan discovered that Pendergast had not paid federal taxes between 1927 and 1937 and had conducted a fraudulent insurance scam. He went after Senator Truman's political patron. In 1939, Pendergast pled guilty and received a $10,000 fine and a 15-month sentence. Stark, who had received Pendergast's blessing in the 1936 election, turned against him in the investigation and eventually took control of federal New Deal funds from Truman and Pendergast.
In 1940, both Stark and Milligan challenged Truman in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Robert E. Hannegan, who controlled St. Louis Democratic politics, threw his support in the election to Truman. Truman campaigned tirelessly and combatively. In the end, Stark and Milligan split the anti-Pendergast vote, and Truman won the election by a narrow margin. Hannegan would go on to broker the 1944 deal that put Truman on the Vice Presidential ticket for Franklin D. Roosevelt.)
Truman always defended his decisions to offer patronage to Pendergast by saying that by offering a little, he saved a lot. Truman also said that Pendergast had given him this advice when he first went to the Senate, "Keep your mouth shut and answer your mail."
Truman Committee
On June 23, 1941, a day after Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Senator Truman declared, "If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances. Neither of them thinks anything of their pledged word" (The New York Times, June 24 1941). Liberals and conservatives alike were disturbed by his seeming suggestion of the possibility of America backing Nazi Germany, and he quickly backtracked.
He gained fame and respect when his preparedness committee (popularly known as the "Truman Committee") investigated the scandal of military waste by exposing fraud and mismanagement. His advocacy of common sense, cost-saving measures for the military attracted much attention. Although some feared the Committee would hurt war morale, it was considered a success and is reported to have saved at least $11 billion. In 1943, his work as chairman earned Truman his first appearance on the cover of TIME. (He would eventually appear on nine TIME covers and be named its Man of the Year in 1945 and 1949.[2])
Truman's diligent, fair-minded, and notably nonpartisan work on the Senate committee that came to bear his name turned him into a national figure. It is unlikely that Roosevelt would have considered him for the vice presidential spot in 1944 had the former "Senator from Pendergast" not earned a new reputation in the Senate—one for probity, hard work, and a willingness to ask powerful people tough questions.
Truman was selected as Roosevelt's running mate in 1944 as the result of a deal worked out by Hannegan, who was Democratic National Chairman that year. Roosevelt wanted to replace Henry A. Wallace as Vice President because he was considered too liberal. James F. Byrnes of South Carolina was initially favored, but as a segregationist he was considered too conservative. After Governor Henry F. Schricker of Indiana declined the offer, Hannegan proposed Truman as the party's candidate for Vice President. After Wallace had been rejected as too far to the left, and Byrnes as too far to the right, Truman's candidacy was humorously dubbed the "Missouri Compromise" at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The nomination was well received, and the Roosevelt-Truman team went on to score a victory in 1944 by defeating Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York. He was sworn in as Vice President on January 20, 1945, and served less than three months.
Truman shocked many when, as Vice President, he attended his disgraced patron Pendergast's funeral a few days after being sworn in. Truman was reportedly the only elected official of any level who attended the funeral.
On April 12, 1945, Truman was urgently called to the White House, where Eleanor Roosevelt informed him that the President was dead. Truman, thunderstruck, could initially think of nothing to say. He then asked if there was anything he could do for her, to which the former First Lady replied, "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now."[3]
Presidency 1945–1953
First term (1945-1949)
End of World War II
Truman had been Vice President for only 82 days when President Roosevelt suddenly died. He had very little meaningful communication with Roosevelt about world affairs or domestic politics since being sworn in as Vice President, and was completely in the dark about major initiatives relating to the successful prosecution of the war—notably the top secret Manhattan Project, which was, at the time of Roosevelt's passing, on the cusp of testing the world's first atomic bomb.
Shortly after taking the oath of office, Truman said to reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don't know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me."[3]
Momentous events would occur in Truman's first five months in office:
April 25—Nations met in San Francisco to create the United Nations
April 28—Benito Mussolini of Italy killed
May 1—Announcement of the suicide of Adolf Hitler
May 2—Berlin falls
May 7—Nazi Germany surrenders
May 8—Victory in Europe Day
July 17-August 2—Truman, Josef Stalin, and Winston Churchill met at the Potsdam Conference to establish the political landscape of post-war world
August 6—U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
August 8—USSR declares war on Japan and enters the Pacific theater
August 9—U.S. drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan
August 14—Japan agrees to surrender (Victory over Japan Day)
September 2—Japan formally surrenders aboard the USS Missouri
The United Nations, the Marshall Plan and Beginning of the Cold War
As a Wilsonian internationalist, Truman strongly supported the creation of the United Nations, and included former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on the delegation to the U.N.'s first General Assembly in order to meet the public desire for peace after the experience of the Second World War. One of the first decisions he made in office was to personally attend the San Francisco UN Charter Conference. He saw the United Nations as in part the realization of an American dream, providing essential "international machinery" that would help America re-order the world by allowing states to cooperate against aggression. Some critics argue the United Nations should have admitted only democratic states, and Truman should have resisted the Soviet Union's permanent membership on the Security Council, which from the outset compromised the United Nation's integrity. But most of the provisions of the UN Charter had already been negotiated by Roosevelt with Stalin, and the Soviet Union obtained not only permanent UNSC membership but three seats in the General Assembly (for three Soviet socialist republics); moreover, the USSR was still an ally in April 1945 and no one could predict when World War II would end.
On the other hand, faced with Communist abandonment of commitments to democracy in Eastern Europe made at the Potsdam Conference, and with Communist advances in Greece and Turkey, Truman and his advisers concluded that the interests of the Soviet Union were quickly becoming incompatible with those of the United States. The Truman administration articulated an increasingly hard line against the Soviets, and by 1947 most scholars consider that the Cold War was in full swing.
Although he claimed no personal expertise on foreign matters, and the opposition Republicans controlled Congress, Truman was able to win bipartisan support for both the Truman Doctrine, which formalized a policy of containment, and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to help rebuild postwar Europe. To get Congress to spend the vast sums necessary to restart the moribund European economy, Truman used an ideological approach, arguing forcefully that Communism flourished in economically deprived areas. He later admitted that his goal had been to "scare the hell out of Congress." To strengthen the United States against Communism, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 and reorganized military forces by creating the Department of Defense, the C.I.A., U.S. Air Force (originally the U.S. Army Air Forces), and the National Security Council.
Fair Deal
After many years of Democratic majorities in Congress and two Democratic presidents, voter fatigue with the Democrats delivered a new Republican majority in the 1946 midterm elections, with the Republicans picking up 55 seats in the House of Representatives and several seats in the Senate. Although Truman cooperated closely with the Republican leaders on foreign policy, he fought them on domestic issues. He failed to prevent tax cuts and the removal of price controls. The power of the labor unions was significantly curtailed by the Taft-Hartley Act, which was enacted by overriding Truman's veto.
As he readied for the approaching 1948 election, Truman made clear his identity as a Democrat in the New Deal tradition, advocating universal health insurance, the repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act, and an aggressive civil rights program. Taken together, it all constituted a broad legislative program that he called the "Fair Deal."
Truman's Fair Deal proposals made for potent campaign rhetoric that helped Truman to win the 1948 presidential election, but the proposals were not well received by Congress, even after Democratic gains in the 1948 election. Only one of the major Fair Deal bills, an initiative to expand unemployment benefits, was ever enacted.
Recognition of Israel
Truman, who had been a supporter of the Zionist movement as early as 1939, was a key figure in the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
In 1946, an Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry recommended the gradual establishment of two states in Palestine, with neither Jews nor Arabs dominating. However, there was little public support for the two-state proposal, and Britain, its empire in rapid decline, was under pressure to withdraw from Palestine quickly because of attacks on British forces by armed Zionist groups. At the urging of the British, a special United Nations committee recommended the immediate partitioning of Palestine into two states, and with Truman's support, this initiative was approved by the General Assembly in 1947.
The British announced that they would leave Palestine by May 15, 1948, and the Arab League Council nations began moving troops to Palestine's borders. Support for a Jewish state in Palestine was strong in portions of European nations, many of whose citizens were eager to endorse some kind of tacit compensation for the genocidal crimes against Jewish communities perpetrated by the Nazis. The idea of a Jewish state in the Middle East was also extremely popular in the U.S., and particularly so among one of Truman's key constituencies, urban Jewish voters.
The State Department, however, was another matter. Secretary George C. Marshall resolutely opposed the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine on the grounds that its borders were strategically indefensible. Nonetheless, Truman, after much soul-searching, agreed to the fateful step of holding a face-to-face meeting with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann—arranged by Truman's old Jewish friend, Eddie Jacobson—who deeply moved Truman. Truman promised the "old man" that he would recognize the new Jewish state.[4] According to historian David McCullough, Truman feared Marshall would resign or publicly condemn the decision to back the Jewish state, both disastrous outcomes given the rising tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union. However, in the end, Marshall chose not to dispute the President's decision. Ultimately, Truman recognized the state of Israel eleven minutes after it declared independence on May 14, 1948, one day before the British mandate expired.
Berlin Airlift
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. The Allies had never negotiated a deal to guarantee supply of the sectors deep within Soviet occupied East Germany. The commander of the American occupation zone in Germany, Gen. Lucius D. Clay, proposed sending a large armored column driving peacefully, as a moral right, down the Autobahn from West Germany to West Berlin, but prepared to defend itself if it were stopped or attacked. Truman, however, following the consensus in Washington, believed this entailed an unacceptable risk of war. On June 25, the Allies decided to begin the Berlin Airlift to support the city by air. The airlift continued until May 11, 1949, when access was again granted.
Integration of the military
After a hiatus that had lasted since Reconstruction, the Truman administration marked the federal government's first steps in many years in the area of civil rights. A series of particularly savage 1946 lynchings, including the murder of two young black men and two young black women near in Walton County, Georgia, and the subsequent brutalization of an African American WWII veteran, drew attention to civil rights and factored in the issuing of a 1947 report by the Truman administration titled To Secure These Rights. The report presented a detailed ten-point agenda of civil rights reforms, including making lynching a federal crime. In February 1948, the President submitted a civil rights agenda to Congress that proposed creating several federal offices devoted to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices. This provoked a firestorm of criticism from Southern Democrats in the time leading up to the national nominating convention, but Truman refused to compromise, saying "My forbears were Confederates…. But my very stomach turned over when I had learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of Army trucks in Mississippi and beaten."[5]
Second Term (1949-1953)
1948 Election
The presidential election of 1948 is best remembered for Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory.
At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Truman attempted to place a tepid civil rights plank in the party platform so as to assuage the internal conflicts between North and South. A sharp address, however, given by Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and candidate for the United States Senate—as well as the local political interests of a number of urban bosses—convinced the party to adopt a strong civil rights plank, which was wholeheartedly adopted by Truman. Within two weeks he issued Executive Order 9981, racially integrating the U.S. armed services.[6] Truman took considerable political risk in backing civil rights, and was very concerned that the loss of Dixiecrat support might destroy the Democratic Party.
With Thomas E. Dewey having a substantial lead, the Gallup Poll quit taking polls two weeks before the election[7] even though 14 percent of the electorate was still undecided. George Gallup would never repeat that mistake again, and he emerged with the maxim, "Undecided voters side with the incumbent."
Truman's "whistlestop" tactic of giving brief speeches from the rear platform of the observation railroad car Ferdinand Magellan became iconic of the entire campaign.[8] His combative appearances captured the popular imagination and drew huge crowds. The massive, mostly spontaneous gatherings at Truman's depot events were an important sign of a critical change in momentum in the campaign—but this shift went virtually unnoticed by the national press corps, which simply continued reporting Dewey's (supposedly) impending victory as a certainty.
The defining image of the campaign came after Election Day, when Truman's held aloft the erroneous front page of the Chicago Tribune that featured a huge headline proclaiming "Dewey Defeats Truman."[9]
Nuclear standoff
The Soviet Union, aided by espionage on America's "Manhattan Project," developed an atomic bomb much faster than expected and exploded its first weapon on August 29, 1949, commencing the Cold War arms race. On January 7, 1953, Truman announced the detonation of the much bigger hydrogen bomb.
Communist China
On December 21, 1949, Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist forces left the mainland for Taiwan in the face of successful attacks by Mao Zedong's Communists. In June 1950, Truman ordered the Seventh Fleet of the U.S. Navy into the Strait of Formosa to prevent further conflict between the PRC and the Republic of China on Taiwan. Truman also called for Taiwan to cease any further attacks on the mainland.[10]
Rise of McCarthyism
A period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States began in the late 1940s that lasted a decade. It saw increased fears about Communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents. Originally coined to criticize the actions of Republican senator Joseph McCarthy, "McCarthyism" later took on a more general meaning of a witch-hunt against alleged communists. During this time many thousands of Americans were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before governmental or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists.
The reality was that the Soviet Union in some instances had made successfully penetrations of the U.S. government both prior to and during World War II, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin benefited from highly classified American information that informed his own decisionmaking. The most prominent alleged Soviet spy, named by former communist and writer Whittaker Chambers, was State Department official Alger Hiss, who presided over the United Nations Charter Conference in San Francisco in 1945.
Korean War
In June 25, 1950, armies of North Korea invaded South Korea, nearly occupying the whole of the peninsula. Truman promptly urged the United Nations to intervene; it did. The Soviet Union was not in attendance at the Security Council vote that authorized U.S. forces and those of 15 other nations to take military action under the UN flag.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur led the UN Forces, pushing the North Korean army nearly to the Chinese border after scoring a stunning victory with his amphibious landing at Inchon. In late October 1950, the Peoples Republic of China intervened in massive numbers on North Korea's behalf. MacArthur urged Truman to attack Chinese bases across the Yalu River and use atomic bombs if necessary; as it was, he was not even permitted to bomb the Chinese end of Yalu bridges. Truman refused both suggestions. The Chinese pushed American forces back into South Korea, and temporarily recaptured Seoul. MacArthur, who had given assurances that he would respect Truman's authority as Commander in Chief during a one-on-one meeting at Wake Island on Oct. 14, 1950, publicly aired his views on the shortcomings of U.S. strategic decisionmaking in the conduct of the war, appearing to indirectly criticize Truman. MacArthur reached out his hand to Truman for a handshake, instead of saluting him as Commander in Chief, a small gesture that held great implications in military protocol.
Truman was gravely concerned that further escalation of the war would draw the USSR which now possessed a few atomic weapons into the conflict. He was also personally offended at what he interpreted as MacArthur's insubordination. On April 11, 1951, Truman finally relieved MacArthur of his command. The Korean War turned into a stalemate until an armistice took effect on July 27, 1953, under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The war, and his dismissal of MacArthur, helped make Truman so unpopular that he eventually chose not to seek a third term. Truman thus earned a strange—and, so far, unique—distinction in American history: He ascended to the presidency to inherit the responsibilities of conducting a war already in process—and left office while an entirely different armed conflict with a foreign enemy was still underway.
White House renovations
Unlike most other Presidents, Truman lived in the White House very little during his second term in office. Structural analysis of the building in 1948 showed the White House to be in danger of imminent collapse, partly because of problems with the walls and foundation that dated back to the burning of the building by the British during the War of 1812. While the interior of the White House was systematically dismantled to the foundations and rebuilt (the outer walls were braced and not removed), Truman moved to nearby Blair House, which became his "White House." Before this demolition took place, Truman had ordered an addition to the exterior of the building, an extension to its curved portico known as the "Truman Balcony."
Assassination attempt
On November 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. One mortally wounded a police officer, who shot the assassin to death before expiring himself. The other gunman was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in 1952. Truman later commuted his sentence to life in prison.
Major legislation signed
National Security Act—July 26, 1947
Truman Doctrine—March 12, 1947
Marshall Plan/European Recovery Plan—April 3, 1948
Important executive orders
Executive Order 9981 establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services
Administration and Cabinet
OFFICE NAME TERM President Harry S. Truman 1945–1953 Vice President None 1945–1949 Alben W. Barkley 1949–1953 State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. 1945 James F. Byrnes 1945–1947 George C. Marshall 1947–1949 Dean G. Acheson 1949–1953 Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. 1945 Fred M. Vinson 1945–1946 John W. Snyder 1946–1953 War Henry L. Stimson 1945 Robert P. Patterson 1945–1947 Kenneth C. Royall 1947 Defense James V. Forrestal 1947–1949 Louis A. Johnson 1949–1950 George C. Marshall 1950–1951 Robert A. Lovett 1951–1953 Attorney General Francis Biddle 1945 Tom C. Clark 1945–1949 J. Howard McGrath 1949–1952 James P. McGranery 1952–1953 Postmaster General Frank C. Walker 1945 Robert E. Hannegan 1945–1947 Jesse M. Donaldson 1947–1953 Navy James V. Forrestal 1945–1947 Interior Harold L. Ickes 1945–1946 Julius A. Krug 1946–1949 Oscar L. Chapman 1949–1953 Agriculture Claude R. Wickard 1945 Clinton P. Anderson 1945–1948 Charles F. Brannan 1948–1953 Commerce Henry A. Wallace 1945–1946 W. Averell Harriman 1946–1948 Charles W. Sawyer 1948–1953 Labor Frances Perkins 1945 Lewis B. Schwellenbach 1945–1948 Maurice J. Tobin 1948–1953
Supreme Court appointments
Truman appointed the following Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States:
Harold Hitz Burton—1945
Fred M. Vinson (Chief Justice)—1946
Tom Campbell Clark—1949
Sherman Minton—1949
Post-presidency
Later life and death
In 1956, Truman took a trip to Europe with his wife, and was a universal sensation. In Britain, he received an honorary degree in Civic Law from Oxford University. He met with his friend Winston Churchill for the last time, and on returning to the U.S., he gave his full support to Adlai Stevenson's second bid for the White House, although he had initially favored Democratic Governor W. Averell Harriman of New York for the nomination.
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill at the Truman Library and gave the first two cards to Truman and his wife Bess. Truman had fought unsuccessfully for government sponsored health care during his tenure.
He was also honored in 1970 by the establishment of the Truman Scholarship, the official federal memorial to him. The scholarship sought to honor U.S. college students who exemplified dedication to public service and leadership in public policy.
Upon turning 80, Truman was feted in Washington and asked to address the United States Senate. He was so emotionally overcome by his reception that he was unable to deliver his speech. He also campaigned for senatorial candidates. A bad fall in his home in 1964 severely limited his physical capabilities, and he was unable to maintain his daily presence at his presidential library. On December 5, 1972, he was admitted to Kansas City's Research Hospital and Medical Center with lung congestion from pneumonia. He subsequently developed multiple organ failure and died on December 26 at age 88. He and Bess are buried at the Truman Library.
Truman's middle initial
Truman did not have a middle name, but only a middle initial. It was a common practice in southern states, including Missouri, to use initials rather than names. Truman said the initial was a compromise between the names of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp(e) Truman and Solomon Young. He once joked that the S was a name, not an initial, and it should not have a period, but official documents and his presidential library all use a period. Furthermore, the Harry S. Truman Library has numerous examples of the signature written at various times throughout Truman's lifetime where his own use of a period after the "S" is very obvious.
Trivia
Truman was the first president to travel underwater in a modern submarine.
"Tell him to go to hell!"—Truman's first response to the messenger who told him that Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted him to be his running mate.
Truman watched from a window as guards had a gunfight with two men trying to break into Blair House and kill him (November 1, 1950). One of the men was killed, the other was convicted and sentenced to death, Truman commuted his sentence to life in prison. President Jimmy Carter freed the man in 1979.
One of his Secretaries of State, George C. Marshall, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Truman loved to play the piano. In 1948, a piano leg went through the floor of the White House.
Truman was a great-nephew of President John Tyler.
Truman was the first president to be paid a salary of $100,000. (Congress voted him a raise early in his second term.)
Truman was left-handed, but his parents made him write with his right hand, in accordance with the custom for all students in American elementary schools at that time.
Truman popularized the saying, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." He had first heard this line in the 1930s, from another Missouri politician, E.T. "Buck" Purcell.
Truman was named one of the 10 best-dressed senators.
Truman was named after an uncle, Harrison Young.
Truman once said, "No man should be allowed to be president who doesn't understand hogs."
Truman was the first president to take office during wartime.
Notes
References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Secondary sources
Biographies
American National Biography. Vol. 21. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999, 857–863. ISBN 0195206355
Donovan, Robert J. Conflict and Crisis: The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, 1945-1948. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1996. ISBN 082621066X
Ferrell, Robert H. Harry S. Truman: A Life. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1994. ISBN 082620953X
Fleming, Thomas J. Harry S. Truman, President. New York: Walker and Co., 1993. ISBN 0802782671
Gosnell, Harold Foote. Truman's Crises: A Political Biography of Harry S. Truman. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1980. ISBN 0313212732
Graff, Henry F., ed. The Presidents: A Reference History, 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2002. ISBN 0684312263
Hamby, Alonzo L. Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0195045467
Kirkendall, Richard S. Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1989. ISBN 0816189153
McCullough, David. Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. ISBN 0671869205
Truman, Margaret. Harry S. Truman. New York: William Morrow, 1974.
Foreign Policy
Beschloss, Michael. Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989. (see Ch. 25, "No People but the Hebrews") New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN 0684857057
Collins, Larry, and Dominique Lapierre. O Jerusalem! New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988. ISBN 0671662414
Gaddis, John Lewis. "Reconsiderations: Was the Truman Doctrine a Real Turning Point?" Foreign Affairs 52(2)(1974): 386-402.
Ivie, Robert L. "Fire, Flood, and Red Fever: Motivating Metaphors of Global Emergency in the Truman Doctrine Speech." Presidential Studies Quarterly 29(3)(1999): 570-591.
Matray, James. "Truman's Plan for Victory: National Self Determination and the Thirty-Eighth Parallel Decision in Korea," Journal of American History 66 (September, 1979): 314-333.
Merrill, Dennis. "The Truman Doctrine: Containing Communism and Modernity" Presidential Studies Quarterly 2006 36(1): 27-37.
Offner, Arnold A. "'Another Such Victory': President Truman, American Foreign Policy, and the Cold War." Diplomatic History 1999 23(2): 127-155.
Pelz, Stephen. "When the Kitchen Gets Hot, Pass the Buck: Truman and Korea in 1950," Reviews in American History 6 (December, 1978), 548-555.
Smith, Geoffrey S. "'Harry, We Hardly Know You': Revisionism, Politics and Diplomacy, 1945-1954," American Political Science Review 70 (June, 1976): 560-582.
Spalding, Elizabeth Edwards. The First Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, Containment, And the Remaking of Liberal Internationalism. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. ISBN 978-0813123929
Wainstock, Dennis D. Truman, MacArthur, and the Korean War. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. ISBN 0313308373
Walker, J. Samuel. Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs Against Japan. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1997. ISBN 0807846627
Walker, J. Samuel. "Recent Literature on Truman's Atomic Bomb Decision: A Search for Middle Ground" Diplomatic History 29 (2)(April 2005): 311-334
Domestic Policy
Hartmann, Susan M. Truman and the 80th Congress. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1971. ISBN 0826201059
Heller, Francis H. Economics and the Truman Administration Lawrence, KS: Regents Press of Kansas, 1981. ISBN 0700602178
Kirkendall, Richard S., ed. Harry's Farewell: Interpreting and Teaching the Truman Presidency. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 2004. ISBN 0826215521
Koenig, Louis W. The Truman Administration: Its Principles and Practice. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1979. ISBN 0313211868
Levantrosser, William F. ed. Harry S. Truman: The Man from Independence. New York: Greenwood Press, 1986. ISBN 0313251789
Marcus, Maeva. Truman and the Steel Seizure Case: The Limits of Presidential Power. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1994. ISBN 0822314177
Ryan, Halford R. Harry S. Truman: Presidential Rhetoric. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993. ISBN 031327908X
Theoharis, Athan. The Truman Presidency: The Origins of the Imperial Presidency and the National Security State. Stanfordville, NY: E.M. Coleman Enterprises, 1979. ISBN 0930576128
Primary sources
Bernstein, Barton J. (ed.). Politics and Policies of the Truman Administration Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1974. OCLC 4167214
Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, 1910-1959. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1998. ISBN 0826212034
Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1997. ISBN 0826211194
Neal, Steve. (ed.). Miracle of '48: Harry Truman's Major Campaign Speeches & Selected Whistle-Stops. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2003. ISBN 0809325578
Truman, Harry S. Memoirs of Harry S. Truman. 2 vol., New York: Da Capo Press, 1986-1987, (original 1955-1956). ISBN 030680266X
Truman, Margaret. Harry S. Truman. (original 1974) New York: Quill, 1984. ISBN 0688039243
All links retrieved June 25, 2024.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 87
|
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-life-and-presidency-of-harry-s-truman
|
en
|
The Life and Presidency of Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.whitehousehistory.org/images/topnav-logo--default.svg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/WH-1600-Sessions-Podcast-Cover_WIDE_2024-03-19-170012_wvdq.png",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/1112932_2024-06-05-171824_xyat.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/digital-library-hero.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/20230330_DAG_4315_2024-03-19-170737_upoa.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/reso-planyourvisit-events2.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/reso-bookdecatur-facilitydetails-B.jpg",
"https://www.whitehousehistory.org/images/topnav-logo--default.svg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/fotoweb/2023/11/3d6d3d1eefdf4e5b9f935efa8d6bdf49.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/default/_smallImage/Harry-S.-Truman-web.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/fotoweb/2023/11/e3822339958440b1a2bbf2f493a907f6.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/default/_smallImage/Photograph_of_President_Truman_during_his_press_conference_in_the_garden_of_the__Little_White_House__at_Key_West..._-_NARA_-_200558.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/fotoweb/2023/11/a10ea6f4fc864c039435b7f4f2c676bf.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/fotoweb/2023/11/bd730fd890a74d9ebb9dac9db10eeced.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/fotoweb/2023/11/9e369fcf81e840feb3836e2cc1cc0060.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/fotoweb/2023/11/195fc85c3d0d4758a46312f76e08dc65.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/Alter-on-Carter-Header-Photo.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/WHHA-Ambassador-Header-Photo.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/WNC-Header-Photo.png",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/WHHA-Leadership-Header.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/_thumbSmall/nav-coll-nixon-thumb.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/_thumbSmall/nav-coll-portraits-thumb.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/_thumbSmall/nav-coll-2022-ornament-thumb.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/Podcast-Hoban-Ireland-header.gif",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/_thumbSmall/weddings-coll-thumb.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/_thumbSmall/ford-coll-thumb.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/Header-PhotoPresident-Ford-toasts-Queen-Elizabeth_07071976_Ford-Library-NARA_1511-copy.jpeg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/layout/_thumbSmall/HEADER-PHOTO-FDR.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/D/0/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138298.tif.mSfGs8PlMYF9Ab9jkAMA.MFp9sJjHDf.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/-/Q/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138402.tif.mSeOirvlMaPfY71jkAMA.inkHIGazRv.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/C/T/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138403.tif.mSeo8sHlMS3fY71jkAMA.zelVisxoFS.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/F/F/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138297.tif.mSeJ4LTlMYnDPbtjkAMA.b2Pkbt67Lj.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/v/M/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138692.tif.mSeewsPlMfHbibljkAMA.G8TXhPd_J0.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/N/M/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138672.tif.mSf7nMPlMeXTibljkAMA.aPu0YvyCV9.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/h/M/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138673.tif.mSfdqbrlMdPTibljkAMA.9ElPqrwKDl.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/_/Q/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138674.tif.mSf8477lMcvTibljkAMA.oIHSZeCggk.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/u/D/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138675.tif.mSfzu7nlMbvTibljkAMA.O2QuIQA0ql.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/D/C/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138676.tif.mSea37rlManTibljkAMA.JmRI1fHO9B.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/P/J/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138677.tif.mSfW5sHlMaPTibljkAMA.aWZwNDEsLW.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/M/W/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138678.tif.mSeS0bTlMZfTibljkAMA.cbF_0mXbhq.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/M/m/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138619.tif.mSf57LblMZHTibljkAMA.8-lAPaBx6y.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/h/O/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138679.tif.mSeR5LnlMYvTibljkAMA.4MtPc_QnPM.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/s/a/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138620.tif.mSfzysPlMYfTibljkAMA.JEpMjNqhq9.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/9/8/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138621.tif.mSfCzL_lMXvTibljkAMA.a_6Y4En1p5.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/-/G/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138622.tif.mSfQ0L7lMXPTibljkAMA.HGLK3-XHpA.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/Q/N/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138623.tif.mSe00L_lMWPTibljkAMA.qdkeQhx7z_.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/Y/D/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138624.tif.mSfAnbnlMUXTibljkAMA.zRkbFQWU4o.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/T/E/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138627.tif.mSei97blMT3TibljkAMA.AjFyDLqRRK.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/R/n/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138625.tif.mSf19MHlMTXTibljkAMA.YQADLyORf9.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/n/B/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138626.tif.mSebocPlMSvTibljkAMA.tjr3aHicqg.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/i/j/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138629.tif.mSf6yL3lMSXTibljkAMA.DOEQGclz4w.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/l/L/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138628.tif.mSedg7rlMSPTibljkAMA.MgKKGw9g76.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/N/b/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138630.tif.mSfvprXlMRnTibljkAMA.C9MI3f2usO.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/a/3/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138631.tif.mSeVmsLlMfnRibljkAMA.Fxp3-vnRL_.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/y/6/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138632.tif.mSfzhcPlMfHRibljkAMA.DtQSRoqQ2j.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/U/i/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138633.tif.mSeSuLblMfHRibljkAMA.ljY9EtXawa.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/x/Q/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138634.tif.mSfh-bjlMeXRibljkAMA.iebxSAbDhI.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/r/m/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138635.tif.mSfN3rflMd3RibljkAMA.Ghs-qKmz9k.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/_/u/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138636.tif.mSeFp8HlMdXRibljkAMA.PGrQtSmTqS.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/c/L/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138637.tif.mSeBsMTlMcXRibljkAMA.bCyj7kGj-A.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/j/J/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138638.tif.mSe7077lMbPRibljkAMA.7w41HlZZbe.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/v/Y/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138639.tif.mSfz47rlMbHRibljkAMA.yrQm-LiXAM.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/l/e/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138640.tif.mSeFyLflMavRibljkAMA.nWN3zGfRtB.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/N/K/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138573.tif.mSfB677lMaHRibljkAMA.wamu0C14Ck.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/j/R/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138574.tif.mSfDj77lMZnRibljkAMA.54CF7YSRL9.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/2/C/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138575.tif.mSe4yr7lMYvRibljkAMA.NCfCAM5V6R.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/9/L/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138576.tif.mSePkLXlMYPRibljkAMA.HZe0BuYQpv.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/j/E/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138577.tif.mSehpL3lMYHRibljkAMA.iSB8cJ2gHI.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/r/h/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138579.tif.mSee2bblMXXRibljkAMA.OCX4T00plD.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/n/a/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138578.tif.mSeKprrlMXPRibljkAMA.tXTiXoKnZX.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/C/j/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138580.tif.mSfm9brlMW_RibljkAMA.3Jw7b70zhz.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/1/m/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138581.tif.mSf-1LrlMV3RibljkAMA.MQ7biM9ftA.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/c/K/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138582.tif.mSfSgL_lMVPRibljkAMA.ExFBUlSWIx.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/K/w/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138583.tif.mSfA8L3lMVHRibljkAMA.lWezS8UtQ7.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/Z/d/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138584.tif.mSfavLnlMT_RibljkAMA.bA8A8qd-89.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/Q/2/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138585.tif.mSfcobrlMT3RibljkAMA.Drz41XPG06.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/z/d/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138586.tif.mSexmMPlMS3RibljkAMA.fGSu5lc7HU.jpg",
"https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/cache/v2/j/7/Main%20Index/Events/Holidays/1138587.tif.mSfar7rlMSvRibljkAMA.J6HkGGY15Z.jpg",
"https://www.whitehousehistory.org/images/footer-logo.png",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/24WHHSA-Evergreen-Join-Lightbox-NewTemplate-720x400_2024-05-03-161111_lbhn.jpg",
"https://d1y822qhq55g6.cloudfront.net/24WHHSA-Evergreen-Join-Lightbox-NewTemplate-450x450_2024-05-03-161116_yspg.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The White House Historical Association’s 2018 White House Christmas Ornament honors Harry S. Truman, the thirty-third president of the United States. This ornam...
|
en
|
/favicon.ico
|
WHHA (en-US)
|
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-life-and-presidency-of-harry-s-truman
|
The White House Historical Association’s 2018 White House Christmas Ornament honors Harry S. Truman, the thirty-third president of the United States. This ornament is designed to illustrate three significant changes made by President Truman during his administration, one to the Presidential Seal, and two to the White House itself. One side of the ornament features his celebrated Truman Balcony, added in 1947–48 to the South Portico, and the other side features his renovated Blue Room, which, like all the rooms of the house, was dismantled and rebuilt during the renovation of 1948–52. These two images represent Truman’s White House alterations and restorations, the most extensive work on the house since President George Washington built it in the nation’s dawning and Presidents James Madison and James Monroe restored it after the fire in the War of 1812.
The Presidential Seal featured at the top of the ornament reflects the design as changed by Truman. Originally the American eagle looked toward its left talons, which hold a cluster of spears, weapons of war. Truman, in the autumn after he took office, had the seal redesigned, turning the eagle’s head away from the spears to its right talons, which hold the olive branches of peace.
Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)
President Harry S. Truman was close to his friends and associates, had a grin for strangers, but could be less than tolerant of some critics. The famous sign placed on his desk in the Oval Office, “The Buck Stops Here,” made it clear that as president he was responsible for all that happened on his watch. He came to the presidency in the shadow of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but emerged on his own with a stature that has grown monumentally in the sixty-five years since his retirement.
Truman came from the farmlands of the Midwest. Missouri-born, May 8, 1884, and except for his years of government service in Washington, D.C., he remained a resident in his home state, most of that time in the fine Victorian house of his in-laws in the city of Independence. An old town east of Kansas City, Independence, was the legendary gateway to the West by virtue of being the starting point for the Santa Fe Trail. Truman’s rise to fame held disappointments that likely would have ruined a man of lesser integrity. Born of modest farmers, he was not able to complete college but went to work after his basic schooling; he later attended law school but was by then too involved with public duties to complete the full program.
Young Truman was a hard worker, a trait integral to his character. He was not afraid to take chances. Kansas City in his young manhood was a city afire with progress and entrepreneurship. The spirit ran in Truman’s blood. Efforts to support himself took many forms—farming, bank clerking, timekeeping for a railroad, ushering in a theater on Saturday afternoons—all with little success, until he invested in an oil venture on a lease in Kansas. Yet his ambitions did not override his strong patriotic sensibility.
He joined the new Missouri Army National Guard in 1905, returning to active duty when World War I broke out in 1917 as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery. He served with distinction throughout the war, almost entirely in France. Indeed, he sailed to France aboard the George Washington, a confiscated German liner that was converted to a troop transport ship; it later carried President Woodrow Wilson to Paris for the Versailles Peace Conference when the war was over.
Truman’s taste for politics developed early, when he was 22, as a clerk serving under his father, an election judge. Kansas City politics were controlled at that time by the Pendergast “machine,” a solidly Democrat and locally very powerful organization that took care of its valuable supporters with public jobs. Truman had several of these political jobs before his service in World War I. When Captain (shortly Major) Truman came home from the war, he married his longtime sweetheart Elizabeth (“Bess”) Wallace and launched a clothing business. The business failed, and, turning to politics, Truman was elected county judge of the eastern district of Jackson County. In 1934 he was elected to the U.S. Senate by a vast majority, and was reelected in 1940.
Through effective committee work and favorable news coverage of some of his more sensational endeavors in Congress, notably unmasking fraud in government wartime spending, Truman advanced his reputation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved him as his running mate for the presidential election of 1944, doubtless understanding that Truman would be his successor before the term was over. As vice president, Truman met with Roosevelt only twice. Five months after the election, on April 12, 1945, President Roosevelt died in Georgia. Truman was summoned from the Capitol to the White House to be sworn in as president.
The Truman Presidency (1945–53)
Few presidents coming into office have had to face the challenges awaiting President Truman. The most extensive and destructive war in world history was about to end in Europe but still raged in the Pacific. After the German surrender, Truman approved the use of the atomic bomb against Japan. It was the president’s authority and his alone to give such an order.
The horror of the atom bomb did end the war with Japan. Truman then began a unique program for rebuilding the defeated Axis powers. General Douglas MacArthur led the effort in Japan, while in Europe General George C. Marshall headed the program named for him. Such extensive plans for rebuilding war-torn former enemies had never been carried out before in history. Only the Soviet Union and its European satellite declined to participate, a harbinger of tensions in U.S.-Soviet relations that came to be called the Cold War.
Truman proved an able negotiator in international affairs in the difficult postwar years. His presidency oversaw the founding of the United Nations. He recognized the State of Israel immediately upon its independence in 1948. Without his efforts it is unlikely that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would have been approved by Congress in the spring of 1949, drawing together twelve nations in a mutual defense pact against the threatened spread of communism. In 1950 Truman sent U.S. troops to South Korea in support of a UN effort to stop communist North Korea’s aggression.
Truman’s domestic efforts were less successful. He tried to convince Congress to pass laws perpetuating Roosevelt’s New Deal, while the national economy struggled to readjust to peacetime. Not until he won a surprise reelection in 1948 did Congress pay attention. Eventually some elements of his Fair Deal passed: public housing legislation, an increase in the minimum wage, and an expansion of Social Security. Truman was a strong advocate for civil rights, and by executive order he desegregated the military and guaranteed fair employment in the civil service.
As president, Truman was a genial host and kept a daily diary of his activities. The immense pressures of work were not lessened by Bess Truman’s frequent absences in Independence with her mother. An avid reader of history all his life, Truman took time as president to continue with his volumes. His membership in the Masonic Order was important to him. During a meeting at the lodge in Alexandria, Virginia, he said, “I am ‘Harry’ here, not ‘Mr. President.’” He took daily walks with Secret Service accompaniment; he called them “constitutionals.” In his second year in office he vacationed at the deactivated navy base in Key West, Florida, referring to it thereafter as his “Little White House.” At a State Dinner during the Potsdam Conference, he entertained Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin by playing the piano. He loved music and enjoyed the singing career of his daughter Margaret. The private Truman never really changed during the storms of his presidency.
President Truman’s Changes to the White House
On the semicircular colonnade on the garden front of the White House, Truman’s new, shelf-like balcony gave the first family outdoor access from their upstairs living quarters and a panoramic view of the city. Architects denounced it as an ugly scar on the original design of the house. Politicians accused the president of building it out of spite, to get even with Congress for denying promised funding for a greatly enlarged West Wing. There may have been a mite of truth in this last objection: for his balcony, Truman asked Congress for no funding and no approval, but took the $16,050.74 it ultimately cost from the existing household budget. Seventy years later, the Truman Balcony remains a favorite retreat for first families and their guests.
Reconstruction of the house inside the old original walls was a more complicated matter, and less controversial than the balcony. For some years the structural security of the old house had been under question. The Secret Service and engineers from the Office of Civilian Defense had presented a report to President Franklin D. Roosevelt soon after World War II began, declaring the White House with its wooden interior structure unsafe and a firetrap. Roosevelt essentially dismissed the report, but when it was placed before Truman early in his administration, the new president took serious note.
The White House’s structural problems had revealed themselves once the Roosevelts extracted thirteen army truckloads of personal possessions from the family quarters. Faced with sinking floors, swaying chandeliers, and cracked plaster, Truman revisited the engineering report. When a leg of his daughter Margaret’s grand piano broke through the floor, the president and his family moved across the street to Blair House, where they celebrated Thanksgiving 1948 and remained until the spring of 1952. Designated by President Roosevelt in 1942 as the President’s Guest House, Blair House became Truman’s surrogate “White House” during the three and a half years it took to make the White House safe again. It was at Blair House, around the dining room table, that Truman met with Marshall and William Clayton to develop the Marshall Plan. And it was at Blair House where two Puerto Rican nationalists made an attempt on the life of the president in 1950. The would-be assassins were stopped before gaining entry to the house and Truman, who was upstairs, was not harmed.
The president had studied the possibilities for a renovated White House before he made his decision on how the reconstruction would be carried out. It was obvious to most surrounding him that the solution was to demolish the entire house and build a copy. Truman hesitated. A student of history and a believer in the power of symbols of great times and great men, he could not let the home of the presidents go. At last he agreed to a plan of preserving the historic stone walls, built in the 1790s, and reconstruction of the interior. With a $5,400,000 budget from Congress in hand in the winter of 1949, Truman held fast to his decision. On a tour of inspection when the work was well along, he came upon workmen about to expand an original doorway opening to accommodate the entry of a bulldozer and dump truck through the walls, to dig deeper cellars inside the gutted shell. He stopped them on the spot. Both vehicles were dismantled and taken inside the old walls piece by piece, then reassembled to commence work.
President Truman moved back into the White House on March 27, 1952. The once creaky old house was renewed. It looked the same, the rooms arranged as always, but now with every imaginable modern convenience. The eighteenth-century stone exterior was intact, but the steel and concrete interior was rock solid. Walls covered with plaster and wood were skillfully devised to suggest that no change had taken place whatsoever in the historic White House of the American presidency.
Christmas in the Truman White House
The Trumans spent only four Christmas seasons in the White House, for when the renovations began, it was impossible for them to live there. But most years the president lit the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, an oval park south of the White House Grounds. It was a tradition begun by Calvin Coolidge in 1923. On Christmas Eve 1945, his first in the White House, Truman stood on a bandstand on the South Lawn to light the tree. His speech was broadcast by radio: “This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years. With peace come joy and gladness. The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Community Christmas Tree. We meet in the spirit of the first Christmas, when the midnight choir sang the hymn of joy: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”
The presentation also included carols sung by local choirs. Thousands of spectators massed over Pennsylvania Avenue, and others, by permit, entered the South Lawn. Afterward, the Trumans had dinner with family and friends in the Family Dining Room on the State Floor in the White House. A great cedar tree dripping in silver tinsel “icicles” cast its forest smell over the formal parlors.
Truman declined to run for another term in 1952, and following the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Trumans spent their last Christmas in the White House that year. The celebration was more ambitious than the first had been. The president, acutely aware of advances in communication, delivered his address to the nation over both radio and television. From the South Lawn he pushed the button lighting the National Christmas Tree and wished “for all of you a Christmas filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and . . . the peace of God reigning upon this earth.”
After the Presidency
On Inauguration Day the transfer of power went smoothly. Relations between Truman and Eisenhower had cooled, but the president surprised his old friend by ordering Eisenhower’s son John home from military duty in Korea for the occasion. Still, the outgoing and the incoming presidents said little to each other on the ride to the Capitol. After the ceremony, former President and Mrs. Truman were driven by the Secret Service to Union Station. A small crowd was there to bid them farewell. No official security was provided, but a Secret Service agent took annual leave to ride the train with the Trumans home to Missouri.
During his nearly twenty years of retirement, Truman remained an outspoken figure, supporting his liberal views. He rejoiced in the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960 and the return of the Democrats. Back in Independence he and Bess Truman occupied her mother’s house, a place hardly changed since they moved there in 1919. President Truman spent many days at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence managing the interpretation and exhibits, and setting the historians and curators straight when he believed it necessary.
Harry S. Truman died in Kansas City’s Research Hospital at the age of 88, on the day after Christmas 1972. Bess lived nearly another ten years before her death in 1982 at the age of 97. They are buried in the courtyard of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 24
|
https://historicmissouri.org/files/show/793
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home Lamar Missouri
|
[
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/theme_uploads/3d68dd11bb094a945ba3310c7ca9430b.png",
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/fullsize/512290fb8360819c80c7dffa1cd12022.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Shrine Memorial at the Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home in Lamar, Missouri is a State Historic Site. The engravings mark the dates of his birth and death, a famous Harry S. Truman quote, and the significance of the different political roles in his career.
|
en
|
Historic Missouri
| null |
Lamar Missouri Tour
This one and a half story house was the site of Harry S. Truman’s birth. As 33rd president of the United States, this home shows his humble beginnings. Although he did not grow up in this house, Harry Truman’s experienced his first moments on earth…
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 73
|
https://www.gatewayarch.com/park-spotlight-harry-truman-national-historic-site/
|
en
|
Park Spotlight: Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
|
[
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/themes/gateway-arch/images/logo.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Truman-Farm.jpg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/social-facebook.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/social-instagram.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/social-twitter.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/partner-bi-state.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/partner-national-park-service.png",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/partner-gateway-arch-park-foundation.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/partner-jefferson-national-parks-association.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/partner-great-rivers-greenway.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/themes/gateway-arch/images/bistate.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/social-facebook.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/social-instagram.svg",
"https://www.gatewayarch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/social-twitter.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Gateway Arch",
"Gateway Arch St. Louis"
] | null |
[
"Sam Masterson"
] |
2021-07-30T14:15:38+00:00
|
Visit St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch. Discover amazing views from the top – at 630 feet. Explore more throughout the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
|
en
|
Gateway Arch
|
https://www.gatewayarch.com/park-spotlight-harry-truman-national-historic-site/
|
There are seven National Park Service sites in Missouri and each one has a special place in the state’s history. This month we’re highlighting the history and things to do at the Harry S Truman National Historic Site located in Independence, Missouri.
The Harry S Truman National Historic Site honors the life and history of the 33rd U.S. president and was authorized a National Park Service site in 1983. Harry Truman, president from 1945 to 1953, was the only U.S. president to see combat during the First World War. His war experience influenced the course of his life and his eight-year presidency. President Truman and his wife, Bess, lived on the historic site’s property in the years before and after Truman’s presidency until 1972, when Truman passed.
Born in rural Missouri, Truman claimed Independence as his hometown. The home in Independence still houses all the original belongings that Bess left behind when she willed their home to the U.S. in 1982, including the president’s iconic fedora and his last automobile, among many other significant items from the Trumans’ lives.
Bess’ grandfather, George Gates, built the Truman home over an 18-year period and it was finally completed in 1885. At the site, visitors can see additional homes on the property including the Noland Home, where Truman’s cousins lived, and the Wallace Homes, where Bess’ brothers lived, which were added to the historic site in 1989. The Truman Farm, where the president lived in his early years, from 1906 to 1917, was added in 1993.
You can learn more about the Harry S Truman National Historic Site and plan your visit at nps.gov/hstr.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 53
|
https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/HallOfFame/Truman.htm
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://missouristate.info/ou/_resources/svg/sgf-logo.svg",
"https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/_Files/1_-_TRUMAN_PRES_PHOTO-EDIT-500px.jpg",
"https://missouristate.info/ou/_resources/svg/myms-straight-reversed.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2024-06-26T08:13:52.063763-07:00
|
en
|
/favicon.ico
|
https://PublicAffairs.MissouriState.edu/HallOfFame/Truman.htm
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar in 1884 and grew up in Independence. In 1944, Truman was chosen to be President Rooseveltâs running mate, but served as vice president for only a brief period when Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. President Trumanâs years in the White House ended January 1953 when he returned to Independence.
As president, Truman made some of the crucial decisions in recent American history. After Japan rejected pleas by the Allies to surrender, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and shortly thereafter, Japan surrendered and World War II ended.
In June 1945, Truman oversaw the signing of the charter of the United Nations to establish a framework for future peacekeeping efforts. When the military forces of communist North Korea attacked South Korea in 1950, Truman ordered American troops to defend South Korea and its infant democracy. He orchestrated efforts at the United Nations to support a multi-national force to preserve South Koreaâs independence, while avoiding a major conflict with China.
On the domestic front, President Truman presented a 21-point program that proposed the expansion of Social Security, promoted full employment, proposed fair employment practices legislation and initiated plans to improve public housing and clear slums.
In addition to his extensive public record, after he left the White House he supported a "good neighbor policy" to bring peace and understanding to all peoples of the world by improving educational opportunities.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 5
|
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-S-Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman | U.S. President & History
|
[
"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/69/4769-004-95DA9DEB/Harry-S-Truman-1945.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/29/172729-138-277EF0E4/overview-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/32/139932-004-D125F321/events-life-Harry-S-Truman.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/42/71342-004-1D6ECA2F/Harry-S-Truman-Potsdam-Conference-Joseph-Stalin-July-1945.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/48/180248-138-AE498C42/Overview-Potsdam-Conference.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/84/22984-138-3E91C903/deck-battleship-Douglas-MacArthur-surrender-terms-representatives.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/46/73646-004-1BAB98A7/Button-campaign-Harry-S-Truman-1948.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/67/178867-004-87C40A15/Harry-S-Truman-alliance-pact-NATO-Congress-1949.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/26/188426-050-2AF26954/Germany-Poland-September-1-1939.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-121/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.121.12",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/35/10735-131-96F338E8/US-Marines-flag-Mount-Suribachi-Iwo-Jima-February-1945.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/44/164744-131-7A6008A3/Richard-M-Nixon-campaign-stop-crowd-gesture-1968.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/73/130473-131-E8E49EEC/hydrogen-bomb-MIKE-Marshall-Islands-Photo-height-1952.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/09/153009-131-58881A36/Washington-Monument-George-fireworks-obelisk-end-DC.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/39/126139-131-A64CBAE4/portico-side-White-House.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/58/177758-131-C43424C8/Gerald-Ford-golf-Mackinac-Island-Michigan-1975.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/04/79904-131-6DCAD337/Elizabeth-II-speech-throne-Parliament-state-opening-1958.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/55/91555-131-C5BCDFC8/Gerald-R-Ford.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/22/232222-050-C7D008B3/Hand-ballot-box-vote-election.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/95/198495-131-65394043/US-Marines-Korean-War-explosions-bombs-fighter-December-1950.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/85/203585-131-D4FEE60A/Solar-Eclipse-Flare-Astronomy-Outer-Space.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/18/418-131-A96118F7/Eagle-Grumman-lunar-module-Apollo-11-footpads-July-20-1969.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/45/189145-131-45FF672E/Secret-Service-Agent-Earpiece.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/02/90702-131-2EC3F987/The-Time-Machine-Morlocks-film-version-George-1960.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/28/60728-131-36BD65EF/infantrymen-German-Maxim-World-War-I-machine.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/57/194857-131-F5FF4C32/meadow-adder-snake-viper-Ursini-tongue.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/62/192062-131-96B933EF/mug-shot-Colombia-control-agency-Medellin.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/69/4769-050-CBA1A512/Harry-S-Truman-1945.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/29/172729-138-277EF0E4/overview-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/32/139932-050-E01CBD08/events-life-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?w=300",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/26/188426-050-2AF26954/Germany-Poland-September-1-1939.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Harry S. Truman",
"encyclopedia",
"encyclopeadia",
"britannica",
"article"
] | null |
[
"Alfred Steinberg"
] |
1999-07-28T00:00:00+00:00
|
Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the United States (1945–53), who led his country through the final stages of World War II and through the early years of the Cold War, vigorously opposing Soviet expansionism in Europe and sending U.S. forces to turn back a communist invasion during the Korean War.
|
en
|
/favicon.png
|
Encyclopedia Britannica
|
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-S-Truman
|
Early life and career
Truman was the eldest of three children of John A. and Martha E. Truman; his father was a mule trader and farmer. After graduating from high school in 1901 in Independence, Missouri, he went to work as a bank clerk in Kansas City. In 1906 he moved to the family farm near Grandview, and he took over the farm management after his father’s death in 1914. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Truman—nearly 33 years old and with two tours in the National Guard (1905–11) behind him—immediately volunteered. He was sent overseas a year later and served in France as the captain of Battery D, a field artillery unit that saw action at Saint Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. The men under his command came to be devoted to him, admiring him for his bravery and evenhanded leadership.
Returning to the United States in 1919, Truman married Elizabeth Wallace (Bess Truman), whom he had known since childhood; they had one child, Margaret, in 1924. With army friend Edward Jacobson he opened a haberdashery, but the business failed in the severe recession of the early 1920s. Another army friend introduced him to Thomas Pendergast, Democratic boss of Kansas City. With the backing of the Pendergast machine, Truman launched his political career in 1922, running successfully for county judge. He lost his bid for reelection in 1924, but he was elected presiding judge of the county court in 1926, again with Pendergast’s support. He served two four-year terms, during which he acquired a reputation for honesty (unusual among Pendergast politicians) and for skillful management.
In 1934 Truman’s political career seemed at an end because of the two-term tradition attached to his job and the reluctance of the Pendergast machine to advance him to higher office. When several people rejected the machine’s offer to run in the Democratic primary for a seat in the U.S. Senate, however, Pendergast extended the offer to Truman, who quickly accepted. He won the primary with a 40,000-vote plurality, assuring his election in solidly Democratic Missouri. In January 1935 Truman was sworn in as Missouri’s junior senator by Vice Pres. John Nance Garner.
Britannica Quiz
Pop Quiz: 17 Things to Know About World War II
He began his Senate career under the cloud of being a puppet of the corrupt Pendergast, but Truman’s friendliness, personal integrity, and attention to the duties of his office soon won over his colleagues. He was responsible for two major pieces of legislation: the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, establishing government regulation of the aviation industry, and the Wheeler-Truman Transportation Act of 1940, providing government oversight of railroad reorganization. Following a tough Democratic primary victory in 1940, he won a second term in the Senate, and it was during this term that he gained national recognition for leading an investigation into fraud and waste in the U.S. military. While taking care not to jeopardize the massive effort being launched to prepare the nation for war, the Truman Committee (officially the Special Committee Investigating National Defense) exposed graft and deficiencies in production. The committee made it a practice to issue draft reports of its findings to corporations, unions, and government agencies under investigation, allowing for the correction of abuses before formal action was initiated.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 45
|
https://www.monationalparks.com/park/harry-s-truman-national-historic-site/
|
en
|
Missouri National Parks Passport Challenge
|
[
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/logo.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/menu-button-mobile.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/header-truman.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/header-truman-small.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/map-independence-mo.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/three-stars-blue.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/icon-harry-s-truman-national-historic-site.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/three-stars-blue.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/harry-s-truman-2.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/truman-content-small.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-facebook-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-twitter-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-instagram-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-youtube-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/logo-footer.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/2016-national-park-service-centennial.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/find-your-park.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-twitter.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-facebook.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-instagram.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/wp-content/themes/Passport Challenge/images/favicons/apple-icon-57x57.png
|
https://www.monationalparks.com/park/harry-s-truman-national-historic-site/
|
Throughout a career that took him from farmer to bank clerk, judge to senator, Vice President to President of the United States, Harry S Truman was always a Missourian at heart. At Harry S Truman National Historic Site, you can experience many of the places he held most dear.
Harry’s legacy is forever linked with his hometown of Independence, MO, just east of Kansas City. There in Sunday school, six-year old Harry met five-year old Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace, the pretty, athletic girl who would become his First Lady over 50 years later. As a young man, he lived on the family farm in Grandview, MO. But he would often visit his cousins, the Nolands, who conveniently lived across the street from Bess’ family home. During their courtship year, which began in 1910, Harry and Bess often triple dated with Bess’s brothers and their future wives, who eventually built small homes behind their larger family home. You can see all of these locations when visiting the Historic Site.
After Harry graduated high school in 1901, his father’s bad investments forced Harry to abandon his dreams of a college education. Instead, he became a bank clerk in Kansas City and joined the National Guard. At age 22, his father called him to help on the family farm. And the avid reader and pianist learned the hard realities of 14-hour days of backbreaking labor. You can see where Harry learned his characteristic perseverance and common sense with a self-guided grounds tour of the Truman family farm in Grandview, a 20-minute drive from the Visitor Center. His farming years were a disappointment for Harry. Although he and Bess became secretly engaged in 1913, Harry wished for a secure income before marriage. He spent another four years engaging in failed attempts to strike it rich.
In 1917, Harry joined the military. In World War I, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, leading the 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division’s operations in France. After, he returned to Independence in 1919 and, despite his lack of wealth, he and Bess married. The couple moved into Harry’s home at the farm, but returned to Bess’ family home, the large white Victorian at 219 N Delaware, to care for Bess’s ailing mother. Their daughter Margaret was born there in 1924. Ten years later, the family moved to Washington D.C. when Harry was elected to the Senate. In 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt selected Harry to serve as Vice President for his unprecedented fourth term. But Roosevelt died within three months of the inauguration, thrusting Harry into world leadership during a tumultuous time that saw the use of atomic bombs against Japan, the end of World War II, the Korean War, and start of the Cold War.
Yet his presidency was not marked solely by conflict. Drawing on his Midwestern values of hard work, honesty, and fairness, Harry ordered the desegregation of the military and ushered in a domestic policy called the Fair Deal. After nearly eight years in office, “the People’s President” returned home to Independence, where he and Bess lived out their days. Visitors can tour the all-original Truman Home, follow in Truman’s footsteps with a walking tour of his neighborhood, visit the family farm in Grandview, explore exhibits about his private life in his cousins’ Noland house, and review the oral histories from his colleagues and family.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 10
|
https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_Truman.htm
|
en
|
U.S. Senate: Harry Truman: A Featured Biography
|
[
"https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/usFlag.png",
"https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/senate_logo.png",
"https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/graphics/small/truman-harry-s.jpg",
"https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/resources/graphic/small/22_00034.jpg",
"https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/senate_logo_footer.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2023-08-09T00:00:00
|
/resources/images/us_sen.ico
| null |
Harry Truman was born in Missouri in 1884 and spent his childhood on his family's farm. Owing to the support of Missouri political boss Thomas Pendergast, Truman arrived in the United States Senate in 1935 with a poor reputation and the derisive nickname of “Senator from Pendergast.” Truman soon displayed his talent for candid speech and determination but his first term in office proved unremarkable. Truman voted for almost all of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives but gained little attention from the president. In 1940 he won what he called his toughest campaign for re-election, without Pendergast’s support. After World War II began, Truman chaired the Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, popularly known as “The Truman Committee,” to investigate rumors of fraud and waste in the war effort. This successful investigation saved taxpayers millions of dollars and made him a household name. In 1944 he was chosen as Roosevelt’s running mate. Truman became president when Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945.
All Featured Biographies
|
|||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 12
|
https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/harry-truman/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HistoricMissourians-2000px-wht.png",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/017885.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/truman_sig.png",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/tpl62-96-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/tpl62-96-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/trumanbirthrecord-lg-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/trumanbirthrecord-lg-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029033-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029033-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029045-lg-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029045-lg-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029031-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029031-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL62-412-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL62-412-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029011-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029011-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029012-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029012-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029005-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029005-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL64-100-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL64-100-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL82-104-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL82-104-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029015-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029015-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/62-399-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/62-399-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL61-116-09-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TPL61-116-09-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/indexam19190628p1c5-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/indexam19190628p1c5-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/tpl73-1668-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/tpl73-1668-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1952-0035-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1952-0035-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/018038-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/018038-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029048-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029048-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/018158-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/018158-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/027619-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/027619-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029013crop-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/029013crop-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/015976-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/015976-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/006382-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/006382-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DispatchApril151945-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DispatchApril151945-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1945August7-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1945August7-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/003312-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/003312-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/003326-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/003326-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1949May5-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1949May5-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/StateOfTheWorld-Fitpatrick-1946-06-16.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/StateOfTheWorld-Fitpatrick-1946-06-16.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/020933-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/020933-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1947July20-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1947July20-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1947Nov28-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1947Nov28-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_081_big-web-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_081_big-web-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_081b_big-web-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_081b_big-web-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1948March26-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dispatch1948March26-150x150.gif",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_084_big-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_084_big-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_084b_big2-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/doc_084b_big2-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/003243-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/003243-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KansasCityStarDec261972large-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/KansasCityStarDec261972large-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/StlPostDispatchDec2672large-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/StlPostDispatchDec2672large-150x150.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/001761_lg.jpg",
"https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/001761_lg.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2020-07-07T23:47:28+00:00
|
en
|
SHSMO Historic Missourians
|
https://historicmissourians.shsmo.org/harry-truman/
|
Born: May 8, 1884
Died: December 26, 1972 (age 88)
Missouri Hometowns: Grandview, Independence, Lamar
Region of Missouri: Northwest
Categories: Politicians
Introduction
Harry S. Truman was the thirty-third president of the United States of America. Truman took over the presidency after serving only a short time as vice president under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Known as the plain-speaking man from Missouri, Truman led the United States through the end of World War II and the Korean War, and helped transform the nation into a world superpower.
Early Years and Education
Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884. He was the oldest child of John Anderson Truman, a farmer and livestock dealer, and Martha Ellen Young Truman. His siblings were John Vivian and Mary Jane. The family lived in Harrisonville, Grandview, and then moved in 1890 to Independence, Missouri, where Harry attended school.
Harry did well at school and also studied the piano. His poor vision—corrected by thick eyeglasses— prevented him from playing sports. When Harry was ten, his mother gave him Great Men and Famous Women, a book that influenced his life. Harry read about great generals, political leaders, and philosophers. He also read the Bible, Shakespeare, and as much history as he could.
Harry graduated from high school in 1901. He did not go on to college, however, because his family could not afford to send him. He wanted to attend West Point because it provided a free education, but he did not qualify due to his poor eyesight. Though he studied briefly at a business college in Kansas City and later took night classes at the Kansas City Law School, Harry never completed a college degree.
Farm Work and Responsibilities
For the next five years, Harry Truman worked various jobs to help support his family. He was a timekeeper for a railroad construction firm and clerked for a bank in Kansas City. In 1906 he returned to Grandview to help run the six-hundred-acre family farm. Although he had little farming experience, Truman worked hard to learn the best and most efficient ways to farm. He was left to care for his family and the farm when his father died in 1914.
During this period, Truman began writing letters to Bess Wallace, a girl he’d known since early childhood. Truman said later that Bess had been the love of his life since he was six years old. The two wrote to each other often during their long courtship, and his letters were filled with dreams for his future.
Military Service and Politics
Truman served in the Kansas City National Guard unit from 1905 to 1911. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, he rejoined the Missouri National Guard. He recruited for the guard and created a new artillery battery, Battery F. He was elected first lieutenant of that battery. In France, Truman was made a captain and proved a capable and well-liked officer in his new unit, Battery D. Truman was a successful and dependable leader, especially when ordered to carry out dangerous assignments.
After the war ended in 1918, Truman returned to Independence. He and Bess married the following year. Together they had one child, Mary Margaret. Truman then tried his hand at several business ventures. He opened a haberdashery, or men’s clothing store, in Kansas City with one of his army buddies. That business failed, as did investments in real estate and mines.
In 1922, Truman revealed his interest in politics. He ran for office at the urging of Tom Pendergast, a powerful Kansas City politician. Truman, who ran as a Democrat, was elected to the post of Eastern District Judge for Jackson County. He was responsible for overseeing the county budget, hiring and firing county clerks, road crews, and other county employees. Although he didn’t win his bid for reelection, in 1926 Truman won the presiding judge race for Jackson County. He was reelected to that position in 1930.
In 1934 Truman ran as a Democrat for United States Senate and won easily. Once in office, Truman gained a reputation for honesty and hard work. Truman’s work with the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program earned him a national reputation. This committee—known as the Truman Committee—investigated fraud and overspending by the defense industry. It also revealed military incompetence. Truman served as senator from 1935 until 1945.
Suddenly President
Truman was a strong supporter of President Roosevelt and his New Deal. With his reputation for honesty and diligence and his ability to work with a variety of politicians, Truman was Roosevelt’s pick for vice president in 1944. Roosevelt was reelected, and Truman became vice president. He had been on the job only eighty-two days when Roosevelt died unexpectedly. On April 12, 1945, Truman became the thirty-third president of the United States. “I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me,” Truman told reporters at the time.
The country was in shock at the loss of Roosevelt. There was concern that the untested Truman was at the helm in a time of crisis—the United States was at war with both Germany and Japan. As usual, Truman jumped in, studied hard, and was a fast learner. On May 7, 1945, the Germans unconditionally surrendered. In July, Truman headed to Germany to meet with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill at Potsdam. Here the three leaders of the Allied powers decided the fate of postwar Europe.
On the Japanese front, the war still raged. It was a costly battle in both American and Japanese lives. Truman made the controversial decision to drop atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. The Japanese surrendered six days later on August 14, 1945.
A New Era
The international situation remained grim, however. A “Cold War” was developing between the Soviet Union and countries in Europe and the United States. At the end of the war, the United States, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Germany and its capital city, Berlin, into four sectors. Allied forces joined their sectors to form a democratic West Germany and a free Berlin. Berlin, however, was surrounded by Soviet-controlled East Germany. In an effort to stop the formation of a unified and democratic Germany, the Soviet Union attempted a blockade of West Berlin to keep goods, including food, from entering the city. Great Britain and the United States countered with an enormous airlift of supplies. The Soviets backed down. However, Berlin and Germany remained divided into East and West until 1990.
The Cold War
The phrase “cold war” was used to describe the icy relations that developed between communist and capitalist/democratic governments after World War II. This frigid standoff existed primarily between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Although the Soviet Union had helped stop Adolf Hitler’s aggression during World War II, the U.S. suspected that the Soviets would try to expand their own territory into European countries devastated by war and no longer able to defend themselves. A war of propaganda and a silent buildup of armaments began as each country distrusted the motives and actions of the other.
Daniel Fitzpatrick was the creator of this political cartoon entitled “State of the World.” It appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on June 16, 1946. The cartoon shows the world being torn apart by the political tension and military rivalry that existed between the Soviet Union (represented by the flag on the left) and the United States and Great Britain (represented by the flags on the right).
A World Leader
The United States had become the predominant world power. It could no longer distance itself from the problems occurring in other countries as it had prior to the war. Truman knew that the United States and Europe would have to cooperate both militarily and economically if they were to keep the Soviet Union and its communist form of government in check. Truman created the Marshall Plan to help rebuild the devastated economies of Western Europe and support the democratic governments. West Germany became a democratic ally of the United States. Truman established the first peacetime military alliance, known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, to ensure European and American military and political cooperation. The Truman Doctrine attempted to contain the spread of communism by supporting fledgling democracies. Truman’s administration also oversaw the first meeting of the United Nations.
Tough Times in America
Truman faced many domestic problems as well. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers came home from Europe and the Pacific and could not find work. Factories closed as orders for military goods dried up. Union workers went on strike for better pay and working conditions. The strikers refused to allow nonunion workers to fill their jobs. A railway strike paralyzed the country. Truman seized the railroads and threatened to draft striking railway workers into the armed forces. The railroad workers went back to their jobs.
In an unpopular move, Truman desegregated the United States armed forces by Executive Order on July 26, 1948. Critics thought this would cause the president to lose the upcoming election against New York Governor Thomas Dewey. The race was so close one newspaper prematurely declared Dewey the winner. In the final count Truman won the 1948 election.
Back to Missouri
International events overshadowed Truman’s domestic agenda. He tried to push through his own version of Roosevelt’s New Deal. He called it the “Fair Deal,” stating that every citizen had a right to expect a fair deal from the government. Many of his initiatives were never passed, however. In 1949, the communists took over China. In 1950, communist North Korea invaded South Korea, and the United States was once again at war, siding with South Korea. Truman did not run for a second term as president.
In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower became president of the United States. The Trumans left the White House and returned to Independence, Missouri. Truman remained active in politics and worked on establishing the Truman Library and writing his memoirs. He died on December 26, 1972. He was eighty-eight years old.
Truman's Legacy
When Truman left the presidency, the world was far different from when the senator from Missouri was asked to run as Roosevelt’s vice president. Harry S. Truman helped usher in a new world order and set in place policies like the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, and institutions like the United Nations to try to prevent another world war. Under his leadership, the country embraced its new status as a superpower.
References and Resources
For more information about Harry S. Truman’s life and career, see the following resources:
Society Resources
The following is a selected list of books, articles, and manuscripts about Harry S. Truman in the research centers of The State Historical Society of Missouri. The Society’s call numbers follow the citations in brackets.
Articles from the Missouri Historical Review
Bolt, Robert S. “President Harry S. Truman: Independent Baptist from Independence.” v. 87, no. 1 (October 1992), pp. 36-47.
Dains, Mary K. “Fulton’s Distinguished Visitors: Truman and Churchill, 1946.” v. 78, no. 3 (April 1984), pp. 277-292.
Ferrell, Robert H. “A Visitor to the White House, 1947: The Diary of Vic H. Housholder.” v. 78, no. 3 (April 1984), pp. 311-336.
Garson, Robert A. “The Alienation of the South: A Crisis for Harry S. Truman and the Democratic Party, 1945-1948.” v. 64, no. 4 (July 1970), pp. 448-471.
Heaster, Brenda L. “Who’s on Second: The 1944 Democratic Vice Presidential Nomination.” v. 80, no. 2 (January 1986), pp. 156-175.
Kirkendall, Richard S. “Truman and Missouri.” v. 81, no. 2 (January 1987), pp. 127-140.
Kirkendall, Richard S. “Faith and Foreign Policy: An Exploration into the Mind of Harry Truman.” v. 102, no. 4 (July 2008), pp. 214-224.
McClure, Arthur F., and Donna Costigan. “The Truman Vice Presidency: Constructive Apprenticeship or Brief Interlude?” v. 65, no. 3 (April 1971), pp. 318-341.
Misse, Fred B. “Truman, Berlin and the 1948 Election.” v. 76, no. 2 (January 1982), pp. 164-173.
“Modern Missouri.” v. 70, no. 4 (July 1976), pp. 499-503.
Morgan, Georgia Cook. “India Edwards: Distaff Politician of the Truman Era.” v. 78, no. 3 (April 1984), pp. 293-310.
Pitts, Debra K. “Stuart Symington and Harry S. Truman: A Mutual Friendship.” v. 90, no. 4 (July 1996), pp. 453-479.
Riley, Glenda. “‘Dear Mamma’: The Family Letters of Harry S. Truman.” v. 83, no. 3 (April 1989), pp. 249-270.
Sale, Sara L. “Admiral Sidney W. Souers and President Truman.” v. 86, no. 1 (October 1991), pp. 55-71.
Schmidtlein, Gene. “Truman’s First Senatorial Election.” v. 57, no. 2 (January 1963), pp. 128-155.
Vaughan, Philip V. “President Truman’s Committee on Civil Rights: The Urban Implications.” v. 66, no. 3 (April 1972), pp. 413-430.
Vaughan, Philip V. “The Truman Administration’s Fair Deal for Black America.” v. 70, no. 3 (April 1976), pp. 291-305.
Wilson, Thomas D. “Chester A. Franklin and Harry S. Truman: An African-American Conservative and the ‘Conversion’ of the Future President.” v. 88, no. 1 (October 1993), pp. 48-77.
Articles from the Newspaper Collection
“Truman Dies at 88.” Kansas City Star. December 26, 1972. p. 1. [Reel # 21796]
“Ex-President Truman is dead at 88.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 26, 1972. p. 1. [Reel # 43398]
“The People Did It.” Liberty Advance. November 8, 1948. p. 2. [Reel # 26635]
“President Truman’s Inaugural Address.” Kansas City Star. January 20, 1949. p. 8. [Reel # 20735]
“Through the Years with Harry Truman, President.” Kansas City Times. April 13, 1945. p. 7. [Reel # 24093]
“Truman Enters Office With Firm Hand.” Independence Examiner. April 13, 1945. p. 1. [Reel # 14855]
“Wallace-Truman.” Independence Examiner. June 28, 1919. p 1. [Reel # 14780]
Books and Articles
Christensen, Lawrence O., William E. Foley, Gary R. Kremer, and Kenneth H. Winn, eds. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1999. pp. 752-756. [REF F508 D561]
Ferrell, Robert H., ed. The Autobiography of Harry S. Truman. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2002. [REF F508.1 T771tra 2002]
Ferrell, Robert H. Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess, 1910-1959. New York: Norton, 1983. [REF F508.2 T771trd].
Hamby, Alonzo. Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. [REF F508.1 T771ham]
Hillman, William. Mr. President. New York: Farrar, Straus and Young, 1952. [REF F508.1 T771].
McCullough, David. Truman. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. [REF F508.T771mc]
Miller, Merle. Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman. New York: Berkley Publishing Corporation, 1974. [REF 973.918m616]
Robbins, Jhan. Bess and Harry: An American Love Story. New York: Putnam, 1980. [REF F508.1 T771ro].
Truman, Harry S. Memoirs. 2 vols. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1955-1956. [REF F508.1 T77Trm].
Truman, Harry S. Mr. Citizen. New York: Random House, 1960. [REF F508.1 T771Trc].
Truman, Margaret, ed. Letters from Father. New York: Arbor House, 1981. [REF F508.1 T771trl].
Manuscript Collection
Bell, C. Jasper (1885-1978), Papers, 1934-1948 (C2306)
The correspondence and papers of a Missouri Democratic congressman include material on the Townsend Plan, legislation, and political campaigns. Information on Truman can be found throughout the collection.
Stark, Lloyd Crow (1886-1972), Papers, 1931-1941 (C0004)
The papers of the Democratic governor of Missouri, 1937-1941, relate to official business, campaigns, and personal affairs. Information on Truman is located throughout the collection.
Truman, Harry S (1884-1972), Memorial Service Program, 1973 (C3409)
Program of service held at Westminster College Chapel, Fulton, MO, on occasion of Truman’s death.
Outside Resources
These links, which open in another window, will take you outside the Society’s website. The Society is not responsible for the content of the following websites:
Harry S. Truman Election Anniversary Exhibit
An online exhibit organized by the office of the Secretary of State, this Website includes commentary from average citizens on Truman’s 1948 campaign for the presidency. It includes accounts of the Whistle Stop tour and his subsequent election and inauguration.
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
This website contains original documents, press releases, and correspondence about many of the issues Truman faced during his presidency. The site also contains photos and audio recordings of Truman speeches. Lesson plans are also available.
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
This website offers information on and photos of the birthplace of Harry S. Truman in Lamar, Missouri.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
This website has information about the Truman home in independence as well as the family farm in Grandview. The National Park Service opens the homes to visitors throughout the year.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 69
|
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5148-centennial-birth-harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Proclamation 5148 -- Centennial of the Birth of Harry S Truman
|
[
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/themes/custom/particle/apps/drupal/logo.svg",
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/themes/custom/particle/apps/drupal/logo.svg",
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/2023-01/map.png",
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/national-archives.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"12584d"
] | null |
[] | null |
12584d
|
en
|
/public/ronald-reagan-seal_0.png
|
Ronald Reagan
|
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5148-centennial-birth-harry-s-truman
|
January 25, 1984
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
May 8, 1984, marks the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Harry S Truman, the thirty-third President of the United States and one of this Nation's most respected statesmen.
First elected to the United States Senate from Missouri in 1934, Mr. Truman gained national recognition during World War II, when his investigating committee saved the taxpayers large amounts of money by exposing waste and extravagance in the procurement process. In November 1944, the voters elected Mr. Truman Vice President. He served only 83 days in that office and succeeded to the Presidency in April 1945, upon the death of President Roosevelt.
In his first months in office, President Truman guided the country through the end of World War II and made the difficult decisions that ushered in the nuclear age. In the postwar years, he oversaw America's transition from a wartime to a peacetime economy and began an era of growth and stability. In foreign affairs, President Truman established the cornerstones of the policy of containment in dealing with the communist threat to Europe. Through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan he stalwartly assisted free peoples in their efforts to stem the tide of totalitarian subversion. In applying the principles of collective security, President Truman assisted in the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to help European nations respond to this threat.
In 1948, Mr. Truman was elected to the Presidency, battling from behind to overtake Governor Thomas Dewey. President Truman responded to the invasion of South Korea by utilizing United Nations as well as American forces in dealing with that crisis.
Although confronted with a series of major challenges throughout his tenure, President Truman responded with courage, humanity, decisiveness, and a wit which have secured his place in the Nation's history as one of our most respected Presidents.
Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 8, 1984 to be the ``Centennial of the Birth of Harry S Truman.'' I call upon the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities in remembrance of his many accomplishments and dedication to freedom and democracy.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
Ronald Reagan
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:05 a.m., January 26, 1984]
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 25
|
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://simple.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png",
"https://simple.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg",
"https://simple.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-simple.svg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/TrumanWedding.PNG/170px-TrumanWedding.PNG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg/220px-RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Hiroshima_aftermath.jpg/220px-Hiroshima_aftermath.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Berlin_Blockade_Milk.jpg/170px-Berlin_Blockade_Milk.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Flag_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/145px-Flag_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/100px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1",
"https://simple.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg",
"https://simple.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/poweredby_mediawiki.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"
] |
2004-09-03T03:33:02+00:00
|
en
|
/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png
|
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, from 1945 to 1953. He became president when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office. Truman served as the 34th vice president of the United States for a short time, from January to April 1945.
As president, Truman made important foreign policy decisions, such as using atomic weapons on Japan to end World War II; repairing Europe (which was destroyed during the war); beginning the Cold War, and getting the U.S. involved in the Korean War.[1][2]
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri. The initial, "S", in Truman's name has no meaning.[3]
Truman was raised in Independence, Missouri. He lived for 12 years as a Missouri farmer.
The presidential election of 1892 happened when Truman was eight years old. He wanted Grover Cleveland, a Democrat like Truman's family, to win. Grover Cleveland did win.
Truman joined the United States Military in 1917. He went to France in World War I and became a captain in the Field Artillery.
Truman left the military in 1919. That same year, he married Elizabeth Virginia Wallace. He opened a clothing store in Kansas City.
On February 17, 1924, Bess had a baby girl and named her Mary Margaret Truman.
Truman was active in the Democratic Party. In 1922, he was elected judge of Jackson County Court.
Two years later, Truman lost the next county judge election. However, he was elected county judge again in [4] 1926.
In 1934, Truman was elected Senator of Missouri. He became a member of the Interstate Commerce Committee. He was also the vice-chairman of a subcommittee on railroad safety.
In 1940, Truman ran for re-election to the Senate. First he would have to beat another Democrat, Governor Lloyd Stark, in a primary election. The primary election would decide which Democrat would go on to face a Republican candidate in the final elections in November.
President Franklin Roosevelt and St. Louis Mayor Bernard Dickmann both wanted Stark to win. Truman had a hard time getting money. Most people thought he would lose. However, about a month before the primary election, the railroad unions said that they wanted Truman to win. Then, two days before primary election day, Bernard Dickmann also said that he wanted Truman to win.
Truman won by about 8,000 votes. He also won the election in November.
Truman became the head of a committee that looked at how much money the United States was spending on defense during World War II. He found billions of dollars of spending that he thought was a waste, and could be cut out of what the U.S. was spending. Truman supported Roosevelt's leadership of the country in the war, but wanted to make the government less wasteful and more effective. He became well known for leading that committee.
In 1944, President Roosevelt ran for reelection again. Roosevelt was in bad health and he did not have much longer to live. The Democratic Party realized that whoever they selected as Vice President could be the next president of the United States. (In the U.S. government, if the President dies, the Vice President automatically becomes the new president.)
Henry A. Wallace, Roosevelt's former vice president, was not chosen because he had a friendly attitude toward the Soviet Union, which was a dictatorship. Roosevelt wanted Truman as his vice president, and Truman was chosen.
They won the election, and Roosevelt began his fourth term as president. On April 12, 1945, shortly after his fourth inauguration, Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Truman became president.
About becoming president, Truman said: "it felt like the moon, the stars, and all of the planets had fallen upon me."
Truman had become president during the last few months of World War II. While Truman was vice president, Roosevelt never told him much about World War II. At that time, people did not think of the Vice Presidency as an important job in politics. Because of this, Truman entered the presidency knowing not much more than the average person about what the U.S. military was doing in World War II.
Nazi Germany surrendered less than a month after Truman became president. This ended the war in Europe. However, the Japanese kept fighting. The Allies of World War II made the Potsdam Declaration, telling Japan to surrender or it would face "prompt and utter destruction." Japan did not surrender, so Truman ordered the first atomic bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6th, 1945. Three days later, Truman ordered the second atomic bomb to be dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Japan surrendered and the war ended.
The huge destructive power of the atomic bombs razed both cities, and killed over one hundred thousand people, with many more dying of radiation induced illnesses over subsequent years. People who disagreed with the decision, like General and future president Dwight Eisenhower, believe it was a cruel and inhumane attack on innocent people, when Japan was already close to being beaten. Other people thought it was a good decision because it ended the war early. Truman thought that if the U.S. had invaded Japan instead of using the bombs to end the war quickly, many more Americans would have died.
After the war, Truman ordered Europe (which was destroyed during the war) to be repaired with the Marshall Plan. Germany was divided into two parts after the war. The Soviet Union controlled East Germany. The United States, Britain, and France controlled West Germany. During the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, Truman ordered the Berlin Airlift, which flew in tons of food to West Germany to feed the starving people.
Truman also helped create the United Nations, an organization which was based on the League of Nations. The United Nations still exists today. Its goal is for different countries to work together to help humanity and to promote peace.
After World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States were the only two powerful countries left. With Germany being divided between the Soviet Union and the United States, tensions began to increase between the two countries. The Cold War began. This was a war where the Soviet Union and the United States did not fight directly, but each wanted to have a bigger influence than the other over the world. The Soviet Union wanted to spread communism around the world. (Communism is the belief that the government should own the economy to make everybody equal). Truman believed in a policy called containment: that the U.S. should contain communism and stop it from spreading. Truman declared the Truman Doctrine, which said the United States should give money to Turkey and Greece so that they could be strong enough to defend themselves from communism.
Truman sent Congress his "Fair Deal." It was based on Roosevelt's New Deal. It gave more money to education, more money to farmers, and a higher minimum wage for workers. Labor union leaders asked him for higher wages and more benefits.
After coal miners went on strike, Truman had the Department of the Interior take over the mines. While Truman sympathized with the working class, when there was a huge railroad strike, Truman believed it was illegal. He also thought it was unfair to people who could not get to work because the railroads were not running. He reacted by threatening to force the strikers to go into the army if they did not return to work.
Truman de-segregated the military, allowing blacks and whites to fight together.
Further information: 1948 United States presidential election
In 1948, Truman ran for a second term as president against Thomas Dewey. He was the underdog and everyone thought he was going to lose. The Chicago Tribune published a newspaper on the night of the election with the title "Dewey Defeats Truman". To everyone's surprise, Harry Truman won the election.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea. China supported North Korea. North Korea wanted to bring Communism into South Korea.
The U.S. fought the Korean War to defend South Korea and keep communism from spreading there. General Douglas MacArthur wanted to bomb China. Truman thought it was too dangerous to do that, so he fired MacArthur. Many people respected MacArthur, so they were angry at Truman. He made Mathew B. Ridgeway general.
During the end of his term, Harry Truman's approval rating was at an all-time low. He was very unpopular because thousands of Americans died in the Korean War; there was a medium amount of corruption in his government; and people were accusing many of Truman's employees of being communists. He left office on January 20, 1953. The Korean War ended about six months later.
As time passed, Truman's reputation got a lot better. Many historians now believe that Harry Truman was one of the greatest presidents.
Truman moved back to Missouri. He died on December 26, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri of multiple organ failure caused by pneumonia at the age of 88.
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Marshall Plan
Cold War
Truman Doctrine
Korean War
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 7
|
https://www.nps.gov/people/harry-s-truman.htm
|
en
|
Harry S Truman (U.S. National Park Service)
|
[
"https://www.nps.gov/theme/assets/dist/images/branding/logo.png",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/people/nri/20170403/people/12BCC38A-1DD8-B71B-0B209CFD76130D48/12BCC38A-1DD8-B71B-0B209CFD76130D48.jpg",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/branding/nps_logo-bw.gif",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/app-promo/footer-app-promo.png",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/app-promo/app-store-badge.svg",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/app-promo/google-play-badge.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/common/commonspot/templates/images/icons/favicon.ico
|
https://www.nps.gov/people/harry-s-truman.htm
|
President Harry S Truman took America from its traditional isolationism into the age of international involvement. Despite his power, he never forgot where he came from. Today, visitors to Harry S. Truman National Historic Site can experience the surroundings Truman knew as a young man of modest ambition through his political career and final years as a former president.
Born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884, to John Anderson and Martha Ellen (nee Young) Truman, his family moved to a farm near Grandview in 1887, then, in 1890, to Independence. Harry attended public schools in Independence, graduating from high school in 1901. In 1906 he returned to Grandview to help his father run the farm. He continued working as a farmer for more than ten years.
From 1905 to 1911, Truman served in the Missouri National Guard. When the United States entered World War I, he helped organize the 2nd Regiment of Missouri Field Artillery, which was quickly called into Federal service as the 129th Field Artillery and sent to France. Truman was promoted to Captain and given command of the regiment's Battery D.
On June 28, 1919, Truman married Bess Wallace, whom he had known since childhood. Their only child, Mary Margaret, was born on February 17, 1924. From 1919 to 1922 he ran a men's clothing store in Kansas City with his wartime friend, Eddie Jacobson. The store failed in the postwar recession.
Turning to local politics, Truman was elected in 1922, to be one of three judges of the Jackson County Court. Judge Truman whose duties were in fact administrative rather than judicial, built a reputation for honesty and efficiency in the management of county affairs. He was defeated for reelection in 1924, but won election as presiding judge in the Jackson County Court in 1926. He won reelection in 1930.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the United States Senate. Truman gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. This committee, which came to be called the Truman Committee, sought with considerable success to ensure that defense contractors delivered to the nation quality goods at fair prices.
In July 1944, Truman was nominated to for Vice President with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On January 20, 1945, he took the vice-presidential oath, and after President Roosevelt's unexpected death only eighty-two days later on April 12, 1945, he was sworn in as the nations' thirty-third President.
As President, Truman oversaw the ending of the war in Europe. He participated in a conference at Potsdam, Germany and worked to lay groundwork for the final stage of the war against Japan. Truman approved the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945.
Truman's presidency was marked by important foreign policy initiatives. The Truman Doctrine was an enunciation of American willingness to provide military aid to countries resisting communist insurgencies; the Marshall Plan sought to revive the economies of the nations of Europe in the hope that communism would not thrive in the midst of prosperity; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization built a military barrier confronting the Soviet-dominated part of Europe. Truman's recognition of Israel in May 1948 demonstrated his support for democracy and his commitment to a homeland for the Jewish people. The one time during his presidency when a communist nation invaded a non-communist one -- when North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950 -- Truman responded by waging undeclared war.
The Truman administration went beyond the New Deal in the area of civil rights. Truman was able to use his powers as President to achieve some important changes. He issued executive orders desegregating the armed forces and forbidding racial discrimination in Federal employment. He also established a Committee on Civil Rights and encouraged the Justice Department to argue before the Supreme Court on behalf of plaintiffs fighting against segregation.
In 1948, Truman won reelection. His defeat had been widely expected and often predicted, but Truman's energy in undertaking his campaign and his willingness to confront issues won a plurality of the electorate for him. His famous "Whistlestop" campaign tour through the country has passed into political folklore, as has the photograph of the beaming Truman holding up the newspaper whose headline proclaimed, "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Truman left the presidency and retired to Independence in January 1953. He spent his days reading, writing, lecturing and taking long brisk walks. He took particular satisfaction in founding and supporting his Presidential Library, which made his papers available to scholars, and which opened its doors to everyone who wished to have a glimpse of his remarkable life and career.
Harry S. Truman died on December 26, 1972 at age 88. Bess Truman died on October 18, 1982 at age 97. They are buried side by side in his Presidential Library's courtyard just down the road from his "Summer White House."
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 28
|
https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Aircraft-Carriers/USS-Harry-S-Truman-CVN-75/Namesake-Harry-S-Truman/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Portals/45/page-logo2.png?ver=5BCKshXwY8r2YJUmiXMTIw%3d%3d",
"https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/DesktopModules/SharedLibrary/Images/VCL 988_Hoz_CMYK.jpg",
"https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Portals/45/page-logo2.png?ver=5BCKshXwY8r2YJUmiXMTIw%3d%3d",
"https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/DesktopModules/SharedLibrary/Images/VCL 988_Hoz_CMYK.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/Portals/45/favicon.ico?ver=-qljKux-NjqjYnbHokwEEw%3d%3d
| null |
Namesake
President Harry S. Truman
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 92
|
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/03/14/harry-truman-helped-make-our-world-order-for-better-and-for-worse-jeffrey-frank-the-trials-of-harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Harry Truman Helped Make Our World Order, for Better and for Worse
|
[
"https://www.newyorker.com/verso/static/the-new-yorker/assets/logo-inverted.svg",
"https://www.newyorker.com/verso/static/the-new-yorker/assets/logo-header-reverse.svg",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/622294a872e438a479e040e3/master/w_2560%2Cc_limit/220314_r40013web.jpg",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/669171dbbd37392fc2219a1a/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/669171dbbd37392fc2219a1a/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/63755311573147b2b8a3132b/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/63755311573147b2b8a3132b/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/66914f6250a00a84ad892366/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/66914f6250a00a84ad892366/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/667d9c05ed282de9ae72f8a6/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://media.newyorker.com/photos/667d9c05ed282de9ae72f8a6/4:3/w_480%2Cc_limit/undefined",
"https://www.newyorker.com/verso/static/the-new-yorker/assets/logo-reverse.svg"
] |
[
"https://audm.herokuapp.com/player-embed?pub=newyorker&articleID=621faaea9ba7d9ef8e614448"
] |
[] |
[
"presidents",
"politics",
"harry truman",
"books",
"biographies",
"second world war (world war ii)",
"democrats",
"american history"
] | null |
[
"Beverly Gage",
"Evan Osnos",
"Jonathan Blitzer",
"Condé Nast"
] |
2022-03-14T00:00:00
|
Institutions meant to secure peace, from NATO to the U.N., date back to Truman’s Presidency. So do the conflicts threatening that peace. Beverly Gage on Jeffrey Frank’s “The Trials of Harry S. Truman.”
|
en
|
https://www.newyorker.com/verso/static/the-new-yorker/assets/favicon.ico
|
The New Yorker
|
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/03/14/harry-truman-helped-make-our-world-order-for-better-and-for-worse-jeffrey-frank-the-trials-of-harry-s-truman
|
Americans today seem to believe that we live in especially exhausting political times. But the rhythms of our moment—pandemic, protest, pandemic, election, insurrection, pandemic, invasion of Ukraine—have nothing on the Truman era. Between April, 1945, when Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death thrust Harry S. Truman into office, and January, 1953, when Truman handed the Presidency to Dwight D. Eisenhower, the war in Europe ended, Hitler killed himself, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, the Cold War began, the state of Israel came into being, the Soviet Union developed its own nuclear weapons, China underwent a Communist revolution, the West created NATO, the world created the United Nations, and the Korean War began. One could go on.
How much Truman shaped these events, and how much he was buffeted by them, is the puzzle at the heart of Jeffrey Frank’s new book, “The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man, 1945-1953” (Simon & Schuster). Truman was the ultimate accidental President, a pipsqueak senator from Independence, Missouri, who had been Vice-President for less than three months when Roosevelt died. Once Truman assumed office, global events seemed to proceed according to their own logic and momentum. Truman inherited daunting challenges, and he borrowed other men’s visions in order to meet them. His own accomplishments occurred somewhere in between.
Truman acknowledged that he didn’t have much choice about whether to drop the bombs. “As a practical matter,” Frank notes, the decision “had been made for him.” Truman’s greatest foreign-policy triumph, the European Recovery Program, is credited to the military giant and Secretary of State George Marshall; we don’t call it the Truman Plan. As President, Truman was accused of “losing” China, but China was, of course, never really his to lose. And it was Senator Joseph McCarthy, more than Truman, who defined the political tenor of the era.
Perhaps Truman’s most significant act as President was his decision to enter and then stick with the war in Korea. Although that conflict was never the political disaster that Vietnam turned out to be, it killed millions, often with shocking brutality. The South was effectively recaptured in the first few months; the long, blood-drenched impasse that ensued accomplished little. On the home front, Truman’s dream of achieving universal health care languished as well. After a bruising battle with the American Medical Association and the Republican Party, he ended up more or less where he started.
So why write a big new book on Truman? And what to do with him as the protagonist? Frank depicts Truman as a limited talent who was promoted above his pay grade. “It’s hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth,” Truman complained in his diary. All the same, Truman did the best he could—an “ordinary man,” in Frank’s formulation, who ended up with an “extraordinary presidency.” Whether he made history or just endured it, Truman was, as Secretary of State Dean Acheson later put it, “present at the creation” of many of the key institutions that still shape both American and global politics.
A former New Yorker editor and the author of three novels set in Washington, Frank is drawn to the human side of this story: the backroom sniping, the jockeying for position, the personality clashes, and the diplomatic pageantry that produced the postwar world order. Famous statesmen abound, most of them more confident, if not more lovable, than Truman. The great and grave George Marshall ordered colleagues to “avoid trivia,” while Truman loved nothing more than chitchat, poker, and fried chicken with pals. Acheson intoned about ancient Athens and Sparta and Rome, while Truman, a self-proclaimed plain-talking Midwesterner, was apt to compare Stalin to Tom Pendergast, the Democratic boss of Kansas City. General Douglas MacArthur, the hero of the Pacific theatre and the American potentate of Japanese reconstruction, exuded far more gravitas than the President—and everyone knew it. “MacArthur is brilliant, theatrical, stern, eloquent, usually unapproachable,” a Herald Tribune reporter wrote in 1950. “The President is plodding, stubborn, undramatic, shrewd and earthy.” When Truman journeyed all the way to Wake Island for a brief meeting with MacArthur, an observer likened the President to “an insurance salesman who has at last signed up an important prospect.”
Frank mostly wants us to side with Truman, whose Everyman pragmatism often put him at odds with men who thought that they were better than he was and who sought to give him advice. If there was ever a time when the so-called liberal establishment had real force, it was in the nineteen-forties, as a fast-expanding executive branch brought thousands of credentialled know-it-alls to Washington. Sometimes to his detriment, often to his credit, Truman did not fit in. Frank writes, “He was, inescapably, someone who’d stepped out of the nation’s rural past and found himself in a dizzying mid-twentieth-century world, like a character from a Mark Twain fable: A Missouri Farmer in FDR’s Court.” Frank’s Truman is a populist in the best sense of the word: not a demagogue but a true man of the people.
Unlike many current aspirants, Truman came by that label honestly. He grew up in a small town, and didn’t graduate from college. He worked as a farmer and then struggled as a haberdasher, not exactly the tried-and-true power track. Perhaps his proudest achievement, before entering politics, was persuading Elizabeth Virginia Wallace, his Sunday-school classmate from a well-off family, to accept his offer of marriage. Bess Truman, as she came to be known, plays a major role in “The Trials of Harry S. Truman,” though largely by way of absence. As President, Truman spent a surprising amount of time moping around the White House and writing winsome, reflective letters to his wife, who sensibly preferred Missouri to Washington.
The best-known portrait of Truman as man, husband, and father is still David McCullough’s 1992 biography, “Truman.” In that book, McCullough rescued Truman from the sneers of prior generations. Like much of the mid-century establishment, early Presidential historians tended to dismiss Truman as a second-rater, beholden to heartland America’s small minds and small visions. McCullough turned that Midwestern pluck into a virtue—just what was needed to cut through the moral and political complexities of an epically confusing historical moment. Ivy League types, he maintained, had nothing on good old common sense.
Frank adopts a similar, if more nuanced, view. Near the end of “The Trials of Harry S. Truman,” he pays homage to McCullough’s “masterful” book. At the same time, he acknowledges that Truman’s unschooled, salt-of-the-earth pose was not always what the moment called for. From the bully pulpit, Truman could occasionally reach great heights of rhetoric. At least as frequently, he put his foot in his mouth. “I need not tell you that Harry Truman is not an orator,” a Senate colleague once noted, upon introducing a Truman speech. “He can demonstrate that for himself.”
Frank’s book describes press conferences in which Truman managed to say precisely the wrong thing at the wrong time. In 1946, for instance, he nearly turned the Cold War hot by championing Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech—which was delivered in Fulton, Missouri—without thinking through the implications. Stalin interpreted Churchill’s words as “a call to war with the Soviet Union.” Truman had to scramble to explain that this was not, in fact, what the United States wanted.
The wise men around Truman got tripped up less often—though, to be fair, they were less often put on the spot. If Truman had a major strength as a chief executive, it was his ability to comprehend and synthesize the learned views of his many advisers and experts, even if the result sometimes served their interests better than his own. Adopting the formulation of the redoubtable George Kennan, the Truman Doctrine argued that the United States needed to contain an aggressive and expansionist Soviet Union, lest the world end up with another totalitarian blitzkrieg across Europe. It was as powerful a grand strategic vision as any President has ever offered. It also led inexorably to calls for a bigger and better security state—which would require still more expert opinion from still more advisers like Kennan.
Drawing on such ideas, Truman presided over a vast transformation of the American security establishment, including the creation of the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the C.I.A. He also helped to bring about the desegregation of an empowered and permanently mobilized American military. Dwight Eisenhower would balefully dub these powerful new institutions the “military-industrial complex”; he warned that they might come to dominate American society. Truman worried less about their existential significance. He took office in a moment of crisis, and the crises never stopped. The big new bureaucracies were mainly just efforts to cope.
The problem of the Soviet Union—what it was, how it worked, what its leaders wanted—occupied more of Truman’s time and thought than anything else. From his first moments in office, Truman viewed the Russians with two-fisted suspicion, ever ready to take and give offense. He got “very snappy” around Stalin, in the words of Secretary of State James Byrnes—and proudly so. “I reared up on my hind legs and told ’em where to get off and they got off,” he wrote home to Bess from the 1945 Potsdam negotiations. Frank’s book does not try to answer the hoary question of who started the Cold War—whether Stalin or Truman or maybe even Churchill was really to blame. It does show that they were all mostly feeling their way in the dark, relying not so much on a ruthless calculus of power as on leaps of instinct and imagination.
The early Cold War found its domestic analogue in McCarthyism, a term that both illuminates and obscures the political dynamics of the Truman years. It was Truman, not McCarthy, who introduced a loyalty program for federal employees. But McCarthy, far more than Truman, put his stamp on the anti-Communist Zeitgeist. When McCarthy announced, in February, 1950, that “I have in my hand” a list of Communists lurking in the State Department, he was attacking Truman’s foreign policy: How could the United States have allowed the Soviets to build a bomb and the Communists to take over China, if not for some act of internal treachery?
McCarthy’s example points up some of the contradictions of the Truman era, and of the politics that limited Truman’s range of action. Today, the postwar years are often seen as a time of bipartisan coöperation and good will, when the Marshall Plan passed by an overwhelming majority, Republicans and Democrats regularly conferred in Washington cloakrooms, and intellectual giants like Kennan bestrode the State Department’s new Policy Planning Staff. It was also an era of vicious, operatic partisanship. McCarthy denounced Truman as soft on Communism, Marshall as a tool of Soviet masters. Truman could give almost as good as he got. “I think the greatest asset the Kremlin has is Senator McCarthy,” he declared during a 1950 press conference. Just imagine what they would have done with Twitter.
Although he could punch back when needed, Truman often kept his most cutting views to himself. Throughout his Presidency, he made a practice of writing caustic letters to his enemies and critics, then tucking them away unsent, steam effectively blown off. Frank recognizes a precious gift to the biographer: a subject who, miraculously and generously, takes the time to write down his innermost feelings and thoughts.
The letters invite counterfactual speculation: What if Truman had sent them? What if he had actually uttered the words out loud? Sometimes it might have been just what the country needed. Truman privately worried that J. Edgar Hoover’s F.B.I. wanted to become an American “Gestapo.” But although Truman engaged in some backroom wrangling with Hoover, he never tried to fire him or hold the F.B.I. to much public account.
Frank’s book is filled with other might-have-beens. Nuclear power might have ended up under military control; radioactive waste might have been deployed as a weapon; the Korean War might have expanded into China. On the domestic front, Truman might have lost the 1948 election, thus making the Chicago Tribune’s famous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline a statement of fact rather than a symbol of bad polling. For all the things that happened during Truman’s Presidency, Frank argues, the events that were averted deserve to be part of the historical discussion, too. Above all, the world did not descend into a nuclear-armed Third World War, a prospect that loomed over every minute of Truman’s Presidency and pervades every page of Frank’s book. That may have been Truman’s greatest accomplishment.
In the nearly seventy years since Truman left office, the institutions that he helped to create have had remarkable staying power. naTO, despite repeated challenges to its relevance, endures as the critical military pact of the Western world. Japan and Germany, with the help of American reconstruction funds, developed into prosperous, stable democracies. Even the U.N. is still limping along—not exactly the great peacemaking body of postwar ambitions but certainly more lasting than its predecessor, the League of Nations.
And yet many of today’s most combustible conflicts can be traced back to Truman’s moment as well. In Russia, Vladimir Putin has cited nato expansion as one justification for the war in Ukraine—and it is NATO (b. 1949) that is preparing to mobilize against him. There is talk of a “new Cold War” with China and of the clarifying if dread-laden politics that it might produce—with Taiwan (also b. 1949) as the up-and-coming hot spot. The dictatorship of North Korea, consolidated in part through Truman’s land war, continues to embrace nuclear-weapons development (also very Truman). In outlets such as Foreign Policy and Foreign Affairs, insiders wring their hands over the possible collapse of the “liberal international order,” by which they mean the complex of institutions—NATO, the World Bank, the U.N.—erected in the great world-remaking experiments of the nineteen-forties.
Donald Trump, as a candidate and then as President, helped to fuel anxieties that the postwar order was done for at last. Joe Biden has since tried to shore it up, with the help of appointees who would like nothing more than to go down in history as the twenty-first century’s Kennan or Acheson or Marshall. Politically, too, Biden is a bit like Truman: a decent sort, thrust into office at a moment of crisis, and subject to his own foot-in-mouth problems. Like Truman, Biden is facing a Republican Party in thrall to a demagogue. Whether consciously or not, Trump owes much of his big-lie political style to Truman’s great adversary, McCarthy. And Biden, like Truman before him, has been unable to fully dislodge it.
On the whole, though, Republicans and Democrats sort themselves differently from the way they did in Truman’s day. Back then, each party contained a mishmash of views, both liberal and conservative, in contrast with today’s rigid ideological divisions. On the Democratic side, Franklin Roosevelt’s winning coalition stitched together several seemingly incompatible constituencies: liberal élites, industrial workers, the white “Solid South,” and a small but growing number of Black voters. That coalition started to fracture under Truman, when the Southern Democrats (or Dixiecrats) broke away from the Party, with South Carolina’s governor, Strom Thurmond, as their standard-bearer. Sixteen years later, Thurmond became one of the first Southern Democrats of national stature to make the leap over to the Republican Party.
A son of border-state Missouri, Truman actually shared many of the Dixiecrats’ racist views. “The Trials of Harry S. Truman” quotes him using the N-word more than once, and notes that he did not believe in interracial marriage or social equality. Frank is inclined to explain Truman, though, rather than cancel him. “Truman was a man with casual prejudices, some that he tried to rid himself of and some that he simply couldn’t,” Frank writes. Indeed, Truman rose above his raising to champion an ambitious racial-justice agenda. His Committee on Civil Rights, created in 1946 following a surge in white-supremacist violence, came out in support of an anti-lynching law, voting rights for Black Americans, and a more robust system of federal enforcement.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 89
|
https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2019/11/harry-s-truman-birthplace-in-lamar-moved.html
|
en
|
The Turner Report: Harry S. Truman Birthplace in Lamar moved
|
[
"https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfNgFHoPM-M/Xcv8EEOz7XI/AAAAAAABWcs/jFmTourgzyUIACG_7M5BfQWFPDWAGRqWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Lamar%2B1.jpg",
"https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_email.gif",
"https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif",
"https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x3qvvb6CgNcKOPBTYkddwdjAxCcS0MjOXnSifcD2q4gJaICIH_JtvBzdDyfjvubZ_UYkGGHdcciEzpRZTnj3HAp-YV-zuvJIJIEJsYZWzNWmtwog2UH15W-K5HvTaeWhlFTXJfKXccMaQ9B1tw7BmG9XZxLKnpmQqwdRvM68587iMAWdboNKWA/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Jayda%20Kyle.jpg",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZISkU-KD4-kE-YUtibDDFPAgmw-LDXNw6HyHCIAQuH9So4O-cD5_K0VDVXMa4WgXr2SY-4aV34OMb2l9WA-L9pmCZJ8fK97BMvKiZ2gc31ITgQhO1dE7CktsOV8vc3cAx70mr5V0VLRoNFG4D2qsQI0v52DY4iA_MgLIMjZoLoePWX5Fim_XvQ/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Allison%20Pope.jpg",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQlKzqLryKlQ3Im-eu6pli5wHVZUg_YXa5wdqCehI46iHoCfG8OV7OAIA4-w5DWNQOGpDNvdcVy3LOEGR1BbBJBHm6R7n8lc7paLNk6b9B25n9yPXMERhTrEczURERB8qp2bb5JnE9neMQglEiLzocq-emuQTifckR6xOpq-sWjAeLxQcKq6oPw/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/suspect%201.jpg",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTY8j2yKld72b5EE8Vw1cr9_hxrqr_DVfIuDioxLFsW9RoZvIV1xSX9__XKn9EGvWBaaMnn1IMrei2HbIcV_T9ORQtEU7gssIEuU6Rd_JfJrifdxRhZcOk91OE-qWejkZb8nQsvru9tfKbBXmzJIAnqs7ry4bQdkmWjpuWSJwVsZGGcPoUJplD0Q/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Jayda%20Kyle.jpg",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKBunpePTTG9E1IkrdZNLFHHD3x-SXqyujKddUZFpA3qvfnA5ikysPDCX7X55itY_QHHrbMRImeYMnosoyC94OoS7eicnlOcydaEkd6UbKOjGobkhulN6C7CCX9F7-9O9LdowQYyTm1HC9N6xRQ5T1ENYeokQJVhwtGTZVgdYnzi6xFMJDJsubg/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Charges%20Filed.png",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcZkdrJEpe7kJdgFWqejvBGuqg6rl2gT5i_xFXS-i0DJizKjWGy8BagTSV91leFT-_ba8h9orIwz4ittmUhzWS1uBcwV_rlN2we86PLR0VI76E5U2lrzTcyLRinYv8Ai8zpAZDC7gJJtCEBbmG2SpQiBD6WfDdRpOv6cyN54PzKtkDdUpM7yzoA/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Ben%20Baker3.png",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWr3ARstlVA44p83nGU4feoqq7gv78CWVyNWoLv7GsDWzgK0imm9kFyaOwRxNDl96OUz854zMEh3QVyoTCJwhgFOk1CkqJh_uXb_GppeqSLJ1lxL2wO76cs4-t7SwjUvFIJmi8XuZrlq0JW6AV0RQGb1xlx5YQCv8LGalwOXJOFTLWb_M_f6ZBRQ/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/suspect%201.png",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0G2rolpunBY9zRJOo8nI9hSiTNdcoY7HX0sPbj4I4zIPEIMcC9PetAfE0JFr17zJ_HFGe_0L2PtAMxx4AJ5SPewqYyC4oDIfLjQjX7RxMiikaDHYVGcnerd3SDiH_Y-BX6C9FnunCO6ytoickCvYMsurUzfgR97F9Q54tn8vXhKyHDE74oIwIyw/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Money.jpg",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXq_lAumdniwvlJMsymWnXoFVMYkW-wmlPgLZH_gSaT8dBMzHJG5D3bS4Kdz3ExxEMUrcg-zNjpgZL_dUwoOO-2CaHb2E0mCLb2LlIDrkFwY_jx6MYczzgXZsfK0VQjcJ-y5nbGE8guXCnthnRplIfSY0CBTDBVGTPIYpR2qu5SAuxIKPaIk6dA/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Sentencing.png",
"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4kzezlVZQzZGG7eSTLS7VMZjZ94OhGpbN6-1nhOdFBJGRTOWgYU-HDnUPcxbn8Lo4aBX4sx0orzp7xkU0HvANn0MO600sOjTOp4ZLZIoEhiIHXs_-HY5TShhet1rS-2Y3pDRFt0fjByC_bktREl2GAOyH_j5pk09gD6xg4RbOizZjWTuKNbnlA/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Mack%20Evans.png",
"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sm0aRU1ITowFFUlI_8mI-6iJHjxfzzsdQuc2-cEbpfR--tzkLkB1IZBIBUI7KbKZMHacQ0QnFWOF6IpuR8Qa9t45QmNUC6sIxHCth7oMsHzbldRC1LQr2A=s0-d"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
A blog about Missouri and national politics, education, and breaking news published by Randy Turner, a long time newspaper reporter and editor.
|
en
|
https://rturner229.blogspot.com/favicon.ico
|
https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2019/11/harry-s-truman-birthplace-in-lamar-moved.html
|
This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies.
You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings.
I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 21
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S_Truman_Birthplace_State_Historic_Site
|
en
|
Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Harry_S_Truman_Birthplace_SHS_20150715-8218.jpg/284px-Harry_S_Truman_Birthplace_SHS_20150715-8218.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/USA_Missouri_relief_location_map.svg/280px-USA_Missouri_relief_location_map.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png/280px-Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/100px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/100px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Logo_of_the_United_States_National_Park_Service.svg/50px-Logo_of_the_United_States_National_Park_Service.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Map_of_USA_MO.svg/100px-Map_of_USA_MO.svg.png",
"https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/poweredby_mediawiki.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"
] |
2009-01-01T20:47:26+00:00
|
en
|
/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S_Truman_Birthplace_State_Historic_Site
|
Historic house in Lamar, Missouri
The Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site is a state-owned property in Lamar, Barton County, Missouri, maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, preserving the 1+1⁄2-story childhood home of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. The future president was born here on May 8, 1884, in the downstairs southwest bedroom. The home was purchased by the state in 1957 and dedicated as a historic site in 1959 at a ceremony attended by Truman himself.[4][5] The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.[6]
List of residences of presidents of the United States
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 38
|
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/images/nwe_header.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/5/52/Harry_S_Truman%2C_bw_half-length_photo_portrait%2C_facing_front%2C_1945-crop.jpg/225px-Harry_S_Truman%2C_bw_half-length_photo_portrait%2C_facing_front%2C_1945-crop.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/d/d2/HST_Uniform.PNG",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/9/94/TrumanWedding.PNG/250px-TrumanWedding.PNG",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/e/e0/Nagasakibomb.jpg/300px-Nagasakibomb.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/2/2d/Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg/200px-Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/thumb/3/32/LyndonJohnsonSigningMedicareBill.gif/300px-LyndonJohnsonSigningMedicareBill.gif",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/d/images/2/22/Harry_S._Truman_signature.png",
"https://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/skins/common/images/Cc.logo.circle.png",
"https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki_88x31.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
https://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/favicon.ico
|
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Harry_S._Truman
|
Harry S. Truman 33rd President of the United States Term of office April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953 Preceded by Franklin D. Roosevelt Succeeded by Dwight D. Eisenhower Date of birth May 8, 1884 Place of birth Lamar, Missouri Date of death December 26, 1972 Place of death Kansas City, Missouri Spouse Bess Wallace Truman Political party Democrat
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953); as Vice President, he succeeded to the office upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Truman, whose personal style contrasted sharply with that of the patrician Roosevelt, was a folksy, unassuming president. He overcame the low expectations of many political observers who compared him unfavorably to his highly regarded predecessor. President Truman suddenly assumed office at a watershed moment in the twentieth century: the end of the Second World War both in Europe and Pacific took place in his first months in office; he was the only President ever to authorize the use of the atomic bomb (against Japan); he sponsored the creation of the United Nations; he presided over the rebuilding of Japan and helped rebuild Europe through the Marshall Plan; he recognized the new state of Israel; and the Cold War began in his first term which took the form of a hot conflict by 1950 in the Korean War. Although he was forced to abandon his re-election campaign in 1952 because of the quagmire in Korea and extremely low approval ratings, scholars today rank him among the better presidents.
Early life
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri, the eldest child of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. A brother, John Vivian, soon followed, along with sister Mary Jane Truman.
Did you know?
Truman's middle initial "S" honors his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young
Harry's father, John Truman, was a farmer and livestock dealer. Truman lived in Lamar until he was 11 months old. The family then moved to his grandparent's 600-acre farm at Grandview, Missouri. When Truman was six years old, his parents moved the family to Independence, Missouri, so he could attend school. After graduating from high school in 1901, Truman worked at a series of clerical jobs. He returned to the Grandview farm in 1906 and stayed there for the next decade.
For the rest of his life, Truman would hearken back nostalgically to the years he spent as a farmer, often for theatrical effect. The ten years of physically demanding work he put in at Grandview were real, however, and they were a formative experience. During this period he courted Bess Wallace and even proposed to her in 1911; she turned him down. Truman said he wanted to make more money than a farmer before he proposed again. He did propose to her again, successfully, in 1918 after coming back as a captain from World War I.
He was the only president after 1870 not to earn a college degree, although he studied for two years toward a law degree at the Kansas City Law School in the early 1920s.
World War I
With the onset of American participation in World War I, Truman enlisted in the Missouri National Guard. At his physical, his eyesight had been an unacceptable 20/50 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left eye; he passed by secretly memorizing the eye chart.
Before heading to France, he was sent for training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He ran the camp canteen, selling candy, cigarettes, shoelaces, sodas, tobacco, and writing paper to the soldiers. To help run the canteen, he enlisted the help of his Jewish friend Sergeant Edward Jacobson, who had experience in a Kansas City clothing store as a clerk. Another man he met at Fort Sill who would help him after the war was Lieutenant James M. Pendergast, the nephew of Thomas Joseph (T.J.) Pendergast, a Kansas City politician.
Truman was chosen to be an officer, and then commanded a regimental battery in France. His unit was Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery, 60th Brigade, 35th Division. Under Truman's command in France, the battery performed bravely under fire in the Vosges Mountains and did not lose a single man. Truman later rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, and always remained proud of his military background.
Marriage and early business career
At the war's conclusion, Truman returned to Independence and married his longtime love interest, Bess Wallace, on June 28, 1919. The couple had one child, Margaret.
A month before the wedding, banking on the success they had at Fort Sill and overseas, the men's clothing store of Truman & Jacobson opened in downtown Kansas City. After a few successful years, the store went bankrupt during a downturn in the farm economy in 1922; lower prices for wheat and corn meant fewer sales of silk shirts. In 1919, wheat had been selling for $2.15 a bushel, but in 1922 it was down to a catastrophic 88 cents a bushel. Truman blamed the fall in farm prices on the policies of the Republicans and Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, a factor that would influence his decision to become a Democrat. Truman worked for years to pay off the debts. He and his former business partner, Eddie Jacobson, were accepted together at Washington College in 1923. They would remain friends for the rest of their lives, and Jacobson's advice to Truman on the subject of Zionism would, decades later, play a critical role in Truman's decision to recognize the state of Israel.
Politics
Jackson County judge
In 1922, with the help of the Kansas City Democratic machine led by boss Tom Pendergast, Truman was elected judge of the county court of Jackson County, Missouri—an administrative, not judicial, position similar to county commissioners elsewhere. Although he was defeated for reelection in 1924, he won back the office in 1926, and was reelected in 1930. Truman performed his duties in this office diligently and won personal acclaim for several popular public works projects, including an extensive series of roads for the increase in automobile traffic, the construction of a new county court building, and the dedication of a series of 12 "Madonna of the Trail" monuments honoring pioneer women.
In 1922, Truman gave a friend $10 for an initiation fee for the Ku Klux Klan but later asked to get his money back; he was never initiated, never attended a meeting, and never claimed membership. Though it is a historical fact that Truman at times expressed anger towards Jews in his diaries, it is also worth remembering that his business partner and close friend Edward Jacobson was Jewish. Bess Truman however was proud that a Jew had never set foot in her or her mother's home.[1] Truman's attitudes toward blacks were typical of Missourians of his era. Years later, another measure of his racial attitudes would come to the forefront: tales of the abuse, violence, and persecution suffered by many African-American veterans upon their return from World War II infuriated Truman, and were a major factor in his decision to back civil rights initiatives and desegregate the armed forces.
U.S. Senator
In the 1934 election, Pendergast's political machine selected Truman to run for Missouri's open United States Senate seat, and he campaigned successfully as a New Deal Democrat in support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the Democratic primary, Truman defeated Tuck Milligan, the brother of federal prosecutor Maurice M. Milligan, who would eventually topple the Pendergast machine—and run against Truman in the 1940 primary election.
Widely considered a puppet of the big Kansas City political boss, Truman assumed office under a cloud as "the senator from Pendergast." Adding to the air of distrust was the disquieting fact that three people had been killed at the polls in Kansas City. In the tradition of machine politicians before and since, Truman did indeed direct New Deal political patronage through Boss Pendergast—but he insisted that he was an independent on his votes. Truman did have his standards, historian David McCullough later concluded, and he was willing to stand by them, even when pressured by the man who had emerged as the kingpin of Missouri politics.
Milligan began a massive investigation into the 1936 Missouri gubernatorial election that elected Lloyd C. Stark; 258 convictions resulted. More importantly, Milligan discovered that Pendergast had not paid federal taxes between 1927 and 1937 and had conducted a fraudulent insurance scam. He went after Senator Truman's political patron. In 1939, Pendergast pled guilty and received a $10,000 fine and a 15-month sentence. Stark, who had received Pendergast's blessing in the 1936 election, turned against him in the investigation and eventually took control of federal New Deal funds from Truman and Pendergast.
In 1940, both Stark and Milligan challenged Truman in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Robert E. Hannegan, who controlled St. Louis Democratic politics, threw his support in the election to Truman. Truman campaigned tirelessly and combatively. In the end, Stark and Milligan split the anti-Pendergast vote, and Truman won the election by a narrow margin. Hannegan would go on to broker the 1944 deal that put Truman on the Vice Presidential ticket for Franklin D. Roosevelt.)
Truman always defended his decisions to offer patronage to Pendergast by saying that by offering a little, he saved a lot. Truman also said that Pendergast had given him this advice when he first went to the Senate, "Keep your mouth shut and answer your mail."
Truman Committee
On June 23, 1941, a day after Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Senator Truman declared, "If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances. Neither of them thinks anything of their pledged word" (The New York Times, June 24 1941). Liberals and conservatives alike were disturbed by his seeming suggestion of the possibility of America backing Nazi Germany, and he quickly backtracked.
He gained fame and respect when his preparedness committee (popularly known as the "Truman Committee") investigated the scandal of military waste by exposing fraud and mismanagement. His advocacy of common sense, cost-saving measures for the military attracted much attention. Although some feared the Committee would hurt war morale, it was considered a success and is reported to have saved at least $11 billion. In 1943, his work as chairman earned Truman his first appearance on the cover of TIME. (He would eventually appear on nine TIME covers and be named its Man of the Year in 1945 and 1949.[2])
Truman's diligent, fair-minded, and notably nonpartisan work on the Senate committee that came to bear his name turned him into a national figure. It is unlikely that Roosevelt would have considered him for the vice presidential spot in 1944 had the former "Senator from Pendergast" not earned a new reputation in the Senate—one for probity, hard work, and a willingness to ask powerful people tough questions.
Truman was selected as Roosevelt's running mate in 1944 as the result of a deal worked out by Hannegan, who was Democratic National Chairman that year. Roosevelt wanted to replace Henry A. Wallace as Vice President because he was considered too liberal. James F. Byrnes of South Carolina was initially favored, but as a segregationist he was considered too conservative. After Governor Henry F. Schricker of Indiana declined the offer, Hannegan proposed Truman as the party's candidate for Vice President. After Wallace had been rejected as too far to the left, and Byrnes as too far to the right, Truman's candidacy was humorously dubbed the "Missouri Compromise" at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The nomination was well received, and the Roosevelt-Truman team went on to score a victory in 1944 by defeating Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York. He was sworn in as Vice President on January 20, 1945, and served less than three months.
Truman shocked many when, as Vice President, he attended his disgraced patron Pendergast's funeral a few days after being sworn in. Truman was reportedly the only elected official of any level who attended the funeral.
On April 12, 1945, Truman was urgently called to the White House, where Eleanor Roosevelt informed him that the President was dead. Truman, thunderstruck, could initially think of nothing to say. He then asked if there was anything he could do for her, to which the former First Lady replied, "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now."[3]
Presidency 1945–1953
First term (1945-1949)
End of World War II
Truman had been Vice President for only 82 days when President Roosevelt suddenly died. He had very little meaningful communication with Roosevelt about world affairs or domestic politics since being sworn in as Vice President, and was completely in the dark about major initiatives relating to the successful prosecution of the war—notably the top secret Manhattan Project, which was, at the time of Roosevelt's passing, on the cusp of testing the world's first atomic bomb.
Shortly after taking the oath of office, Truman said to reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don't know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me."[3]
Momentous events would occur in Truman's first five months in office:
April 25—Nations met in San Francisco to create the United Nations
April 28—Benito Mussolini of Italy killed
May 1—Announcement of the suicide of Adolf Hitler
May 2—Berlin falls
May 7—Nazi Germany surrenders
May 8—Victory in Europe Day
July 17-August 2—Truman, Josef Stalin, and Winston Churchill met at the Potsdam Conference to establish the political landscape of post-war world
August 6—U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
August 8—USSR declares war on Japan and enters the Pacific theater
August 9—U.S. drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan
August 14—Japan agrees to surrender (Victory over Japan Day)
September 2—Japan formally surrenders aboard the USS Missouri
The United Nations, the Marshall Plan and Beginning of the Cold War
As a Wilsonian internationalist, Truman strongly supported the creation of the United Nations, and included former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on the delegation to the U.N.'s first General Assembly in order to meet the public desire for peace after the experience of the Second World War. One of the first decisions he made in office was to personally attend the San Francisco UN Charter Conference. He saw the United Nations as in part the realization of an American dream, providing essential "international machinery" that would help America re-order the world by allowing states to cooperate against aggression. Some critics argue the United Nations should have admitted only democratic states, and Truman should have resisted the Soviet Union's permanent membership on the Security Council, which from the outset compromised the United Nation's integrity. But most of the provisions of the UN Charter had already been negotiated by Roosevelt with Stalin, and the Soviet Union obtained not only permanent UNSC membership but three seats in the General Assembly (for three Soviet socialist republics); moreover, the USSR was still an ally in April 1945 and no one could predict when World War II would end.
On the other hand, faced with Communist abandonment of commitments to democracy in Eastern Europe made at the Potsdam Conference, and with Communist advances in Greece and Turkey, Truman and his advisers concluded that the interests of the Soviet Union were quickly becoming incompatible with those of the United States. The Truman administration articulated an increasingly hard line against the Soviets, and by 1947 most scholars consider that the Cold War was in full swing.
Although he claimed no personal expertise on foreign matters, and the opposition Republicans controlled Congress, Truman was able to win bipartisan support for both the Truman Doctrine, which formalized a policy of containment, and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to help rebuild postwar Europe. To get Congress to spend the vast sums necessary to restart the moribund European economy, Truman used an ideological approach, arguing forcefully that Communism flourished in economically deprived areas. He later admitted that his goal had been to "scare the hell out of Congress." To strengthen the United States against Communism, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 and reorganized military forces by creating the Department of Defense, the C.I.A., U.S. Air Force (originally the U.S. Army Air Forces), and the National Security Council.
Fair Deal
After many years of Democratic majorities in Congress and two Democratic presidents, voter fatigue with the Democrats delivered a new Republican majority in the 1946 midterm elections, with the Republicans picking up 55 seats in the House of Representatives and several seats in the Senate. Although Truman cooperated closely with the Republican leaders on foreign policy, he fought them on domestic issues. He failed to prevent tax cuts and the removal of price controls. The power of the labor unions was significantly curtailed by the Taft-Hartley Act, which was enacted by overriding Truman's veto.
As he readied for the approaching 1948 election, Truman made clear his identity as a Democrat in the New Deal tradition, advocating universal health insurance, the repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act, and an aggressive civil rights program. Taken together, it all constituted a broad legislative program that he called the "Fair Deal."
Truman's Fair Deal proposals made for potent campaign rhetoric that helped Truman to win the 1948 presidential election, but the proposals were not well received by Congress, even after Democratic gains in the 1948 election. Only one of the major Fair Deal bills, an initiative to expand unemployment benefits, was ever enacted.
Recognition of Israel
Truman, who had been a supporter of the Zionist movement as early as 1939, was a key figure in the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
In 1946, an Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry recommended the gradual establishment of two states in Palestine, with neither Jews nor Arabs dominating. However, there was little public support for the two-state proposal, and Britain, its empire in rapid decline, was under pressure to withdraw from Palestine quickly because of attacks on British forces by armed Zionist groups. At the urging of the British, a special United Nations committee recommended the immediate partitioning of Palestine into two states, and with Truman's support, this initiative was approved by the General Assembly in 1947.
The British announced that they would leave Palestine by May 15, 1948, and the Arab League Council nations began moving troops to Palestine's borders. Support for a Jewish state in Palestine was strong in portions of European nations, many of whose citizens were eager to endorse some kind of tacit compensation for the genocidal crimes against Jewish communities perpetrated by the Nazis. The idea of a Jewish state in the Middle East was also extremely popular in the U.S., and particularly so among one of Truman's key constituencies, urban Jewish voters.
The State Department, however, was another matter. Secretary George C. Marshall resolutely opposed the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine on the grounds that its borders were strategically indefensible. Nonetheless, Truman, after much soul-searching, agreed to the fateful step of holding a face-to-face meeting with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann—arranged by Truman's old Jewish friend, Eddie Jacobson—who deeply moved Truman. Truman promised the "old man" that he would recognize the new Jewish state.[4] According to historian David McCullough, Truman feared Marshall would resign or publicly condemn the decision to back the Jewish state, both disastrous outcomes given the rising tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union. However, in the end, Marshall chose not to dispute the President's decision. Ultimately, Truman recognized the state of Israel eleven minutes after it declared independence on May 14, 1948, one day before the British mandate expired.
Berlin Airlift
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. The Allies had never negotiated a deal to guarantee supply of the sectors deep within Soviet occupied East Germany. The commander of the American occupation zone in Germany, Gen. Lucius D. Clay, proposed sending a large armored column driving peacefully, as a moral right, down the Autobahn from West Germany to West Berlin, but prepared to defend itself if it were stopped or attacked. Truman, however, following the consensus in Washington, believed this entailed an unacceptable risk of war. On June 25, the Allies decided to begin the Berlin Airlift to support the city by air. The airlift continued until May 11, 1949, when access was again granted.
Integration of the military
After a hiatus that had lasted since Reconstruction, the Truman administration marked the federal government's first steps in many years in the area of civil rights. A series of particularly savage 1946 lynchings, including the murder of two young black men and two young black women near in Walton County, Georgia, and the subsequent brutalization of an African American WWII veteran, drew attention to civil rights and factored in the issuing of a 1947 report by the Truman administration titled To Secure These Rights. The report presented a detailed ten-point agenda of civil rights reforms, including making lynching a federal crime. In February 1948, the President submitted a civil rights agenda to Congress that proposed creating several federal offices devoted to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices. This provoked a firestorm of criticism from Southern Democrats in the time leading up to the national nominating convention, but Truman refused to compromise, saying "My forbears were Confederates…. But my very stomach turned over when I had learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of Army trucks in Mississippi and beaten."[5]
Second Term (1949-1953)
1948 Election
The presidential election of 1948 is best remembered for Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory.
At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Truman attempted to place a tepid civil rights plank in the party platform so as to assuage the internal conflicts between North and South. A sharp address, however, given by Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and candidate for the United States Senate—as well as the local political interests of a number of urban bosses—convinced the party to adopt a strong civil rights plank, which was wholeheartedly adopted by Truman. Within two weeks he issued Executive Order 9981, racially integrating the U.S. armed services.[6] Truman took considerable political risk in backing civil rights, and was very concerned that the loss of Dixiecrat support might destroy the Democratic Party.
With Thomas E. Dewey having a substantial lead, the Gallup Poll quit taking polls two weeks before the election[7] even though 14 percent of the electorate was still undecided. George Gallup would never repeat that mistake again, and he emerged with the maxim, "Undecided voters side with the incumbent."
Truman's "whistlestop" tactic of giving brief speeches from the rear platform of the observation railroad car Ferdinand Magellan became iconic of the entire campaign.[8] His combative appearances captured the popular imagination and drew huge crowds. The massive, mostly spontaneous gatherings at Truman's depot events were an important sign of a critical change in momentum in the campaign—but this shift went virtually unnoticed by the national press corps, which simply continued reporting Dewey's (supposedly) impending victory as a certainty.
The defining image of the campaign came after Election Day, when Truman's held aloft the erroneous front page of the Chicago Tribune that featured a huge headline proclaiming "Dewey Defeats Truman."[9]
Nuclear standoff
The Soviet Union, aided by espionage on America's "Manhattan Project," developed an atomic bomb much faster than expected and exploded its first weapon on August 29, 1949, commencing the Cold War arms race. On January 7, 1953, Truman announced the detonation of the much bigger hydrogen bomb.
Communist China
On December 21, 1949, Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist forces left the mainland for Taiwan in the face of successful attacks by Mao Zedong's Communists. In June 1950, Truman ordered the Seventh Fleet of the U.S. Navy into the Strait of Formosa to prevent further conflict between the PRC and the Republic of China on Taiwan. Truman also called for Taiwan to cease any further attacks on the mainland.[10]
Rise of McCarthyism
A period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States began in the late 1940s that lasted a decade. It saw increased fears about Communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents. Originally coined to criticize the actions of Republican senator Joseph McCarthy, "McCarthyism" later took on a more general meaning of a witch-hunt against alleged communists. During this time many thousands of Americans were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before governmental or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists.
The reality was that the Soviet Union in some instances had made successfully penetrations of the U.S. government both prior to and during World War II, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin benefited from highly classified American information that informed his own decisionmaking. The most prominent alleged Soviet spy, named by former communist and writer Whittaker Chambers, was State Department official Alger Hiss, who presided over the United Nations Charter Conference in San Francisco in 1945.
Korean War
In June 25, 1950, armies of North Korea invaded South Korea, nearly occupying the whole of the peninsula. Truman promptly urged the United Nations to intervene; it did. The Soviet Union was not in attendance at the Security Council vote that authorized U.S. forces and those of 15 other nations to take military action under the UN flag.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur led the UN Forces, pushing the North Korean army nearly to the Chinese border after scoring a stunning victory with his amphibious landing at Inchon. In late October 1950, the Peoples Republic of China intervened in massive numbers on North Korea's behalf. MacArthur urged Truman to attack Chinese bases across the Yalu River and use atomic bombs if necessary; as it was, he was not even permitted to bomb the Chinese end of Yalu bridges. Truman refused both suggestions. The Chinese pushed American forces back into South Korea, and temporarily recaptured Seoul. MacArthur, who had given assurances that he would respect Truman's authority as Commander in Chief during a one-on-one meeting at Wake Island on Oct. 14, 1950, publicly aired his views on the shortcomings of U.S. strategic decisionmaking in the conduct of the war, appearing to indirectly criticize Truman. MacArthur reached out his hand to Truman for a handshake, instead of saluting him as Commander in Chief, a small gesture that held great implications in military protocol.
Truman was gravely concerned that further escalation of the war would draw the USSR which now possessed a few atomic weapons into the conflict. He was also personally offended at what he interpreted as MacArthur's insubordination. On April 11, 1951, Truman finally relieved MacArthur of his command. The Korean War turned into a stalemate until an armistice took effect on July 27, 1953, under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The war, and his dismissal of MacArthur, helped make Truman so unpopular that he eventually chose not to seek a third term. Truman thus earned a strange—and, so far, unique—distinction in American history: He ascended to the presidency to inherit the responsibilities of conducting a war already in process—and left office while an entirely different armed conflict with a foreign enemy was still underway.
White House renovations
Unlike most other Presidents, Truman lived in the White House very little during his second term in office. Structural analysis of the building in 1948 showed the White House to be in danger of imminent collapse, partly because of problems with the walls and foundation that dated back to the burning of the building by the British during the War of 1812. While the interior of the White House was systematically dismantled to the foundations and rebuilt (the outer walls were braced and not removed), Truman moved to nearby Blair House, which became his "White House." Before this demolition took place, Truman had ordered an addition to the exterior of the building, an extension to its curved portico known as the "Truman Balcony."
Assassination attempt
On November 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. One mortally wounded a police officer, who shot the assassin to death before expiring himself. The other gunman was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in 1952. Truman later commuted his sentence to life in prison.
Major legislation signed
National Security Act—July 26, 1947
Truman Doctrine—March 12, 1947
Marshall Plan/European Recovery Plan—April 3, 1948
Important executive orders
Executive Order 9981 establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services
Administration and Cabinet
OFFICE NAME TERM President Harry S. Truman 1945–1953 Vice President None 1945–1949 Alben W. Barkley 1949–1953 State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. 1945 James F. Byrnes 1945–1947 George C. Marshall 1947–1949 Dean G. Acheson 1949–1953 Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. 1945 Fred M. Vinson 1945–1946 John W. Snyder 1946–1953 War Henry L. Stimson 1945 Robert P. Patterson 1945–1947 Kenneth C. Royall 1947 Defense James V. Forrestal 1947–1949 Louis A. Johnson 1949–1950 George C. Marshall 1950–1951 Robert A. Lovett 1951–1953 Attorney General Francis Biddle 1945 Tom C. Clark 1945–1949 J. Howard McGrath 1949–1952 James P. McGranery 1952–1953 Postmaster General Frank C. Walker 1945 Robert E. Hannegan 1945–1947 Jesse M. Donaldson 1947–1953 Navy James V. Forrestal 1945–1947 Interior Harold L. Ickes 1945–1946 Julius A. Krug 1946–1949 Oscar L. Chapman 1949–1953 Agriculture Claude R. Wickard 1945 Clinton P. Anderson 1945–1948 Charles F. Brannan 1948–1953 Commerce Henry A. Wallace 1945–1946 W. Averell Harriman 1946–1948 Charles W. Sawyer 1948–1953 Labor Frances Perkins 1945 Lewis B. Schwellenbach 1945–1948 Maurice J. Tobin 1948–1953
Supreme Court appointments
Truman appointed the following Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States:
Harold Hitz Burton—1945
Fred M. Vinson (Chief Justice)—1946
Tom Campbell Clark—1949
Sherman Minton—1949
Post-presidency
Later life and death
In 1956, Truman took a trip to Europe with his wife, and was a universal sensation. In Britain, he received an honorary degree in Civic Law from Oxford University. He met with his friend Winston Churchill for the last time, and on returning to the U.S., he gave his full support to Adlai Stevenson's second bid for the White House, although he had initially favored Democratic Governor W. Averell Harriman of New York for the nomination.
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill at the Truman Library and gave the first two cards to Truman and his wife Bess. Truman had fought unsuccessfully for government sponsored health care during his tenure.
He was also honored in 1970 by the establishment of the Truman Scholarship, the official federal memorial to him. The scholarship sought to honor U.S. college students who exemplified dedication to public service and leadership in public policy.
Upon turning 80, Truman was feted in Washington and asked to address the United States Senate. He was so emotionally overcome by his reception that he was unable to deliver his speech. He also campaigned for senatorial candidates. A bad fall in his home in 1964 severely limited his physical capabilities, and he was unable to maintain his daily presence at his presidential library. On December 5, 1972, he was admitted to Kansas City's Research Hospital and Medical Center with lung congestion from pneumonia. He subsequently developed multiple organ failure and died on December 26 at age 88. He and Bess are buried at the Truman Library.
Truman's middle initial
Truman did not have a middle name, but only a middle initial. It was a common practice in southern states, including Missouri, to use initials rather than names. Truman said the initial was a compromise between the names of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp(e) Truman and Solomon Young. He once joked that the S was a name, not an initial, and it should not have a period, but official documents and his presidential library all use a period. Furthermore, the Harry S. Truman Library has numerous examples of the signature written at various times throughout Truman's lifetime where his own use of a period after the "S" is very obvious.
Trivia
Truman was the first president to travel underwater in a modern submarine.
"Tell him to go to hell!"—Truman's first response to the messenger who told him that Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted him to be his running mate.
Truman watched from a window as guards had a gunfight with two men trying to break into Blair House and kill him (November 1, 1950). One of the men was killed, the other was convicted and sentenced to death, Truman commuted his sentence to life in prison. President Jimmy Carter freed the man in 1979.
One of his Secretaries of State, George C. Marshall, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Truman loved to play the piano. In 1948, a piano leg went through the floor of the White House.
Truman was a great-nephew of President John Tyler.
Truman was the first president to be paid a salary of $100,000. (Congress voted him a raise early in his second term.)
Truman was left-handed, but his parents made him write with his right hand, in accordance with the custom for all students in American elementary schools at that time.
Truman popularized the saying, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." He had first heard this line in the 1930s, from another Missouri politician, E.T. "Buck" Purcell.
Truman was named one of the 10 best-dressed senators.
Truman was named after an uncle, Harrison Young.
Truman once said, "No man should be allowed to be president who doesn't understand hogs."
Truman was the first president to take office during wartime.
Notes
References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Secondary sources
Biographies
American National Biography. Vol. 21. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999, 857–863. ISBN 0195206355
Donovan, Robert J. Conflict and Crisis: The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, 1945-1948. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1996. ISBN 082621066X
Ferrell, Robert H. Harry S. Truman: A Life. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1994. ISBN 082620953X
Fleming, Thomas J. Harry S. Truman, President. New York: Walker and Co., 1993. ISBN 0802782671
Gosnell, Harold Foote. Truman's Crises: A Political Biography of Harry S. Truman. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1980. ISBN 0313212732
Graff, Henry F., ed. The Presidents: A Reference History, 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2002. ISBN 0684312263
Hamby, Alonzo L. Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0195045467
Kirkendall, Richard S. Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1989. ISBN 0816189153
McCullough, David. Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. ISBN 0671869205
Truman, Margaret. Harry S. Truman. New York: William Morrow, 1974.
Foreign Policy
Beschloss, Michael. Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989. (see Ch. 25, "No People but the Hebrews") New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN 0684857057
Collins, Larry, and Dominique Lapierre. O Jerusalem! New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988. ISBN 0671662414
Gaddis, John Lewis. "Reconsiderations: Was the Truman Doctrine a Real Turning Point?" Foreign Affairs 52(2)(1974): 386-402.
Ivie, Robert L. "Fire, Flood, and Red Fever: Motivating Metaphors of Global Emergency in the Truman Doctrine Speech." Presidential Studies Quarterly 29(3)(1999): 570-591.
Matray, James. "Truman's Plan for Victory: National Self Determination and the Thirty-Eighth Parallel Decision in Korea," Journal of American History 66 (September, 1979): 314-333.
Merrill, Dennis. "The Truman Doctrine: Containing Communism and Modernity" Presidential Studies Quarterly 2006 36(1): 27-37.
Offner, Arnold A. "'Another Such Victory': President Truman, American Foreign Policy, and the Cold War." Diplomatic History 1999 23(2): 127-155.
Pelz, Stephen. "When the Kitchen Gets Hot, Pass the Buck: Truman and Korea in 1950," Reviews in American History 6 (December, 1978), 548-555.
Smith, Geoffrey S. "'Harry, We Hardly Know You': Revisionism, Politics and Diplomacy, 1945-1954," American Political Science Review 70 (June, 1976): 560-582.
Spalding, Elizabeth Edwards. The First Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, Containment, And the Remaking of Liberal Internationalism. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. ISBN 978-0813123929
Wainstock, Dennis D. Truman, MacArthur, and the Korean War. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. ISBN 0313308373
Walker, J. Samuel. Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs Against Japan. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1997. ISBN 0807846627
Walker, J. Samuel. "Recent Literature on Truman's Atomic Bomb Decision: A Search for Middle Ground" Diplomatic History 29 (2)(April 2005): 311-334
Domestic Policy
Hartmann, Susan M. Truman and the 80th Congress. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1971. ISBN 0826201059
Heller, Francis H. Economics and the Truman Administration Lawrence, KS: Regents Press of Kansas, 1981. ISBN 0700602178
Kirkendall, Richard S., ed. Harry's Farewell: Interpreting and Teaching the Truman Presidency. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 2004. ISBN 0826215521
Koenig, Louis W. The Truman Administration: Its Principles and Practice. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1979. ISBN 0313211868
Levantrosser, William F. ed. Harry S. Truman: The Man from Independence. New York: Greenwood Press, 1986. ISBN 0313251789
Marcus, Maeva. Truman and the Steel Seizure Case: The Limits of Presidential Power. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1994. ISBN 0822314177
Ryan, Halford R. Harry S. Truman: Presidential Rhetoric. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1993. ISBN 031327908X
Theoharis, Athan. The Truman Presidency: The Origins of the Imperial Presidency and the National Security State. Stanfordville, NY: E.M. Coleman Enterprises, 1979. ISBN 0930576128
Primary sources
Bernstein, Barton J. (ed.). Politics and Policies of the Truman Administration Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1974. OCLC 4167214
Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, 1910-1959. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1998. ISBN 0826212034
Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1997. ISBN 0826211194
Neal, Steve. (ed.). Miracle of '48: Harry Truman's Major Campaign Speeches & Selected Whistle-Stops. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2003. ISBN 0809325578
Truman, Harry S. Memoirs of Harry S. Truman. 2 vol., New York: Da Capo Press, 1986-1987, (original 1955-1956). ISBN 030680266X
Truman, Margaret. Harry S. Truman. (original 1974) New York: Quill, 1984. ISBN 0688039243
All links retrieved June 25, 2024.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 23
|
https://www.springfieldmo.org/listing/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/838/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,q_75,w_949/v1/clients/springfield/Enews_footer_113caa35-5996-4387-803b-36b703a9f089.jpg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/enewsletter-title-white.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,q_75,w_949/v1/clients/springfield/right_bg_b91118bc-b948-44ef-84e9-a02470a999d7.jpg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/springfield-guide-title-white.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/greencountyLogo_Rev_47f24915-4dd6-46a9-ab77-887806887405.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Spfld_Sports_Comm_Logo_reverse_f546151f-ab01-4fc1-a982-e472a5b12837.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Springfield_Chamber_logo_cmyk_Vertical_Rev_a07b303a-1149-4082-83b5-c13b226f1819.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/VisitMologo_white_f848aca2-e2fb-432b-9159-9a98633ab746.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Brand_USA_Logo_Rev_e4ab77d6-57f7-4e7c-b472-df04df0bf45d.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Springfield_City_Logo_Rev_26a76f5b-f4e1-4305-a1f8-09f5cc874612.png",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/ta-logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/sv-logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/f_jpg,q_75,w_150/v1/clients/springfield/default_image_63cf57a3-d7ca-47ce-b385-5725d179044e.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Harry S. Truman, the only Missourian ever elected U.S. President, was born here on May 8, 1884. Truman's family stayed in the six room home until he was almost one year old. Furnishings from the period fill the house. Guided tours are free.
|
en
|
https://www.springfieldmo.org/listing/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/838/
|
Your browser is not supported for this experience.
We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 80
|
https://cv.libguides.com/presidents/htruman
|
en
|
LibGuides at Chattahoochee Valley Community College
|
[
"https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/sites/16060/banner/_Chattahoochee_Valley_Community_College.jpg",
"https://www.biography.com/.image/ar_1:1%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_300/MTE5NTU2MzE2MzkwNTI0NDI3/harry-truman-9511121-1-402.jpg",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0308100441/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0393056368/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0870810901/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0807100544/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0231033354/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0060112816/LC.GIF&client=springshare"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Elizabeth Bradsher"
] | null |
This guide will give you information about the Presidents of the United States.
|
en
|
//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png
|
https://cv.libguides.com/presidents/htruman
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Missouri on May 8, 1884. He was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s vice president for just 82 days before Roosevelt died and Truman became the 33rd president. In his first months in office he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, ending World War II. His policy of communist containment started the Cold War, and he initiated U.S. involvement in the Korean War. Truman left office in 1953 and died in 1972.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 35
|
https://mrnussbaum.com/president-33-harry-s-truman-biography-presidents-series
|
en
|
President 33 - Harry S. Truman Biography - Presidents Series
|
[
"https://mrnussbaum.com/images/logo.svg",
"https://mrnussbaum.com/storage/uploads/activities/worldimages/truman.jpg",
"https://mrnussbaum.com/storage/uploads/activities/ads/adthis.png",
"https://mrnussbaum.com/images/white-logo.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri, though hew grew up in nearby Independence . His parents gave him the middle initial S. to honor Harry's two grandfathers, though it stands for nothing in particular.
|
en
| null |
Everyday Guy
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri, though hew grew up in nearby Independence . His parents gave him the middle initial S. to honor Harry's two grandfathers, though it stands for nothing in particular. As a child, Harry enjoyed playing the piano and reading. In 1901, he graduated from Independence High School. After high school, he worked on the Santa Fe Railroad. Although he never earned a college degree, he became a successful Missouri farmer and served as a Captain in World War I. In 1919, he married Bess Wallace, seven years after she rejected his first request. The couple would have a single child named Mary Margaret. In 1919, Harry and a wartime friend opened a haberdashery (a store that sells sewing supplies such as buttons) in Kansas City. The business succeeded for a couple of years but went bankrupt during the recession of 1921.
Senator Truman
Truman's political career began in 1922 when he was elected as judge of the County Court of the eastern district of Jackson County, Missouri. During this time, Truman was instrumental in the development of Kansas City, Missouri and helped initiate programs that built roads, buildings, and monuments in the city. In 1934, he was elected Senator from Missouri. He was re-elected in 1940. During his second term as Senator, Truman established the "Truman Committee" which exposed military spending fraud during World War II. Truman's committee is thought to have saved the United States Military over 15 billion dollars and launched his political career into the national limelight.
Becoming President
In 1944, Truman was selected as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's vice-presidential running-mate during the election of 1944, though Truman reluctantly accepted only after listening to a fake phone call orchestrated by members of the Republican National Committee, in which Roosevelt claimed that his refusal to accept the vice-presidency would disrupt the unity of the party. Roosevelt won the election for a record fourth time, but died in 1945 after suffering a stroke. Truman was sworn in as President.
Atomic Bombs
Truman's presidency began in the latter stages of World War II. In 1945, after being briefed on the top secret Manhattan Project (the testing of Nuclear Weapons), Truman authorized the use of nuclear Weapons against Japan, after Japan refused to surrender in the Potsdam Declaration. American military forces dropped two nuclear bombs on August 6, 1945 over the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima , marking the first and only time nuclear weapons had ever been used in warfare. Tens of thousands of Japanese were killed instantly and Japan surrendered eight days later.
Domestic Challenges
After the war, Truman led the nation's transition back to a peacetime economy, despite innumerable domestic challenges including severe inflation, labor unrest, and shortages of houses and consumer products. Furthermore, issues abroad with the Communist Soviet Union suggested their thirst for global domination. In an attempt to quell the spread of Communism, Truman won support for the Marshall Plan, which aimed to help re-build postwar Europe. Truman also signed the National Security Act of 1947 which eventually resulted in the Department of Defense and the creation of the U.S. Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
International Challenges
In 1948, Truman took measures to recognize the state of Israel in the former Palestine, giving the Jewish people displaced during the European Holocaust their own state. Truman also authorized the Berlin Airlift, a campaign that delivered food, coal, and other supplies to areas of West Berlin, Germany that had been blockaded by the Russians. The airlift was seen as a great success in American foreign policy.
NATO and the Korean War
Later in 1948, after the Democratic Party seemed ready to split, and after Truman signed a controversial order integrating the U.S. Armed Forces, he was re-elected president in an improbable victory, prompted at least in part, by his incredible campaign effort which covered nearly 22,000 miles in traveling. In 1949, Truman was instrumental in the establishment of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) which established alliances with Canada and much of western and northern Europe in opposition to the growing Communist threat of the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Truman's popularity began to wane as the Soviet Nuclear program rapidly developed amidst allegations that Truman's administration was harboring Soviet spies (the resulting paranoia concerning Communists in the U.S. Government and Russian spies would be forever referred to as McCarthyism). In 1950, Communist North Korea invaded South Korea prompting the Korean War. Truman's handling of the war was heavily criticized, particularly his decision to fire the popular World War II hero Douglas MacArthur from his command in Japan and Korea. Although the two-year war cost over 30,000 American lives, Truman succeeded in preventing the war from becoming a major international struggle between surrounding Communist nations such as China and the Soviet Union. Truman declined to run for re-election in 1952.
After the Presidency
After his presidency, Truman retired to Independence where he wrote his Memoirs and lived a humble existence. On December 26, 1972, Truman died of complications from pneumonia. Today, he is honored with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, and the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, which includes the Truman family farm in Independence . The University of Missouri mascot is known as the Truman Tiger.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 60
|
https://www.visitkc.com/2020/02/12/get-know-kcs-hometown-president-harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman’s Legacy Lives on at his Presidential Library and Museum
|
[
"https://visitkcd8.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/544x455/public/2020-02/President%20Truman-1949-header-web_0.jpg.webp?VersionId=NNyyjfYblduWkaAEpQKELpL8FgocE7aJ&itok=OJ45O8M7",
"https://visitkcd8.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/National%20WWI%20Musuem%20and%20Memorial-web_0.jpg",
"https://visitkcd8.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/Senator%20Truman%20at%20Capitol%20Hill-web.jpg",
"https://visitkcd8.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/President%20Truman-web.jpg",
"https://visitkcd8.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/Harry%20S.%20Truman%20Library%20and%20Museum-Rendering-web.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2020-02-12T00:00:00
|
As the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library completes its renovations, get to know the man himself, from his service in World War I and the Pendergast machine to how he shaped the modern world during his presidency.
|
en
|
/favicon.ico
|
Visit KC
|
https://www.visitkc.com/2020/02/12/get-know-kcs-hometown-president-harry-s-truman
|
Early History
Born in Lamar, MO, in 1884, Truman was raised in Independence, MO, a charming town just 20 minutes east of bustling Kansas City. As a boy, Truman exhibited an industrious nature, working at Crown Drug Store, a pharmacy and soda shop in what is now Independence Square. The location still stands today, and visitors make the pilgrimage to Clinton’s Soda Fountain to relive the magic of the era by enjoying malts, phosphates and ice cream shakes.
Other occupations kept Truman busy until he moved to out of town and spent 12 years farming. The Great War broke out in Europe in 1914, and by 1917, the United States had entered the fray. Truman pledged his abilities and departed for France, where he served as a captain in the Field Artillery. His experience—and that of countless other soldiers who participated in the conflict—is chronicled at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in KC.
After his service, Harry returned to Kansas City, where he opened a haberdashery to sell men’s goods, including clothing, accessories and other essentials. But it wasn’t until 1922 that Truman’s career took off. The Democrat was elected to a judgeship in the Jackson County Court, thanks in part to the backing of Tom Pendergast, a political boss who oversaw KC’s rise as the Paris of the Plains during Prohibition.
Senate Career and Vice Presidency
A failed reelection campaign in 1924 followed, but only two years later, Truman was back in office, this time as the presiding judge of the Jackson County Court. Upon his term expiring in 1934, the Democrat filed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, first defeating other primary contenders in August and finally winning against the Republican incumbent in November. Six years later, Truman would win reelection by less than 50,000 votes.
In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began his campaign for an unprecedented fourth term in office. He’d overseen the country’s World War II efforts and sought to finish the job. Yet while the current vice president was popular, Roosevelt’s advisors sought to make a change, and Truman was subsequently nominated at the Democratic National Convention to run alongside the president. The duo won the contest in November and were sworn into office in January 1945.
Roosevelt’s fourth term was short-lived. After suffering from failing health for years, the president suffered a brain hemorrhage on April 12, 1945; Truman officially became the new commander-in-chief shortly thereafter.
Truman Library Institute
A major anniversary and a monumental renovation mark the biggest year in recent memory for the Truman Library Institute and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. Set to debut fall 2020, the museum and library will reopen to the public after the largest renovation in the museum’s history.
State-of-the-art technology will breathe new life into one of only 14 presidential libraries in the country, offering new permanent exhibits with hands-on interactives, family-friendly amenities and engaging programming. Plus, major events throughout the year help commemorate the 75th anniversary of Truman taking the presidential oath of office.
Celebrate the legacy of Independence’s hometown commander-in-chief with Wild About Harry 2020 (April 23) and Truman’s 136th birthday, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II (May 8)—and so much more.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 96
|
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/05/08/independences-truman-library-celebrates-late-presidents-140th-birthday/
|
en
|
Independence’s Truman Library celebrates late president’s 140th birthday
|
[
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SO5LHI3ZFHVVMC45MTVFCQMAQ.jpg?auth=15fdac2f503aab91150242df08999e6c8f7a149cb7cbe4ec9406938bc426bdd0&width=800&height=450&smart=false&focal=592%2C390",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X3EYFETCFFCFJMQLNGOKKHEPD4.jpg?auth=ed9a9e9817cc65ba9d3a615e33db4e43275c0affedbca0ee60d08e702465e0c1&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3I37LFEHSFHCHEVCOF54BWLFHM.png?auth=ab57687c47e7ff6be364cd41fa10b39e5f2fcb76bed18028d4cc45e9649004cd&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RIJDBWMETJF3PAERLFFFP47DMU.png?auth=ac3c452a39504f91feba3719e065c43943f873e2db817577bb3c557fa0d3f340&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TQPWPAEBMZBAJPIE5F6KUCDRHA.png?auth=8852a8af8043d297c0b1a6bd5904c0bdb33223467a91ad3f47ccbd32ef4fbd1e&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34PKQXY6HJAOLM3ASVMENJJ4XE.jpg?auth=22d51cb9db69dd16ec42ee2a872978af23cddcc4adf84bbab4a870eb53329d9e&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SY5HSFW4TNH27EFRBEHZJPDOIE.jpg?auth=9892e35a8187d542a1d9a39a2b7f9de3bcb59d61cc7b370710b752b6993a9d9d&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FIIISDTJBCFDKRBGSU3YHMZQU.PNG?auth=a95811f64b62a23fa440f6bdcb1165d548559f69f46ae39dd507c1d261fa803a&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SO5LHI3ZFHVVMC45MTVFCQMAQ.jpg?auth=15fdac2f503aab91150242df08999e6c8f7a149cb7cbe4ec9406938bc426bdd0&width=800&height=450&smart=false&focal=592%2C390",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BLW5LYJUUJHC7MM6NJBJLVDKUI.jfif?auth=1e9d72808e69b91b763b9006ca082838399a551006c1e22bd43283f73da0bbf2&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V6WOB3ANVRHLBDX35TFA2K4S7Y.png?auth=11534a3213144da777d46e21b1da02b660c7b8cb2abbac45358d39a96e0cecc3&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fdo0bihdskp9dy.cloudfront.net%2F07-25-2024%2Ft_ac9a8e3bc4dc4099a957811cf894a64c_name_file_1280x720_2000_v3_1_.jpg?auth=648dd459ee17e10f468e5c3e2cd060140c94f0f8c055d8767bd9063961718bd5&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V3NEXX4WJVCAVJZBI2QHC7AOQE.jpg?auth=a9df977a747ee6ee7b5313f4c74aa5ffb7e34da198ce13335096bd3046073a6c&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZQO2ANF47BGGPAFLGJ45NJPWLI.jfif?auth=585e50434e73cab924710f30dc8bb83ce20870ec67f6d3a11207498f950ddf08&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fdo0bihdskp9dy.cloudfront.net%2F07-25-2024%2Ft_708169a6e0b34c6a96f5fefa42ab5b75_name_Air_Quality_Forecast_16.png?auth=1029f69af1d2cd7524aecc0118d8c7d072c9c5a13edb53ff2001ecfa94608d01&width=800&height=450&smart=true",
"https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JLVE7B37EVHPZHMBTGWTU7UJC4.png?auth=97c93a3bafcf9e1498d3e43b0026d869ae2492235e565401fdfe2dd39f1584d2&width=800&height=450&smart=true"
] |
[
"https://d1l66zlxaqpl1u.cloudfront.net/wp-gray/kctv/20240508/663bc2480388901a14264d46/file_1920x1080-5400-v4/file_1280x720-2000-v3_1.mp4"
] |
[] |
[
"independence's",
"truman",
"library",
"celebrates",
"late",
"president's",
"140th",
"birthday"
] | null |
[
"Sarah Motter"
] |
2024-05-08T00:00:00
|
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence has kicked off the 140th celebration of the late President Truman.
|
en
|
//webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/kctv/favicon.ico?d=421
|
https://www.kctv5.com
|
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/05/08/independences-truman-library-celebrates-late-presidents-140th-birthday/
|
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence has kicked off the 140th celebration of the late President Truman.
On Wednesday, May 8, the Truman Library in Independence celebrated the 140th birthday of the only president born in Missouri - Harry S. Truman. His birthday is recognized as a holiday for state employees.
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum celebrated with attendees as events were held to remember the nation’s 33rd president. Earlier Wednesday morning, dozens of military members and the Truman family met at the library, which is now recognized as a national landmark on the civil rights trail.
The date also marks the 76th anniversary of President Truman’s decision to desegregate the armed forces. Truman Library Director Kurt Graham told KCTV5 News that ceremonies like these keep the former president’s legacy alive.
“Without a conscious effort to keep this in front of people memories fade and people forget the importance of his time,” Graham said. “Truman was so significant and made so many critical decisions for the nation and for the world that it’s important that we have an up-and-coming generation that understands exactly what this is all about.”
Those who wish to stop by can head to the library for free until 5 p.m. on Wednesday at 500 W. Highway 24 in Independence.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 79
|
https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/History/presidents/Presidents_33_Truman.htm
|
en
|
The 33rd US President
|
[
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/indeximages/headerlogo.gif",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_top_presidents_160.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_bottom_160.gif",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/history_presidents_truman.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/History/images/truman_c_color.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/divider_history_public.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/divider_history_presindency.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/History/images/truman_c_roosevelt.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/History/images/truman_c_stalin.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_top_fotd_left.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_top_fact-of-the-day_a.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_bottom_left.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_bottom_right.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_top_quickfacts.jpg",
"https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/design/images/box_bottom_1.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Learn about the 33rd US President Harry S. Truman.
| null |
Harry S. Truman was the thirty-third President of the United States. Truman authorized the use of the atomic bomb against Japan in 1945. He became President when Franklin Roosevelt became the seventh Chief Executive to die in office. In World War I he was an officer in a unit known for the battles of Saint-Mihiel and Argonne. After the war he married Elizabeth Wallace, known as Bess, but whom Harry called "Mother." He became a partner in a clothing store that went bankrupt during the Depression. Harry Truman was much respected for his straight talk and his ability to make hard decisions, often heard saying, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." He had a sign on his desk that read "The Buck Stops Here."
His policy of containment of Soviet expansionism initiated the long Cold War with the Soviet Union. He had trouble with Congress and labor groups over the conversion of the economy back to peacetime conditions after WWII. While he was staying at the Blair House because the White House was undergoing renovations, two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to assassinate Truman. His reply to the assassination attempt was "A President has to expect those things." In 1965 he was given the Freedom Award.
Born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri, Harry Truman grew up on a farm. After being active in local Democratic politics for a decade, Truman was elected to the United States Senate in 1934. Prior to that, his first political position was as a judge in Jackson County in 1922, where he earned a reputation for firing inept workers and attempting to end corruption. As a United States Senator, he supported New Deal legislation and served on the Appropriations Committee and the Interstate Commerce Committee. Truman exposed fraud and waste in defense programs and revealed the appalling conditions in army camps and defense plants.
Franklin Roosevelt chose Truman to be his running mate in the Presidential election in 1944, and when Roosevelt died eighty-two days after starting his fourth term, Truman took over as President.
Truman believed that Stalin wanted to spread the Communist influence throughout Europe. The Truman Doctrine, which became law in 1947, was aimed at protecting Greece and Turkey from Communist domination. Later, it also blocked Communist expansion anywhere in the world. Truman implemented the Marshall Plan to aid in the economic recovery of western Europe after World War II. In addition to providing financial aid to help war-torn Europe rebuild, The Marshall Plan made the United States a world power. He also initiated the establishment of the North American Treaty organization (NATO
NATO was formed to help prevent the spread of Communism. It was the first peacetime military alliance the United States had ever joined. The Soviet Union's ability to use and develop atomic weapons had put the United States in a nuclear arms race, which led to the development of the hydrogen bomb. When the Soviet Union sent Communist forces to China and Korea, Truman expanded the Truman Doctrine to include Asia. He sent American troops to support the United Nations in the Korean War, which was technically a "police action." In a controversial move, Truman removed General Douglas MacArthur from his command in Korea. Truman was also providing financial aid to the French in Vietnam.
It was during the Truman presidency that the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency were established. These organizations bypassed the State Department and Congress to provide advice and information directly to the President. The Bureau of the Budget also started doing things that congressional committees had previously done. These changes increased the power of the presidency by giving the Chief Executive more ability to function outside of congressional restraints. Fear of Communism gripped the United States and the House Committee on Un-American Activities suggested that Communists had infiltrated the Truman administration. To combat these attacks, Truman decided that all federal employees had to be screened by loyalty boards.
His domestic policy, called the "Fair Deal", was basically a continuation of Roosevelt's "New Deal," and was frustrated by the resurgence of the Republicans who won control of Congress in 1946. When Congress fought against his domestic policies Truman used the power of the veto. He unsuccessfully tried to stop the Taft-Hartley Act, which weakened some of the powers acquired by organized labor during the New Deal.
In 1948 Truman won a stunning and unexpected victory over Thomas Dewey. As hard as he tried, Truman was unable to obtain civil rights legislation, get federal aid for education, repeal the Taft-Hartley Act, set up a public power project, or set up a national health insurance system. However, he was able to implement some of the New Deal policies, such as providing subsidies to farmers and public housing; establishing social security, and a minimum wage. His homespun, often feisty style of leadership made him a symbol of no-nonsense Middle America. Although not without support, Harry Truman decided not to run for reelection in 1952. He retired to Independence, Missouri where he remained active in politics until his death in Kansas City, Missouri on December 26, 1972.
|
|||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 7
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/2002-5
|
en
|
The Truman Birthplace in Lamar, Missouri
|
[
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/close.svg",
"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/photographs/2002/2002-5.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-truman-library-institute.png",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-national-archives.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Front view of the house in Lamar, Missouri, where President Truman was born, showing a handprinted "admission" sign on the front porch, probably taken before restoration and dedication were accomplished. This photograph appears on Page 156 in the book "Mr. President" by William Hillman. From: Papers of William Hillman, "Mr. President" file, Box 2 - Loose Dummy (2 of 2).
|
en
|
/themes/custom/truman_library/favicon.ico
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/2002-5
|
Accession Number
2002-5
6 x 7 inches
Black & White
Related Collection
Keywords
HST Keywords
Book - Mr. President - Page 156 - Ref. to; Hillman, William - Ref. to; Missouri - Cities - Lamar; Truman - Homes - Birthplace - Lamar
Rights
Copyrighted - This item is copyrighted and cannot be published, reproduced, or otherwise used without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.
Note: If you use this image, rights assessment and attribution are your responsibility.
Credit:
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum.
Attention media: Please make note of this item's accession number. Print out this page and retain it for your permissions records before downloading this image file for possible publication. Library staff cannot sign permissions forms or provide additional paperwork. The Library charges no usage fees for downloaded images.
Description
Front view of the house in Lamar, Missouri, where President Truman was born, showing a handprinted "admission" sign on the front porch, probably taken before restoration and dedication were accomplished. This photograph appears on Page 156 in the book "Mr. President" by William Hillman. From: Papers of William Hillman, "Mr. President" file, Box 2 - Loose Dummy (2 of 2).
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 37
|
https://theclio.com/entry/33964
|
en
|
Harry Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/app-bar-logo-85bcdf195c567dbecc94e4b99e78e9a5.png",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80049.jpg",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80050.jpg",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80051.jpg",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/twitter-d6525199f36e4e7cb451233398cee7e0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/fb-05c6c74da3ed97647d396039e976f44e.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/fb-05c6c74da3ed97647d396039e976f44e.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/twitter-d6525199f36e4e7cb451233398cee7e0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/instagram-f90d7f573b3958d8e34d3045f571fec0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/tumblr-ea0854cdd01cf0751b15cf07f1491ade.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/neh-30b8993268c0df506f84e9e1723481a5.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/knight-0c26ecb2d54ca356efea474eed7ae0ed.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/WTKF_logo_2020-ceada665713f26ff8f228696d2e51107.jpg",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/umkc-logo-a4711c4a99a86938c78fba657a6f2796.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
There have been countless examples of powerful and influential beings coming from humble beginnings. Harry Truman is one such example. A baby born in a minuscule house rose to become the most recognizable political figure on Earth. President Harry Truman was born on May 8th, 1884 in the small rural town of Lamar, Missouri. A small six room house and barn diagonally across the street were all that the Truman family could call theirs. The property accounts for a mere two and a half acres signaling Truman as a man who came from very little and rose to be the most powerful man on planet Earth. It was in this house located in this small town that a boy was born who would make a decision sixty-one years later that would completely change the direction and landscape of human history.
|
en
|
/_next/static/images/clio-logo-background-small-451d24efda1e099e31bcf2230362805a.jpg
|
Clio
|
https://theclio.com/entry/33964
|
Mattie Young grew up on a farm in the Kansas City Region. The land that the Young household owned was approximately 600 acres and well off. Mattie enjoyed the frequent gatherings and dances that would take place in her family’s parlor rooms or on neighboring farms. It is believed that at one such social event Mattie met John Truman who was freshly back from serving in the Civil War. The two participated in a hypothesized lengthy courtship until they decided to marry in 1881. John was thirty and Mattie was twenty-nine.
The Wedding was small but traditional. John suffered from “little man’s syndrome” standing at five foot four while his new wife clocked in at five foot six. For this reason, John decided the wedding portrait should feature his likeness seated. The two bought a newly constructed house in Lamar, Missouri for $685 and for an additional $200 John purchased a small barn on the same block and used it to sell mules and open his business. Mattie’s family is reported to have found the Truman residence an abysmal and soul-sucking place but Mattie herself remained positive all the same.
During their time in Lamar, Mattie gave birth to two babies. The first baby died in childbirth but the second was a boy and was born on May 8th, 1884. The Truman couple didn’t give him a name right away and he went approximately a month before his birth was registered with the county. John and Mattie deliberated for weeks over the child’s middle name trying to decide to name him after John’s family or Mattie’s. With Solomon and Shipp on the table and no viable way to break a tie, they decided to make his middle name simply S. It would stand for nothing which was common for their Scotch-Irish heritage. In honor of his Uncle Harrison, the baby was named Harry- Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States. He would never have any memories of his first home in Lamar. That small baby boy born in the southernmost room, barely big enough for a bed, would be the direct successor to a president who saved a nation from a Great Depression and pushed through a world war, he himself would be the man who first utilized an atomic bomb, and his doctrine would shape American foreign policy for 30 years following his own presidency. This small minuscule house in rural Missouri is where a boy was born who would change the world.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 19
|
https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-in-brief
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman: Life in Brief
|
https://millercenter.org/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
https://millercenter.org/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
[
"https://millercenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumb_2x_360x360/public/auth-hamby_alonzo-116x116.jpg?itok=1BSjcnvF"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Alonzo L. Hamby"
] |
2016-10-04T16:15:18-04:00
|
en
|
/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
Miller Center
|
https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-in-brief
|
Harry S. Truman became President of the United States with the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945. During his nearly eight years in office, Truman confronted enormous challenges in both foreign and domestic affairs. Truman's policies abroad, and especially toward the Soviet Union in the emerging Cold War, would become staples of American foreign policy for generations. At home, Truman protected and reinforced the New Deal reforms of his predecessor, guided the American economy from a war-time to a peace-time footing, and advanced the cause of African-American civil rights. Historians now rank Truman among the nation's best Presidents.
Student and Soldier
Harry Truman was a child of Missouri. Born on May 8, 1884, in the town of Lamar, Truman grew up in Independence, only ten miles east of Kansas City. As a child he devoured history books and literature, played the piano enthusiastically, and dreamed of becoming a great soldier. His poor eyesight made a commission to West Point impossible, however, and his family's financial problems kept him from attending a four-year college.
Truman instead worked on the family farm between 1906 and 1914. Though he detested farming, it was during this difficult time that he fell in love with Virginia "Bess" Wallace, whom he had met as a child. Bess refused Harry's marriage proposal in 1911 but the romance continued. They wed in 1919 and five years later had their first and only child, Mary Margaret.
In 1914, after his father's death, Truman tried unsuccessfully to earn a living as an owner and operator of a small mining company and oil business, all the while remaining involved with the farm. In 1917, Truman's National Guard unit shipped out to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force fighting the world war. The soldiering life suited Truman, who turned his battery—which had a reputation for unruliness and ineffectiveness—into a top-notch unit.
A Career in Politics
Back home from the war, Truman opened a men's furnishings store (shirts, ties, underwear, sock, etc.—no suits, coats, or shoes) with an army buddy. The shop failed, however, after only a few years. In 1922, Thomas J. Pendergast, the Democratic boss of Kansas City, asked Truman to run for a judgeship on the county court of Jackson County's eastern district. Truman served one term, was defeated for a second, and then became presiding judge in 1926, a position he held until 1934. As presiding judge, Truman managed the county's finances during the early years of the Great Depression. Despite his association with the corrupt Pendergast, Truman established a reputation for personal integrity, honesty, and efficiency.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate with help of the Pendergast political machine. Senator Truman supported the New Deal, although he proved only a marginally important legislator. He became a national figure during World War II when he chaired the "Truman Committee" investigating government defense spending. President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose Truman as his running mate in the 1944 presidential campaign largely because the Missourian passed muster with Southern Democrats and party officials. The Roosevelt-Truman ticket won a comfortable victory over its Republican opposition, though Truman would serve only eighty-two days as vice president. With the death of FDR on April 12, 1945, Harry S. Truman became the thirty-third President of the United States.
Truman and Post-War America
Truman took office as World War II in Europe drew to a close. The German leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide in Berlin only two weeks into Truman's presidency and the allies declared victory in Europe on May 7, 1945. The war in the Pacific, however, was far from being over; most experts believed it might last another year and require an American invasion of Japan. The U.S. and British governments, though, had secretly begun to develop the world's most deadly weapon—an atomic bomb. Upon its completion and successful testing in the summer of 1945, Truman approved its use against Japan. On August 6 and 9, 1945, the U.S. Army Air Force dropped atomic bombs on two cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, immediately killing upwards of 100,000 people (with perhaps twice that number dying from the aftereffects of radiation poisoning). Japanese emperor Hirohito agreed to surrender days later, bringing World War II to a close.
Truman faced unprecedented and defining challenges in international affairs during the first years of his presidency. American relations with the Soviet Union—nominal allies in the battle against Germany and Japan—began to deteriorate even before victory in World War II. Serious ideological differences—the United States supported democratic institutions and market principles, while Soviet leaders were totalitarian and ran a command economy—separated the two countries. But it was the diverging interests of the emerging superpowers in Europe and Asia which sharpened their differences.
In response to what it viewed as Soviet threats, the Truman administration constructed foreign policies to contain the Soviet Union's political power and counter its military strength. By 1949, Soviet and American policies had divided Europe into a Soviet-controlled bloc in the east and an American-supported grouping in the west. That same year, a communist government sympathetic to the Soviet Union came to power in China, the world's most populous nation. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, which would last for over forty years, had begun.
At home, President Truman presided over the difficult transition from a war-time to a peace-time economy. During World War II, the American government had intervened in the nation's economy to an unprecedented degree, controlling prices, wages, and production. Truman lobbied for a continuing government role in the immediate post-war economy and also for an expansive liberal agenda that built on the New Deal. Republicans and conservative Democrats attacked this strategy and the President mercilessly. An immediate postwar economy characterized by high inflation and consumer shortages further eroded Truman's support and contributed to the Democrats losing control of Congress in the 1946 midterm elections. Newly empowered Republicans and conservative Democrats stymied Truman's liberal proposals and began rolling back some New Deal gains, especially through the Taft-Hartley labor law moderately restricting union activity.
Election of 1948
Truman's political fortunes reached their low point in 1946 and 1947, a nadir from which few observers believed the President could recover to win a second term. Freed from shouldering primary responsibility for the nation's economy (which began to stabilize) and the nearly impossible burden of uniting the disparate Democratic party behind a progressive agenda, Truman let the Republicans try to govern. When they faltered or pushed conservative programs, Truman counterattacked with skill, fire, and wit. The President also took steps to energize his liberal Democratic base, especially blacks, unions, and urban dwellers, issuing executive orders that pushed forward the cause of African-American civil rights and vetoing (unsuccessfully) the Taft-Hartley bill.
Truman won the presidential nomination of a severely divided Democratic party in the summer of 1948 and faced New York's Republican governor Thomas Dewey in the general election. Few expected him to win, but the President waged a vigorous campaign that excoriated Republicans in Congress as much as it attacked Dewey. Truman defeated Dewey in November 1948, capping one of the most stunning political comebacks in American history.
A Troubled Second Term
Truman viewed his reelection as a mandate for a liberal agenda, which he presented under the name "The Fair Deal." The President miscalculated, however, as the American public and conservatives in both parties on Capitol Hill rejected most of his program. He did win passage of some important liberal legislation that raised the minimum wage and expanded Social Security. Moreover, the American economy began a period of sustained growth in the early 1950s that lasted for nearly two decades. Increasingly, though, his administration was buffeted by charges of corruption and being "soft on communism." The latter critique was extremely damaging as anti-communism became one of the defining characteristics of early Cold War American political culture. Some of the most virulent (and irresponsible) anti-communists, like Wisconsin's Republican senator Joseph McCarthy, lambasted the administration and the State Department, in particular.
Significant foreign policy challenges persisted into Truman's second term. The President committed the United States to the defense of South Korea in the summer of 1950 after that nation, an American ally, was invaded by its communist neighbor, North Korea. The American military launched a counterattack that pushed the North Koreans back to the Chinese border, whereupon the Chinese entered the war in the fall of 1950. The conflict settled into a bloody and grisly stalemate that would not be resolved until Truman left office in 1953. The Korean War globalized the Cold War and spurred a massive American military build-up that began the nuclear arms race in earnest.
Truman in Perspective
Truman's popularity sank during his second term, due largely to accusations of corruption, charges that the administration was "soft on communism," and the stalemated Korean War. Unsurprisingly, Truman chose not to run in 1952. The Democratic Party's candidate, Governor Adlai Stevenson, lost to war hero and Republican General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the fall election.
Truman's legacy has become clearer and more impressive in the years since he left office. Most scholars admit that the President faced enormous challenges domestically, internationally, and politically. While he occasionally failed to measure accurately the nation's political tenor and committed some significant policy blunders, Truman achieved notable successes. Domestically, he took important first steps in civil rights, protected many of the New Deal's gains, and presided over an economy that would enjoy nearly two decades of unprecedented growth. In foreign affairs, the President and his advisers established many of the basic foundations of America foreign policy, especially in American-Soviet relations, that would guide the nation in the decades ahead. On the whole, Truman is currently celebrated by the public, politicians, and scholars alike.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 57
|
https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/president-harry-s-truman-birthplace/view/google/
|
en
|
President Harry S. Truman Birthplace in Lamar, MO (Google Maps)
|
[
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/logo-small-374x44.png",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/9/6/96228-v1-half/president-harry-s-truman-birthplace.jpg",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/9/6/96228-v1-half/president-harry-s-truman-birthplace.jpg",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/2/1/217720-v1-half/golden-prairie.jpg",
"https://c2.vgtstatic.com/thumbll/5/0/50971-v1-half/chicken-annies-and-chicken-marys.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/8/185431-v1-half/crapduster.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/8/185430-v1-half/tire-changing-woman.jpg",
"https://c2.vgtstatic.com/thumbll/2/1/214715-v1-half/mo-kan-dragway.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/7/177981-v1-half/66-drive-in.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/7/179945-v2-half/kansas-city-southern-engine-1023.jpg",
"https://c2.vgtstatic.com/thumbll/2/6/26941-v1-half/gross-kansas.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/3/133698-v1-half/webb-city-water-tower.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/8/185408-v1-half/kneeling-miner-statue.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/6/0/60845-v2-half/giant-hands-in-prayer-1.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/2/4/24507-v1-half/giant-hands-in-prayer.jpg",
"https://o.vgtstatic.com/images/t.gif",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/2/1/217720-v1-half/golden-prairie.jpg",
"https://c2.vgtstatic.com/thumbll/5/0/50971-v1-half/chicken-annies-and-chicken-marys.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/8/185431-v1-half/crapduster.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/8/185430-v1-half/tire-changing-woman.jpg",
"https://c2.vgtstatic.com/thumbll/2/1/214715-v1-half/mo-kan-dragway.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/7/177981-v1-half/66-drive-in.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/7/179945-v2-half/kansas-city-southern-engine-1023.jpg",
"https://c2.vgtstatic.com/thumbll/2/6/26941-v1-half/gross-kansas.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/3/133698-v1-half/webb-city-water-tower.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/1/8/185408-v1-half/kneeling-miner-statue.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/6/0/60845-v2-half/giant-hands-in-prayer-1.jpg",
"https://c1.vgtstatic.com/thumb/2/4/24507-v1-half/giant-hands-in-prayer.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"virtualglobetrotting.com"
] |
2010-07-19T16:01:03-04:00
|
President Harry S. Truman Birthplace (Google Maps). The Truman birthplace, which the family occupied until Harry was 11 months old, was built between...
|
en
|
Virtual Globetrotting
|
https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/president-harry-s-truman-birthplace/view/google/
|
The Truman birthplace, which the family occupied until Harry was 11 months old, was built between 1880 and 1882. The Trumans purchased the 20- by 28-foot house as newlyweds in 1882 for $685. Visitors today can view its four downstairs rooms and two upstairs rooms, as well as the smokehouse, well and outhouse located in the back. The modest furnishings inside the house and the surrounding landscaping accurately represent a typical home of its style during the time the Trumans resided in Lamar. It has neither electricity nor indoor plumbing.
Homes - Historic, Buildings - Misc
Links: mostateparks.com
By: LancelotLink
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 58
|
https://www.mapquest.com/us/missouri/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site-8166892
|
en
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/favicon.ico
| null | ||||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 41
|
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326148069824
|
en
|
1962 Harry S Truman Birthplace Lamar Mo House 7X9 Image Original Vintage Photo
|
[
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BaoAAOSwH2RlVW6~/s-l140.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Sg4AAOSwzHBlVW7C/s-l140.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BaoAAOSwH2RlVW6~/s-l1600.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Sg4AAOSwzHBlVW7C/s-l1600.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BaoAAOSwH2RlVW6~/s-l1600.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Sg4AAOSwzHBlVW7C/s-l1600.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BaoAAOSwH2RlVW6~/s-l500.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Sg4AAOSwzHBlVW7C/s-l500.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FO8AAOSwPwJhTNom/s-l64.jpg",
"https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FO8AAOSwPwJhTNom/s-l140.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1962 Harry S Truman Birthplace Lamar Mo House 7X9 Image Original Vintage Photo at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
|
en
|
eBay
|
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326148069824
|
Free shipping on each additional eligible item you buy from vintagepressphotos.US $18.99GermanyUSPS First Class Package InternationalAuthorities may apply import charges upon deliveryEstimated between Tue, Jul 30 and Mon, Aug 12 to 60323
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 14
|
https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Harry_S_Truman.htm
|
en
|
U.S. Senate: Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/usFlag.png",
"https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/senate_logo.png",
"https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/graphics/small/truman-harry-s.jpg",
"https://www.senate.gov/resources/images/senate_logo_footer.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2024-02-08T00:00:00
|
1878: Harry S. Truman -- May 8, 1884
|
/resources/images/us_sen.ico
| null |
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884. In January 1935, in the company of an all-Democratic class of freshmen, he took his oath for the first time as a United States senator from Missouri.
Truman quickly became popular among his colleagues. They appreciated his folksy personality, his modesty, and his diligence. His big first-term legislative accomplishment was a landmark statute that promoted fair competition between the nation's railroads and the burgeoning trucking industry.
He won a second term in 1940 after a bruising primary contest. He later considered this race, against Missouri Governor Lloyd Stark, the toughest of his career. Stark was behind the unsubstantiated charge that Truman was a "tool" of the Kansas City political machine. Truman won that primary by fewer than 8,000 votes, thanks to a last-minute infusion of 8,000 votes from the St. Louis political machine. (Years later, associates agreed that there were only two political figures whom Truman truly hated: Lloyd Stark and Richard Nixon.)
At the start of his second Senate term in 1941, Truman took up the assignment that made his political career. Waste and corruption in the construction of army posts in preparation for World War II led him to propose and then to chair the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. During the three years of his chairmanship, the "Truman Committee" held hundreds of hearings here and throughout the nation. This role made him a respected national figure. When his party's leaders dumped controversial vice president Henry Wallace from the 1944 ticket, Truman was the ideal replacement. Within a year, he would be president.
Early in 1947, after two years in office, President Truman came to Capitol Hill for a morale-boosting luncheon with Senate Democrats. Recent mid-term elections had made them the Senate's minority party for the first time in 14 years. During that luncheon, several senators had "dared" him to slip into the Senate Chamber "to see what would happen." Perhaps they had in mind surprising the presiding officer, Republican President Pro Tempore Arthur Vandenberg. They succeeded. Without notice, Truman walked directly to his old back-row desk. He loved that location, because, as he once confessed, when the going got rough, the door was only 10 feet away.
Senator Vandenberg graciously acknowledged the president. Then, violating Senate rules against non-senators speaking on the floor, Vandenberg recognized him for five minutes. "I sometimes get homesick for this seat." said Truman. "I spent what I think were the ten best years of my life in the Senate. I made friendships and had associations which I can never forget." As the chamber erupted in applause and lusty cheers, an ecstatic Truman slipped out that door nearest his old seat.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 5
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/taxonomy/term/3845
|
en
|
Presidential birthplaces
|
[
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/close.svg",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-truman-library-institute.png",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-national-archives.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/themes/custom/truman_library/favicon.ico
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/taxonomy/term/3845
|
Harry S. Truman and Senator Stuart Symington in Lamar, Missouri
Lamar, Missouri. At left, Missouri's Senator Stuart Symington, and former president Harry S. Truman, right, share a joke just after dedication ceremonies at Lamar, Missouri, where Truman's birthplace (rear) was dedicated as a national shrine. From: Houston Post.
Truman Birthplace
President Harry S. Truman's birthplace in Lamar, Missouri.
Harry S. Truman birthplace in Lamar, Missouri
View of the Harry S. Truman birthplace and monument in Lamar, Missouri, close up on sign.
Harry S. Truman birthplace in Lamar, Missouri
View of the Harry S. Truman birthplace and monument, in Lamar Missouri.
Harry S. Truman birthplace in Lamar, Missouri
Views of the Harry S. Truman birthplace and monument, in Lamar, Missouri.
Man pictured with a sign, "President Harry S. Truman Birth Place"
An unidentified man is pictured next to a sign "President Harry S. Truman Birth Place" located in Lamar, Missouri.
Birthplace of Harry S. Truman, Lamar, Missouri
Birthplace of Harry S. Truman in Lamar, Missouri, with the monument in the foreground. From: Missouri Park Board.
Harry Truman Leaning Into a Car Talking to his Mother
Senator Harry S. Truman leaning into a car talking to his mother, Martha Ellen Truman, in Lamar, Missouri. He is going to accept the vice presidential nomination of the Democratic party in a celebration in his birthplace of Lamar.
Truman birthplace
Photo of the birthplace of Harry S. Truman in Lamar, Missouri. The men standing outside the house are unidentified. Donor: Montgomery Foto Service.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 34
|
https://cv.libguides.com/US_Vice_Presidents/htruman
|
en
|
LibGuides at Chattahoochee Valley Community College
|
[
"https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/sites/16060/banner/_Chattahoochee_Valley_Community_College.jpg",
"https://www.biography.com/.image/ar_1:1%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_300/MTE5NTU2MzE2MzkwNTI0NDI3/harry-truman-9511121-1-402.jpg",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0308100441/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0393056368/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0870810901/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0807100544/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0231033354/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0060112816/LC.GIF&client=springshare"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Cory Williams"
] | null |
LibGuides: U.S. Vice Presidents: Harry Truman
|
en
|
//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png
|
https://cv.libguides.com/US_Vice_Presidents/htruman
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Missouri on May 8, 1884. He was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s vice president for just 82 days before Roosevelt died and Truman became the 33rd president. In his first months in office he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, ending World War II. His policy of communist containment started the Cold War, and he initiated U.S. involvement in the Korean War. Truman left office in 1953 and died in 1972.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 97
|
https://constitutionus.com/presidents/president-harry-s-truman/
|
en
|
President Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjNmNzZlNmFhLWU1YmYtNDIwNy0zYjE5LTI4NDkyZDE4OWMwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/uslogo.png",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6ImQ2YmM5ODBlLTM3YjAtNGE1NC1iNTc4LWUwYzA3YTcxNzIwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/harrystruman-q4ktz3mqnqy04od17ow0h1j03ngoxhvxpswt5syrv6.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjNhNjY1ZDBhLTk3OTYtNGUxOC1jNDk3LWYzMjEwNDMyZTgwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/fdr-statue.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjlhMjA0MzhlLTA2NDQtNGQ3OC0yNzcyLWRmMjY3MzA4YzAwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/squadron-pilots.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6ImUyMmFlODJiLTAxMjgtNDYxYi1iNmU5LWQzNzJkMzM1M2MwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/harry-s-truman.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjdlNDhjMTk4LTJjMWQtNDljOC1hNzU2LTJhYjBkNGFhYjIwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/okinawa.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6ImJkNTNkNDIwLTEzMjUtNDU2My01MGYyLWMzNTMxZGE1NTQwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/checkpoint-charlie.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjcxYTkzMGM0LWU5NWItNDY3Mi03NDAzLTc3Yzk4OGQyZmYwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/red-scare.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjFmZGM3MTNkLTNhOTYtNDYxZS02NWQ0LTMwMzdlNGUxZDgwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/korean-war.jpg",
"https://cfw43.rabbitloader.xyz/eyJjIjp0cnVlLCJoIjoiY29uc3RpdHV0aW9udXMuY29tIiwidiI6MzI2ODU3OTA0NywiaSI6IjNmNzZlNmFhLWU1YmYtNDIwNy0zYjE5LTI4NDkyZDE4OWMwMCJ9/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/uslogo.png",
"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/772e0e80ee0e4dbc346c80f275dde532?s=300&d=mm&r=g"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Edward Savey"
] |
2021-11-18T15:07:35+00:00
|
Harry S. Truman becamse president when Roosevelt died and served the rest of his term. He was not a popular president, but is famous for several military moves including the nuclear bomb.
|
en
|
Constitution of the United States
|
https://constitutionus.com/presidents/president-harry-s-truman/
|
In some ways, Harry S. Truman is one of those presidents that should never have had the job. He came into power in 1945 following the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was touted to lose his election campaign in 1948, and then dissuaded from running again in 1952.
It could have easily been someone else in charge for those seven years. But it was Truman taking on the Japanese, Soviet Union, the Koreans, and a few key domestic issues along the way.
Truman Becomes President Following the Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Truman had taken on the role of vice president during President Franklin D Roosevelt’s fourth presidential election campaign. However, just 82 days into this term, Roosevelt collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage and died.
Vice President Truman had been presiding over the United States Senate at the time and was called into the White House to learn of the death and his new role as the 33rd President of the United States from Eleanor Roosevelt. It is reported that when Truman asked what he could do for the First Family, Eleanor replied, “Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now!”
Harry S. Truman’s Shock Victory in 1948
There wasn’t that much faith that Truman would continue in the White House beyond his time completing Roosevelt’s fourth term. He wasn’t seen as someone that the people would get behind.
Yet, there was a surge in campaigning towards the end of the run, and Thomas Dewey still had a fight on his hands.
On election night, the press began printing front-page news that Dewey defeated Truman, having taken a projection from telephone polls.
However, the telephone polls were inaccurate as they didn’t reach many Truman supporters. Truman would win and begin his first full term as an elected president.
Few Presidents Have Taken the US Through War As Truman Did
A large part of the Harry S. Truman presidency relates to war efforts to some degree. The death of Roosevelt at the start of his 4th term plunged Truman straight into a role not only as President of the United States but as Commander in Chief towards the end of World War II.
Then came tensions with the Soviet Union, the Cold War, and subsequent concerns over Communist threats. Later on, he would engage in the Korean War.
Truman’s Efforts at the End of World War II
The Pearl Harbor attack of 1941 stunned the nation and drove President Roosevelt into declaring war on the Japanese. The Axis Forces would then make their own declaration.
Roosevelt also sanctioned the Manhattan Project for the creation of nuclear weapons. On succeeding to the presidency, Truman would then inherit all of this at the tail-end of the war.
He was thrown into the deep end from day one, learning about the full situation and now having responsibility for what came next.
President Truman sent an ultimatum to the Japanese on July 26th, 1945, to surrender or face “utter devastation.”
He was now fully aware of the extent of the US nuclear powers and successful tests in New Mexico.
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
If the Japanese didn’t agree, he would use the bomb. On August 9th, he ordered the bombing of Hiroshima, soon followed by the bombing of Nagasaki. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people died.
Harry S. Truman’s reasoning for the bombing was he had been advised that even more Americans would be killed if they were to invade Japan.
The idea was to stop the country in its tracks while also making a point about the new firepower of the US. Truman would state that the decision was actually to “spare the Japanese people from utter destruction.”
He also spoke of the “rain of ruin from the air” and a “new era in man’s understanding of nature’s forces.”
The decision was highly controversial and polarizing, bringing a lot of criticism as well as support. But, it wouldn’t be the last time that Truman would cause such an effect.
Truman and the Cold War
The efforts against the Japanese in World War II were barely over when the Allied countries began to become warier of threat posed by the Soviet Union. President Truman met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Missouri in 1946, discussing the region’s problems.
Truman strengthened his allegiance to Churchill and the British as the Prime Minister delivered his Iron Curtain speech, which changed United States foreign policy to a position of containing the power of the Soviet Union rather than cooperating with it.
Hydrogen bombs
The escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union led to the further development of hydrogen bombs. Truman’s simple reasoning was that the United States needed to stay one step ahead if the Soviet Union were as far forward as suspected in this arms race.
He couldn’t risk the Soviets creating a bomb that could destroy parts of the United States without having something in response. So, he gave the go-ahead for H-bomb testing in the deserts of the United States.
The first successful test took place on October 31st, 1952, although it wasn’t officially announced until the following January.
Anti-Communist Sentiments and McCarthyism
It wasn’t just the Soviet Union abroad that Truman had to worry about during this period. There were growing concerns about communists infiltrating the United States and growing scaremongering of “reds under the bed.”
Senator McCarthy was a major player in the second Red Scare in the United States, having accused the State Department of harboring communists.
In 1948, 78% of the public reputedly believed McCarthy, and there were fears about distrust of the Democratic Party. Truman would then go on to denounce communist leaders in the US as traitors.
Harry S. Truman and the Korean War
There was a war in Korea. Around the time of these growing tensions and prospects for H-bomb tests, North Korean forces had entered South Korea in an attempt to seize the state.
As a communist nation on the attack, North Korea was a prime target for American retaliation, and Truman did not hold back in his outrage. This is where the president carried out yet another highly controversial decision as Commander in Chief.
Truman did not take his plan to Congress for an official declaration of war. Instead, he directed United States forces straight to South Korea to help them repel the invasion. It was a fast and direct response that showed precisely which side Truman was on.
The United States was then locked into a devastating war that would continue after Truman left office. More than 33,000 Americans died in the Korean War, and the fighting would have a major impact on both sides.
There was declining support for the war at home due to the growing casualties and the length of the conflict.
Truman’s Ratings in the Opinion Polls Slumped Significantly
Truman’s presidency also led to major proposals on domestic politics.
While many of the talking points of the Truman presidency relate to foreign affairs and war efforts, there were also many important proposals on domestic policy. Still, many of these actions on home soil were influenced by war efforts.
Truman made an order as Commander in Chief to take control of a number of the nation’s steel mills in April 1952 and use the resources for the Korean war effort. The move was later deemed unconstitutional.
Fair Deal Program
When Truman was elected, he worked on his Fair Deal domestic reform program in 1949. The Fail Deal was a plan to improve living standards and opportunities for those in the United States.
The main proposals were for expanding public housing, better access to education, the federal protection of civil rights, a higher minimum wage, and national health insurance.
As with many Democratic deals like this, the proposals did not resemble their original form once they had gone through the House and Senate. Those that did pass were stripped back.
Truman and Civil Rights
The issue of Truman and civil rights is an interesting one.
On one side, you have the proposals to improve the lives of African-Americans, create a fairer society, and help African-American veterans returning from the war.
On the other, you have the fact that Truman also sat down to meet with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and is reported to have used racist terms in informal conversations. Some suggest his affiliation with the KKK may have gone further.
Truman would go on to work on the Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the military, with the notion that the services should become racially integrated.
An Executive Order in 1948 made it illegal to discriminate based on race for those applying for civil service positions.
Failed Assassination Attempt During White House Renovations
Normally, stories of assassinations and assassination attempts are commonly known and referenced in the media. Lincoln’s death at the theater, Kennedy’s death in the motorcade, and Roosevelt continuing his speech all come to mind.
The story of the attempt on Truman’s life isn’t so well-known.
Truman had moved his family into the Blair House residence close to the West Wing after ordering renovations on the residence at the White House.
On November 1st, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists shot at the residence. One hit a policeman instead, causing a fatal injury. That shooter was shot and killed, and the other was shot and detained before he could enter the house.
Although originally sentenced to death for murder in 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison.
Harry S. Truman Withdraws From the 1952 Election
Originally, there were plans for Truman to include his name on the ballot for the 1952 election. He would have been eligible to do so as he was exempt from the two-term limit introduced by the the 22nd Amendment as sitting president.
The amendment states that no vice president that takes over the presidency less than two years into a term may seek more than one additional term.
His name was originally on the New Hampshire ballot but withdrawn under guidance from advisors. It was felt that a combination of a poor approval rating, his age, and the fact he was not the man he was when he started all went against him.
Truman’s Life After the Presidency
And so Truman would leave the office after the election and move back into life outside of politics. He would still continue to play his part now and then with endorsements and comments as needed.
A notable example is a public statement coming out against the nomination of John F. Kennedy. He wasn’t happy with how Kennedy had gained the nomination, so he decided to boycott the Democratic Convention that year.
Truman would live a simple life that often put him in financial difficulties.
He had refused to take a corporate job for fear of damaging his position’s integrity as a former president. He instead lived on his army pension.
During the later years of Truman’s life, Lyndon B. Johnson would bring in the Medicare Bill, something that Truman was influential in getting off the ground with his views on health care initiatives.
Truman was in poor health at this time, having fallen at his home. Johnson made a point of signing the bill at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and giving the first two Medicare cards to Harry and his wife.
Harry S. Truman Dies at the Age of 88
In 1972, Truman developed pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital. He suffered multiple organ failures and fell into a coma, eventually dying on December 26th.
Truman may not have been the most popular president during the end of his time at the White House, nor the candidate that the Democrats ever had much confidence to put forward as the face of the party, but he was impactful.
Whatever your views on the events of the Second World War, Cold War, or Korean War, Truman wasn’t shy in reinforcing the position of the United States on the world stage.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 61
|
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMAJ0F_Harry_S_Truman_Birthplace_Lamar_MO
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace ~ Lamar, MO - Presidential Birthplaces on Waymarking.com
|
[
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logo.gif",
"https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/display/625ed1ff-e4ef-4cfc-b8ad-ecc872d48347.jpg",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/landscape/625ed1ff-e4ef-4cfc-b8ad-ecc872d48347.jpg",
"https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/landscape/34e302fc-db32-45eb-90f0-aff28354c133.jpg",
"https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/landscape/bf7cad00-c091-421b-a21b-950f24d2b621.jpg",
"https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/landscape/16fe1169-7e4d-473e-816e-e387302ca422.jpg",
"https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/landscape/425c5fc8-0003-4cf7-835a-3af74fc4092a.jpg",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/cat_icons/president.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/icons/prem_user.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/icons/prem_user.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/16X16/download.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/16X16/download.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/16X16/download.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/logtypes/icon_footprint.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/camera.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/16X16/comment.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/16X16/file.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/16X16/images.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/icons/ispremium.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/icons/ispremium.gif",
"https://www.waymarking.com/images/icons/ispremium.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"waymarking",
"waymark",
"longitude",
"latitude",
"utm",
"coordinates",
"scavenger hunt",
"waymarks",
"GPS",
"global positioning system",
"garmin",
"magellan",
"mapping",
"geo",
"hiking",
"outdoors",
"hunt",
"cache",
"satellite",
"navigation",
"tracking"
] | null |
[] | null |
Waymarking.com is a way to mark unique locations on the planet and give them a voice. While GPS technology allows us to pinpoint any location on the planet, mark the location, and share it with others, Waymarking is the toolset for categorizing and adding unique information for that location.
|
en
|
/images/favicon.ico
| null |
View waymark gallery
Harry S. Truman Birthplace ~ Lamar, MO
in Presidential Birthplaces
Posted by: YoSam.
N 37° 29.647 W 094° 16.308
15S E 387574 N 4150448
Ole "Give 'Em Hell Harry" was born here. Best known quote: "If you can't take the heat - get out of the kitchen".
Waymark Code: WMAJ0F
Location: Missouri, United States
Published By: tiki-4
Views: 18
County of Site: Barton County
Location of Site: 11th St. & Truman Ave., Lamar
American Legion Memorial is on Site, the Text of that Memorial:
IN MEMORIAM
HARRY S. TRUMAN
Born Lamar, Missouri May 8, 1884
Died Kansas City, Missouri December 26, 1972
Patriot - Statesman - Legionaire
First Legionaire President
of The United States
[American Legion Seal]
This memorial was erected in May 1984 by
Legionaires and friends of the American
Legion Department of Missouri Through
Efforts of the 15th District.
ON Site is a Memorial erected by the UAW, Text of that Memorial:
SEAL of the
PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES
THIS SHRINE IS DEDICATED TO
HARRY S. TRUMAN
Thirty Second President
of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Who was Born at This Location
May 8, 1884
Dec. 26, 1972
*
"I ask only to be a good and faithful
Servant of my Lord and and my People" H.S.T.
County Judge - 1923 - 1925
Presiding Judge - County Court - 1927 - 1935
United States Senator - 1935 - 1945
Vice-President of the United States of America - 1945
President of the United States of America - 1945 -1953
President Name: Harry S. TrumanBirth Place?: yesTerm Of Office: 1945 - 1953Date of Birth: May 8, 1884
Visit Instructions:
Post a photo in front of the historical marker or sign that identifies the building.
Post another photo showing the building. Often these can be accomplished in the same photo.
Describe the location and provide any additional information that you may have learned during your visit.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Presidential Birthplaces
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 95
|
https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-harry-s-truman/
|
en
|
10 Facts About Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1880852418846118&ev=PageView&noscript=1",
"https://analytics.twitter.com/i/adsct?txn_id=o8y4d&p_id=Twitter&tw_sale_amount=0&tw_order_quantity=0",
"https://t.co/i/adsct?txn_id=o8y4d&p_id=Twitter&tw_sale_amount=0&tw_order_quantity=0",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2020/09/Logo_Dark-e1624377321159.png?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2021/11/subscribe-icon.png?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2023/08/History-Hit-Miscellany-Packshot.png?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203534/The-Real-Richard-III-3840x2160-1-scaled-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203312/Lost-Worlds-750px-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203537/Georgian-Sex-Updated-3840x2160-1-scaled-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203551/Six-Tudor-Lives-3840x2160-1-scaled-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203508/DDay-Secrets-Archive-3840x2160-1-scaled-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203478/EOH-RED-Civil-War-in-Feudal-Japan-The-Sengoku-Period-1920x1080-1-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5197057/DSHH-New-Final-002-1920px-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5200819/TheAncients_Podcast_1080x1080-330kb-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5201983/Gone-Medieval-1920x1920-200KB-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5157048/Not-Just-the-Tudors_Square-750-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5183353/BetwixttheSheetsthumb-1-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5190615/AmericanHistoryHit_BrandImage_1920x1080-1-228x228-f50_50.jpeg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202324/1697189407518-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5157240/World-Wars-228x228-f50_50.png?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5183354/PatentedTHUMB-1-228x228-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202531/Henry-VII_Gold-Sovereign-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202948/Battle-of-Shrewsbury-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203495/Detail-of-Carrack-trader-750px-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203301/Galley_merchant-ship_17th-century-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203294/Henry-VIII_Royal-Mint-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202649/1707-Trial-of-the-Pyx-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5198459/mpu-shop-273x150-f50_50.jpeg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5176155/colmar-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5149770/Roman-Forum-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202762/Abbaye-aux-Dames-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5154040/BerkeleyCastle-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5201796/Hatton-Garden-273x150-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5146016/thumbnail_Image-100x100-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Harry_S_Truman.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2022/09/TrumanWWI.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2021/11/6e977e13-9ac5-41a9-a528-1ceac820d08a-1024x576.jpeg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2022/09/TrumanAnnouncesJapaneseSurrender.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2019/08/nuclear-1024x576.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2024/05/EOH-RED-1000x2000-1.png?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5184207/Hindenburg_burning2-1-750px-300x170-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5022/American_troops_of_the_28th_Infantry_Division_Victory-_Parade._NARA_531209-1-300x170-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/12284/amstell-3-300x170-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/12241/1956-3-300x170-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5160745/National-Memorial-Fortress-of-Breendonk-300x170-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5158258/Lepe-beach-D-Day-embarkation-site_Shutterstock-300x170-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5146016/thumbnail_Image-100x100-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203301/Galley_merchant-ship_17th-century-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203294/Henry-VIII_Royal-Mint-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202649/1707-Trial-of-the-Pyx-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202531/Henry-VII_Gold-Sovereign-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202538/Cromwell-and-coins-from-his-reign-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203275/Grahams-Groups_Edward-VIII_Royal-Mint-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203495/Detail-of-Carrack-trader-750px-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203254/Untold-Lives-Kensignton-scaled-564x317-f50_50.jpeg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5153227/PeasantsRevolt-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203057/Churchill-with-a-drink-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5203005/Gorgon-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/bis-images/5202948/Battle-of-Shrewsbury-564x317-f50_50.jpg?x24183",
"https://www.historyhit.com/app/uploads/2021/10/Logo_Light-1-1.png?x24183"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Lily Johnson"
] | null |
Thrust into leadership during one of the most uncertain periods in American history, Harry S. Truman steered the United States through the end of the...
|
en
|
/app/themes/history/favicon/apple-icon-57x57.png?x24183
|
History Hit
|
https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-harry-s-truman/
|
Thrust into leadership during one of the most uncertain periods in American history, Harry S. Truman steered the United States through the end of the Second World War and into the early Cold War.
From the atomic bomb to the Korean War, Truman’s presidency oversaw a host of era-defining moments. But how did this young man from the farming communities of Missouri grow to become one of the most notable Presidents of the 20th century?
Here are 10 facts about Harry S. Truman:
1. He was born into a farming family in Missouri, USA
Harry S. Truman was born on 8 May 1884 in Lamar, Missouri to John and Martha Truman.
Hailing from a large farming family, he was given his famous middle initial “S” to honour both of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, though it did not stand for a specific name.
2. He never received a college degree
When Harry was 6 the family moved to Independence, Missouri where he attended school as a talented student. Unable to further his education due to the family’s finances however, Truman never received a college degree, and is the last President of the United States to not have one.
After trying out a few jobs, in 1906 Truman returned to his family industry and went to work on his grandparents’ 600-acre farm, staying there for the next 11 years.
3. He fought in World War One
In 1917, the US joined World War One and Truman was sent to France with the Missouri National Guard, serving in Battery B, 2nd Missouri Field Artillery Regiment. Though he had poor eyesight, he passed the eye test by secretly memorising the eye chart.
In 1918, he was promoted to captain and would go on to lead troops in a number of campaigns on the Western Front, with his men in Battery D firing some of the final shots of the entire war on 11 November 1918.
A competent and skilled leader, not one of Truman’s men lost their life under his command, and it would be his experiences in the war that should shape his character and leadership in the years to come.
4. He began his political career as a county judge
After the war Truman returned to Missouri and began his political career as a county judge in 1922, with backing from Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast.
By 1926, he had secured the role as presiding judge of Jackson County, gaining prestige and respect for his integrity and pragmatism.
5. In 1934 he was elected to the US Senate
In a significant turn of events (and after Pendergast’s first four choices for the role declined to run) Truman was elected US Senator for Missouri in the 1934 Democratic primary election.
In this new role, he supported President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, which aimed to alleviate the gruelling years of the Great Depression in America.
From 1941 to 1944, he also led the Truman Committee, which investigated waste and profiteering at various military bases across the country, saving the American taxpayer around $15 million ($220 million in 2021) and earning him a feature on the cover of Time magazine.
6. He became the 33rd President of the US
In 1944, President Roosevelt sought an unprecedented fourth term in office, selecting Truman as his (somewhat reluctant) running mate. The pair were voted in.
Just 82 days later, Truman was sent an urgent message to go to the White House. Roosevelt had died of a huge cerebral haemorrhage on 12 April 1945, and Truman was now the President of the United States.
Stunned, he asked First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt if he could do anything for her. She replied: “Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now!”
7. He authorised the first and only use of atomic bombs in warfare
Though it had been under development since 1943, it was not until 25 April 1945 that Truman was given the details of the new and highly destructive weapon the Manhattan Project had created during World War Two: the atomic bomb.
On 6 August 1945, Truman authorised its use in warfare for the first time in history on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing tens of thousands instantly. Three days later, a second was dropped on Nagasaki with the same devastating results.
Japan surrendered the Second World War on 15 August. Truman maintained that the use of the bombs were justified in ending the war and thus saving the lives of thousands of soldiers from both America and Japan.
8. He presided over the early years of the Cold War
As the Second World War ended, another crept into being: the Cold War.
During his time as President, Truman oversaw a number of memorable Cold War initiatives. The Truman Doctrine of 1947-8 established the US’ aim to contain Communist expansion, while the Marshall Plan supplied a crippled Western Europe with $13 billion in reconstruction aid.
NATO and the CIA were both created during his Presidency, while in 1950 he involved America in the Korean War when communist forces from North Korea invaded South Korea.
9. He declined to run for a third presidential term
In March 1952, Truman announced that he would not run for a third term as President. The Korean War had damaged his popularity and, after reviewing his poor standing in the polls, he was advised to step down.
In his place came General Dwight D. Eisenhower, ending 20 years of Democratic Presidents in America.
10. He spent the rest of his life building up his presidential library
In January 1953, Eisenhower was inaugurated and Truman returned to his home in Independence, Missouri with his wife Bess.
He spent his later years writing his memoirs and building up his presidential library, as Roosevelt had done before him. He then donated it to the federal government to maintain and operate, a tradition adopted by his successors.
On 26 December 1972, he died aged 88 in Kansas City, Missouri after suffering pneumonia and multiple organ failure. At his wife’s request, he was given a simple funeral and buried in the courtyard of the Truman Library in Independence, where he had both grown up and spent his final years.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 36
|
https://www.sciencesource.com/1097576-birthplace-of-harry-truman-stock-image-royalty-free.html
|
en
|
Stock Image - Science Source Images
|
[
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgPreview",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgPreview",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgThumbnail",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgThumbnail",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgThumbnail",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgThumbnail",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgThumbnail",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/item.ImgThumbnail",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/Item.ImgTN",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/Item.ImgTN",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/Item.ImgTN",
"https://www.sciencesource.com/site.SiteHTTPURL + 'images/science-source-logo-aug-2023.svg'"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Birthplace of Harry Truman",
"6e9826",
"birth",
"birthplace",
"harry",
"lamar",
"missouri",
"mo",
"place",
"president",
"presidential",
"rf",
"s",
"truman",
"truman's",
"Science Source Images",
"image",
"images",
"photo",
"photos",
"photograph",
"photographs",
"photographer",
"photographers",
"photography",
"picture",
"pictures",
"rights managed",
"commercial",
"stock photography"
] | null |
[] | null |
Stock photo Lamar, Missouri was the birth place of Harry S. Truman. by Science Source Images.
|
en
|
Science Source Images
|
https://www.sciencesource.com/1097576-birthplace-of-harry-truman-stock-image-royalty-free.html
| ||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 0
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/biographical-sketch-harry-truman
|
en
|
Biographical Sketch: Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States
|
[
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/close.svg",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/sketch-harry-truman_0.gif",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-truman-library-institute.png",
"https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/themes/custom/truman_library/assets/img/footer-national-archives.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Image
|
en
|
/themes/custom/truman_library/favicon.ico
|
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/trivia/biographical-sketch-harry-truman
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884, the son of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen (Young) Truman. The family, which soon included another boy, Vivian, and a girl, Mary Jane moved several times during Truman's childhood and youth - first, in 1887, to a farm near Grandview, then, in 1890, to Independence, and finally, in 1902, to Kansas City. Young Harry attended public schools in Independence, graduating from high school in 1901. After leaving school, he worked briefly as a timekeeper for a railroad construction contractor, then as a clerk in two Kansas City banks. In 1906 he returned to Grandview to help his father run the family farm. He continued working as a farmer for more than ten years.
From 1905 to 1911, Truman served in the Missouri National Guard. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, he helped organize the 2nd Regiment of Missouri Field Artillery, which was quickly called into Federal service as the 129th Field Artillery and sent to France. Truman was promoted to Captain and given command of the regiment's Battery D. He and his unit saw action in the Vosges, Saint Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns. Truman joined the reserves after the war, rising eventually to the rank of colonel. He sought to return to active duty at the outbreak of World War II, but Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall declined his offer to serve.
On June 28, 1919, Truman married Bess Wallace, whom he had known since childhood. Their only child, Mary Margaret, was born on February 17, 1924. From 1919 to 1922 he ran a men's clothing store in Kansas City with his wartime friend, Eddie Jacobson. The store failed in the postwar recession. Truman narrowly avoided bankruptcy, and through determination and over many years he paid off his share of the store's debts.
Truman was elected in 1922, to be one of three judges of the Jackson County Court. Judge Truman whose duties were in fact administrative rather than judicial, built a reputation for honesty and efficiency in the management of county affairs. He was defeated for reelection in 1924, but won election as presiding judge in the Jackson County Court in 1926. He won reelection in 1930.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the United States Senate. He had significant roles in the passage into law of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 and the Transportation Act of 1940. After being reelected in 1940, Truman gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. This committee, which came to be called the Truman Committee, sought with considerable success to ensure that defense contractors delivered to the nation quality goods at fair prices.
In July 1944, Truman was nominated to run for Vice President with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On January 20, 1945, he took the vice-presidential oath, and after President Roosevelt's unexpected death only eighty-two days later on April 12, 1945, he was sworn in as the nations' thirty-third President.
Truman later called his first year as President a "year of decisions." He oversaw during his first two months in office the ending of the war in Europe. He participated in a conference at Potsdam, Germany, governing defeated Germany, and to lay some groundwork for the final stage of the war against Japan. Truman approved the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945. Japan surrendered on August 14, and American forces of occupation began to land by the end of the month. This first year of Truman's presidency also saw the founding of the United Nations and the development of an increasingly strained and confrontational relationship with the Soviet Union.
Truman's presidency was marked throughout by important foreign policy initiatives. Central to almost everything Truman undertook in his foreign policy was the desire to prevent the expansion of the influence of the Soviet Union. The Truman Doctrine was an enunciation of American willingness to provide military aid to countries resisting communist insurgencies; the Marshall Plan sought to revive the economies of the nations of Europe in the hope that communism would not thrive in the midst of prosperity; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization built a military barrier confronting the Soviet-dominated part of Europe. Truman's recognition of Israel in May 1948 demonstrated his support for democracy and his commitment to a homeland for the Jewish people. The one time during his presidency when a communist nation invaded a non-communist one -- when North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950 -- Truman responded by waging undeclared war.
In his domestic policies, Truman sought to accomplish the difficult transition from a war to a peace economy without plunging the nation into recession, and he hoped to extend New Deal social programs to include more government protection and services and to reach more people. He was successful in achieving a healthy peacetime economy, but only a few of his social program proposals became law. The Congress, which was much more Republican in its membership during his presidency than it had been during Franklin Roosevelt's, did not usually share Truman's desire to build on the legacy of the New Deal.
The Truman administration went considerably beyond the New Deal in the area of civil rights. Although, the conservative Congress thwarted Truman's desire to achieve significant civil rights legislation, he was able to use his powers as President to achieve some important changes. He issued executive orders desegregating the armed forces and forbidding racial discrimination in Federal employment. He also established a Committee on Civil Rights and encouraged the Justice Department to argue before the Supreme Court on behalf of plaintiffs fighting against segregation.
In 1948, Truman won reelection. His defeat had been widely expected and often predicted, but Truman's energy in undertaking his campaign and his willingness to confront issues won a plurality of the electorate for him. His famous "Whistlestop" campaign tour through the country has passed into political folklore, as has the photograph of the beaming Truman holding up the newspaper whose headline proclaimed, "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Truman left the presidency and retired to Independence in January 1953. For the nearly two decades of his life remaining to him, he delighted in being "Mr. Citizen," as he called himself in a book of memoirs. He spent his days reading, writing, lecturing and taking long brisk walks. He took particular satisfaction in founding and supporting his Library, which made his papers available to scholars, and which opened its doors to everyone who wished to have a glimpse of his remarkable life and career.
Harry S. Truman died on December 26, 1972. Bess Truman died on October 18, 1982. They are buried side by side in the Library's courtyard.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 22
|
https://potus.com/harry-s-truman/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"http://potus.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/potus_logo_new2-300x92.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_2_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_7_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_4_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_9_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_10_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_8_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_11_gallery.jpg",
"http://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_signature.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/gallery-page-loader.gif",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/gallery-page-loader.gif"
] |
[
"about:blank"
] |
[] |
[
"harry s. truman",
"harry truman",
"president of the united states",
"president",
"potus",
"world war ii",
"buck stops here"
] | null |
[
"Harry S. Truman"
] |
2018-09-16T18:26:49-07:00
|
Comprehensive information about Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States
|
en
|
https://potus.com/harry-s-truman/
|
33rd President of the United States
(April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953)
Full Name: Harry S. Truman
Nickname: "Give 'Em Hell Harry"
Born: May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri
Died: December 26, 1972, in Kansas City, Missouri
Father: John Anderson Truman (1851-1914)
Mother: Martha Ellen Young Truman (1852-1947)
Married: Elizabeth "Bess" Virginia Wallace (1885-1982), on June 28, 1919
Children: Mary Margaret Truman (1924-2008)
Religion: Baptist
Education: Attended the University of Kansas City Law School
Occupation: Farmer, public official
Political Party: Democrat
Other Government Positions:
Judge on Jackson County Court, 1922-24
Presiding Judge of Jackson County Court, 1926-34
United States Senator, 1935-45
Vice President, 1945 (under F.D. Roosevelt)
Presidential Salary: $75,000/year (increased to $100,000 + $50,000 expense account in 1949)
Vice President: Alben W. Barkley (1949-53)
Cabinet:
Secretary of State
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. (1945)
James F. Byrnes (1945-47)
George C. Marshall (1947-49)
Dean G. Acheson (1949-53)
Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Morgenthau, Jr. (1945)
Frederick M. Vinson (1945-46)
John W. Snyder (1946-53)
Secretary of War
Henry L. Stimson (1945)
Robert P. Patterson (1945-47)
Kenneth C. Royall (1947)
Secretary of Defense
James V. Forrestal (1947-49)
Louis A. Johnson (1949-50)
George C. Marshall (1950-51)
Robert A. Lovett (1951-53)
Attorney General
Francis B. Biddle (1945)
Thomas C. Clark (1945-49)
J. Howard McGrath (1949-52)
Postmaster General
Frank C. Walker (1945)
Robert E. Hannegan (1945-47)
Jesse M. Donaldson (1947-53)
Secretary of the Navy
James V. Forrestal (1945-47)
Secretary of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes (1945-46)
Julius A. Krug (1946-49)
Oscar L. Chapman (1950-53)
Secretary of Agriculture
Claude R. Wickard (1945)
Clinton P. Anderson (1945-48)
Charles F. Brannan (1948-53)
Secretary of Commerce
Henry A. Wallace (1945-46)
W. Averell Harriman (1946-48)
Charles Sawyer (1948-53)
Secretary of Labor
Frances Perkins (1945)
Lewis B. Schwellenbach (1945-48)
Maurice J. Tobin (1949-53)
Supreme Court Justices:
Harold Hitz Burton (1945-1958)
Fred M. Vinson, Chief (1946-1953)
Tom C. Clark (1949-1967)
Sherman Minton (1949-1956)
Notable Events:
1945
On May 8, Germany surrendered, ending World War II in Europe.
On July 17, Truman attended the Potsdam Conference with leaders from Great Britain and the Soviet Union.
On August 6, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
On August 9, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
On August 14, Japan surrendered, ending World War II in Asia.
1947
On March 12, Truman delivered his Truman Doctrine speech to Congress.
On June 5, the Marshall Plan announced.
On July 26, the National Security Act passed Congress creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
1948
On May 14, the U.S. recognized the state of Israel.
On June 24, the Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade.
On July 26, Truman signed Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the Armed Forces.
1949
On January 5, Truman announced the Fair Deal program in this State of the Union Address.
On April 4, the North Atlantic Treaty signed.
On May 12, the Soviet Union ended the Berlin Blockade.
On December 13, renovation began on the White House. The Trumans moved to Blair House across the street.
1950
On January 31, Truman announced that the U.S. will develop a hydrogen bomb.
On June 25, North Korea invaded South Korea starting the Korean War. Truman sent troops to the region five days later.
On November 1, two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. White House Police officer Leslie Coffelt died in the gunfight - the only Secret Service member to die protecting the president.
1951
On April 11, Truman dismissed General Douglas MacArthur of his command of both U.S. and U.N. forces in Korea.
1952
On November 1, the U.S. detonated the first hydrogen bomb.
Internet Biographies:
Harry S. Truman -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
Compiled by the White House.
Harry Truman -- from The American President
From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
Harry S. Truman -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts about Truman and his presidency.
Harry S. Truman -- from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
A complete biography with a list of books for further reading.
Harry S. Truman -- from Character Above All
From a PBS broadcast by the same name, this essay excerpt by David McCullough discusses some of the issues and events that molded Truman.
Videos:
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
Harry Truman - The Only 20th Century President Without a College Degree | Mini Bio | BIO
Truman’s Middle Name Controversy - a Presidential Story Ep. 20
America's Presidents - Harry Truman
American Presidents: Life Portraits - Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman | 60-Second Presidents | PBS
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
Historical Documents:
Inaugural Address (1949)
Truman Doctrine (1947)
Farewell Address (1953)
Harry S. Truman Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress
Other Internet Resources:
The Best Biographies of Harry S. Truman
In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
The small house where Truman was born.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
The house where Truman lived from 1919 to his death is located in Independence, Missouri. The Truman Farm House, where Harry grew up, is located in Grandview, Missouri. Both are located in the Kansas City metropolitan area and both are part of the Truman NHS. Maintained by the National Park Service.
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Located in Independence, Missouri, this site contains an exhibit hall, press room, educational resources, and of course the papers of the former president.
Health and Medical History of Harry Truman
Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
Points of Interest:
1009 Truman St, Lamar, MO 64759
500 W US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050
219 N Delaware St, Independence, MO 64050
Additional Facts:
Truman was the first president assigned a Secret Service code name - General.
Truman was the first president to have a television set installed in the White House.
Truman's 1949 inauguration was the first televised.
Truman was the first president to address the nation on television.
In 1965, Truman was the first person issued a Medicare card.
There has been considerable controversy regarding the use of a period after the S in Truman's name since it does not stand for anything. The Harry S. Truman Library website explains the controversy and the reason to use the period.
Truman's motto was "The buck stops here."
Quotes:
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
— Harry S. Truman
“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“You can not stop the spread of an idea by passing a law against it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“We need not fear the expression of ideas—we do need to fear their suppression.”
— Harry S. Truman
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.”
— Harry S. Truman
“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”
— Harry S. Truman
“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”
— Harry S. Truman
“I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”
— Harry S. Truman
“The reward of suffering is experience.”
— Harry S. Truman
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
— Harry S. Truman
“Always be sincere, even if you don’t mean it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.”
— Harry S. Truman
Previous President: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Next President: Dwight D. Eisenhower
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 77
|
http://www.mygenealogyhound.com/vintage-postcards/missouri-postcards/MO-Lamar-Missouri-Birthplace-of-Harry-S-Truman-vintage-postcard.html
|
en
|
Lamar, Missouri, Birthplace of Harry S Truman, Vintage Postcard, Historic Photo
|
[
"http://www.mygenealogyhound.com/vintage-postcards/missouri-postcards/MO-Lamar-Missouri-Birthplace-of-Harry-S-Truman-vintage-postcard.jpg",
"http://www.mygenealogyhound.com/facebook-small.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Post Cards",
"postcards",
"vintage",
"antique",
"view",
"photographs",
"photos",
"engravings",
"State",
"County",
"genealogy",
"genealogical",
"genealogist",
"free",
"family",
"family tree",
"family history",
"ancestry",
"ancestory",
"ancestor",
"roots",
"biography",
"biographies",
"biographical",
"surname",
"research",
"county history",
"geneology",
"geneaology"
] | null |
[] | null | null |
My Genealogy Hound
Lamar, Missouri, Birthplace of Harry S Truman, vintage postcard
A vintage postcard view of the Birthplace of President Harry S Truman, Lamar, Missouri. This is located a few blocks from the Barton County Courthouse at 1009 Truman Street, Lamar, Missouri.
Harry S Truman was born in this modest house on May 8, 1884. The pine tree at the left hand side of the house was planted by his father on the day Harry was born. The family only lived here for another eleven months before settling in Grandview, Missouri. In 1890, the family moved to Independence, Missouri where Truman spent the rest of his life outside of his time in Washington, DC where Truman served as a Senator from Missouri from 1935 to 1945. During Franklin D. Roosevelt's campaign for a fourth term as President, Truman was selected as the Vice-Presidential candidate, taking office on January 20, 1945. Less than 90 days later, Truman would become President when Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Truman was re-elected to serve a second term as President after he won an upset victory in the 1948 campaign against Thomas Dewey who was widely expected to easily win in a landslide election.
Harry S Truman, born May 8, 1884, Lamar, Missouri; died December 26, 1972, Kansas City, Missouri, age 88.
Lamar is in Barton County, Missouri.
View a historic 1904 map of Barton County, Missouri
View additional vintage postcards from Missouri
View additional vintage postcards and historic photos from other states
Additional vintage Missouri postcards (including multiple additional vintage postcards for each location) will be added frequently so check back often. Our free weekly newsletter also announces new vintage postcard additions to the website. Subscribe to the free newsletter here.
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of family biographies, vintage maps and vintage postcards.
Follow My Genealogy Hound on Facebook:
|
||||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 40
|
https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web13/features/bio/B01.html
|
en
|
Freedom: A History of US. Biography. Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/images/pop_bio_header.gif",
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web13/features/bio/images/33.168_s.jpg",
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web13/features/images/plus.jpg",
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/images/spacer.gif",
"https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/images/spacer.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null | null |
Harry S. Truman
A skinny kid with glasses, Harry Truman didn't look much like a hero. Raised on his grandparent's farm in Missouri, Truman had loving parents and remembered his childhood as one of "wonderful days and great adventures." Young Truman read "everything I could get my hands onhistories and encyclopedias and everything else." Always neat and clean as a boy, Truman felt he was never popular. Later he would say, "To tell the truth, I was kind of a sissy."
Truman wanted to attend West Point, but his poor eyesight kept him out, and his family could not afford college. So Truman went to work as a timekeeper, bank clerk, and farmer. When the First World War began, he enlisted in the army.
As captain of a rough and tough artillery regiment, Truman learned that he possessed great courage and that he was an excellent leader of men. Returning home a hero, Truman began his life in politics, serving first as county commissioner, then as United States senator, and eventually as vice president.
Truman had been vice president for only eighty-one days when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died. Suddenly Truman was president of the United States. He knew nothing about the late president's plans and policies and felt absolutely dazed when he took the oath of office. Although Truman felt unprepared to become president, others had great confidence in him. Perhaps John Nance Gardner said it best, "Truman is honest and patriotic and has a head full of good horse sense. Besides, he has gutsÖ" And so he did.
Known as "Give 'Em Hell" Harry, President Truman was plain spoken and meant what he said. He made many courageous and often unpopular decisions. Regardless of the opinion of others, Truman believed that he should always do right as he saw it and that he should take responsibility for his actions.
Truman didn't shirk the hard decisions. He ordered the atomic bomb dropped on Japan to end the Second World War. He led the way to help the war-ravaged countriesally and enemy aliketo rebuild with billions of American dollars. He led the fight against communism by involving the United States in the Korean War and by joining European countries in an international alliance called NATO.
At home, Truman advanced civil rights by desegregating the armed forces. Although not successful, Truman fought for civil rights in all aspects of American life because he believed that African-Americans deserved equal rights.
|
||||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 15
|
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/truman/timeline/
|
en
|
Truman Timeline
|
[
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/themes/truman-library/assets/images/layout/truman-library-print-logo.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-baby.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/79-27-brothers-Harry-and-John-e1413574021357.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/84-43-Mary-Jane-Truman.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/young-bess-wallace.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-high-school-photo1.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/farm-collage2.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/29-0113a-Courtship-letter-to-bess.gif",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-is-sworn.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/1918-ship-arrives-in-brest-france.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-bess-and-truman-get-married.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-recession.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Untitled-3.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/judge-truman.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-badge.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/58-442-Truman-Committee.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/72-18-376-truman-vp-nomination-1944.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/swearing-in-1945.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ve-day.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/potsdam.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/bomb1.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/vj-press-conference.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TIME2.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-doctrine.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Truman-Sig-Blue.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/israel.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/displaced-persons.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/berlinairlift.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/1948convention.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/9981-headline.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-second-term.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-inagaurated.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-us-aids-sout-korea.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/assassination-weapons.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/hume-letter1.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/macarthur.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-ike.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/groundbreaking.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-memoir-starts.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/library-dedication.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-mr-citizen.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timeline-truman-statue.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/truman-senate-address.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/funeral.jpg",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/32x32instG.png",
"https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/plugins/gdpr-cookie-compliance/dist/images/gdpr-logo.png",
"https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/846321975/?guid=ON&script=0"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2014-06-02T00:02:42+00:00
|
A timeline of the historic life of President Harry S. Truman.
|
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wp-content/themes/truman-library/favicon.ico
|
Truman Library Institute
|
https://www.trumanlibraryinstitute.org/truman/timeline/
|
The Trumans move to 619 Crysler Street in Independence, Missouri.
Young Harry meets Bess Wallace for the first time in First Presbyterian Church’s Sunday School. He was six years old and she was five. “I saw a beautiful curly haired girl there,” Truman remembered years later. “I thought (and still think) she was the most beautiful girl I ever saw. She had tanned skin, blond hair, golden as sunshine, and the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen or ever will see.”
In January, Harry becomes seriously ill with diphtheria and is forced to drop out of the second grade at the Noland School. After starting to recover, he suffered a relapse and became paralyzed for perhaps a few months. His parents pushed him around in a baby carriage or laid him on the floor with a book to read. According to his sister, Mary Jane, it was during these months of immobility that he developed his lifelong love of reading.
Harry Truman graduates from Independence High School.
No grading books or report cards survive to indicate what kind of student Harry was in high school, but Harry later reflected that he was, academically, “along about the middle.” In an essay on “Courage,” Harry wrote that “a true heart[,] a strong mind and a great deal of courage and I think a man will get through the world,” which describes fairly well the attitude he would try to bring to his presidency many years later.
Among Harry’s classmates was Charles G. Ross, who would forty-four years later become Truman’s White House press secretary.
June 28
Harry and Bess are married on June 28 at Trinity Episcopal in Independence, Missouri.
Shortly before the wedding, Truman and Eddie Jacobson open a haberdashery at 104 West 12th Street in downtown Kansas City. After brief initial success, the store went bankrupt during the recession of 1921. Harry and Eddie remained close friends, and Jacobson’s advice to Truman later played a role in the U.S. government’s decision to recognize Israel.
May
Truman is selected as one of the 10 most useful officials in Washington, D.C. in a poll by Look Magazine.
July 21
Truman is nominated for the office of vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Jan 20
Truman is inaugurated for his second term as president. In his inaugural address, he calls for a “bold new program” to help underprivileged peoples of the earth (Point IV Program).
Aug 10
Truman signs the National Security Act Amendment, establishing a unified Department of Defense.
May 8
Truman becomes the first former president to address the U. S. Senate while it is in formal session. The Senate honors him on his 80th birthday.
July 30
President Johnson signs the Medicare bill at the Truman Library. Mr. and Mrs. Truman will receive Medicare registration cards numbers one and two in January 1966. On his Medicare application form, Truman writes “Farmer” on the line next to “Former Occupation.”
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 17
|
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5148-centennial-birth-harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Proclamation 5148 -- Centennial of the Birth of Harry S Truman
|
[
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/themes/custom/particle/apps/drupal/logo.svg",
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/themes/custom/particle/apps/drupal/logo.svg",
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/2023-01/map.png",
"https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/national-archives.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"12584d"
] | null |
[] | null |
12584d
|
en
|
/public/ronald-reagan-seal_0.png
|
Ronald Reagan
|
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5148-centennial-birth-harry-s-truman
|
January 25, 1984
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
May 8, 1984, marks the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Harry S Truman, the thirty-third President of the United States and one of this Nation's most respected statesmen.
First elected to the United States Senate from Missouri in 1934, Mr. Truman gained national recognition during World War II, when his investigating committee saved the taxpayers large amounts of money by exposing waste and extravagance in the procurement process. In November 1944, the voters elected Mr. Truman Vice President. He served only 83 days in that office and succeeded to the Presidency in April 1945, upon the death of President Roosevelt.
In his first months in office, President Truman guided the country through the end of World War II and made the difficult decisions that ushered in the nuclear age. In the postwar years, he oversaw America's transition from a wartime to a peacetime economy and began an era of growth and stability. In foreign affairs, President Truman established the cornerstones of the policy of containment in dealing with the communist threat to Europe. Through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan he stalwartly assisted free peoples in their efforts to stem the tide of totalitarian subversion. In applying the principles of collective security, President Truman assisted in the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to help European nations respond to this threat.
In 1948, Mr. Truman was elected to the Presidency, battling from behind to overtake Governor Thomas Dewey. President Truman responded to the invasion of South Korea by utilizing United Nations as well as American forces in dealing with that crisis.
Although confronted with a series of major challenges throughout his tenure, President Truman responded with courage, humanity, decisiveness, and a wit which have secured his place in the Nation's history as one of our most respected Presidents.
Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 8, 1984 to be the ``Centennial of the Birth of Harry S Truman.'' I call upon the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities in remembrance of his many accomplishments and dedication to freedom and democracy.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
Ronald Reagan
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:05 a.m., January 26, 1984]
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 42
|
https://has-fallen.fandom.com/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180224125435
|
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180224125435
|
[
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/e/e6/Site-logo.png/revision/latest?cb=20210713163954",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180224125435",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/d/de/Flag_of_the_United_States.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/20?cb=20130123191015",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/6a181c72-e8bf-419b-b4db-18fd56a0eb60",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/6c42ce6a-b205-41f5-82c6-5011721932e7",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/464fc70a-5090-490b-b47e-0759e89c263f",
"https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/f7bb9d33-4f9a-4faa-88fe-2a0bd8138668"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Has Fallen Wiki"
] |
2024-07-03T16:38:30+00:00
|
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was an American politician who served as the 33rd President of the United States from 1945 to 1953 and the 34th Vice President of the United States from January 20, 1945 to April 12, 1945. As the final running mate of President Franklin D...
|
en
|
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/olympus-has-fallen/images/4/4a/Site-favicon.ico/revision/latest?cb=20211224032515
|
Has Fallen Wiki
|
https://has-fallen.fandom.com/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was an American politician who served as the 33rd President of the United States from 1945 to 1953 and the 34th Vice President of the United States from January 20, 1945 to April 12, 1945. As the final running mate of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, Truman succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945. He was succeeded by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Biography[]
Truman was born in Missouri and spent most of his youth on his family's farm. In the last five months of World War I, he served in combat in France as an artillery officer. After the war, he briefly owned a haberdashery and joined the Democratic Party political machine of Tom Pendergast in Kansas City, Missouri. Truman was first elected to public office as a county official and became a U.S. Senator in 1935. He gained national prominence as head of the Truman Committee formed in March 1941, which exposed waste, fraud, and corruption in wartime contracts.
During World War II, while Nazi Germany surrendered a few weeks after Truman assumed the presidency, the war with Imperial Japan was expected to last another year or more. Truman approved the use of atomic weapons against Japan, intending to force Japan's surrender and spare American lives in a planned invasion; the decision remains controversial. His presidency was a turning point in foreign affairs, as his government supported an internationalist foreign policy in conjunction with European allies. Following the war, Truman assisted in the founding of the United Nations, issued the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, and passed the $13 billion Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, including the Axis Powers, whereas the wartime allied Soviet Union became the peacetime enemy, and the Cold War began. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift of 1948 and the creation of NATO in 1949. When communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, he immediately sent in U.S. troops and gained UN approval for the Korean War. After initial success, the UN forces were thrown back by Chinese intervention and the conflict was stalemated through the final years of Truman's presidency.
On domestic issues, bills endorsed by Truman often faced opposition from a conservative Congress dominated by the South, but his administration successfully guided the American economy through post-war economic challenges. He said civil rights was a moral priority and in 1948 submitted the first comprehensive legislation; in addition, he issued Executive Orders the same year to start racial integration in the military and federal agencies. Corruption in Truman's administration, which was linked to certain members in the cabinet and senior White House staff, was brought up as a central issue in the 1952 presidential campaign. Adlai Stevenson, Truman's successor as Democratic nominee, lost to Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Commander of the Allied Armed Forces. Popular and scholarly assessments of Truman's presidency were initially poor, but became more positive over time, following his retirement from politics.
In the late 1940's, Truman gut the White House interior walls for security purposes. This was proved effective as Connor Asher and Mike Banning used the walls to hide from the Koreans for United Freedom during the White House Siege in 2013.
Appearances[]
In-universe: Truman is still acknowledged, albeit not mentioned or discussed in Olympus Has Fallen. He is shown in one of the Treasury Department's main hallway entrances.
See also[]
|
||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 18
|
https://www.nps.gov/articles/harry-truman-and-independence-missouri-this-is-where-i-belong-teaching-with-historic-places.htm
|
en
|
Harry Truman and Independence, Missouri: "This is Where I Belong" (Teaching with Historic Places) (U.S. National Park Service)
|
[
"https://www.nps.gov/theme/assets/dist/images/branding/logo.png",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103img2ch.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103img3bh.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103map1bh.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103map2ch.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103draw1ch.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103img1bh.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103img2ch.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/articles/images/103img3bh.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/branding/nps_logo-bw.gif",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/app-promo/footer-app-promo.png",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/app-promo/app-store-badge.svg",
"https://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/templates/assets/images/app-promo/google-play-badge.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/common/commonspot/templates/images/icons/favicon.ico
|
https://www.nps.gov/articles/harry-truman-and-independence-missouri-this-is-where-i-belong-teaching-with-historic-places.htm
|
I've been taking my walks around the city and passing places that bring back wonderful recollections. The Presbyterian Church...where I started to Sunday school at the age of six years, where I first saw a lovely little golden haired girl who is still the lovely lady,...[Bess Wallace Truman]. What a pleasure to be back here at home--once more a free and independent citizen of the gateway city of the old Great West.¹
Harry S Truman (1884-1972) spent 64 years of his life in Independence, Missouri. The qualities instilled in him as a child and young adult here guided him personally as well as in his career as a farmer, judge, senator, and eventually President of the United States (1945-53). After leaving public office in 1953, he returned to his hometown to live among the family and neighbors who had always supported him.
Today, one can follow in the footsteps of the "Man from Missouri" down Independence's tree-lined streets and along routes that President Truman took during his early morning walks. Many of the places that figured in Truman's life remain, including the Presbyterian church where he met his future wife and the county courthouse where he began his political career. The house where Truman and his wife shared 53 years of married life is preserved today as Harry S Truman National Historic Site. The home and neighborhood help us understand the life and character of our 33rd President.
¹ Robert H. Ferrell, ed. The Autobiography of Harry S Truman (Boulder, Co.: Colorado Associated University Press, 1980), 109-111.
About This Lesson
The lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration files for the Harry S Truman National Historic Site (with photographs), materials from the Harry S Truman Presidential Library, and information from leading biographers. Randy Harmon, former Park Ranger at Harry S Truman National Historic Site, wrote Harry Truman and Independence, Missouri: "This is Where I Belong." Jean West, education consultant, and the Teaching with Historic Places staff edited the lesson. This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into classrooms across the country.
Where it fits into the curriculum
Topics: This lesson could be used in American history, social studies, or geography courses in a unit on Truman's presidency. It also could be incorporated in a study of the role of small towns in American society and how notable Americans are shaped by their early years.
Time period: 20th century
United States History Standards for Grades 5-12
Harry Truman and Independence, Missouri: "This is Where I Belong"
relates to the following National Standards for History:
Era 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
Standard 3B- The student understands World War II and how the Allies prevailed.Era 9: Postwar United States (1945 to Early 1970s)
Standard 2A- The student understands the international origins and domestic consequences of the Cold War.
Standard 3A- The student understands the political debates of the post-World War II era.
Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
(National Council for the Social Studies)
Harry Truman and Independence Missouri: "This is Where I Belong" relates to the following Social Studies Standards:
Theme II: Time, Continuity and Change
Standard C - The student identifies and describes selected historical periods and patterns of change within and across cultures, such as the rise of civilizations, the development of transportation systems, the growth and breakdown of colonial systems, and others.
Standard D - The student identifies and uses processes important to reconstructing and reinterpreting the past, such as using a variety of sources, providing, validating, and weighing evidence for claims, checking credibility of sources, and searching for causality.
Standard F - The student uses knowledge of facts and concepts drawn from history, along with methods of historical inquiry, to inform decision-making about and action-taking on public issues.
Theme III: People, Places and Environments
Standard A - The student elaborates mental maps of locales, regions, and the world that demonstrate understanding of relative location, direction, size, and shape.
Theme IV: Individual Development and Identity
Standard A. The student relates personal changes to social, cultural, and historical contexts.
Standard B - The student describes personal connections to places associated with community, nation, and world.
Standard C - The student describes the ways family, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and institutional affiliations contribute to personal identity.
Standard D - The student relate such factors as physical endowment and capabilities, learning, motivation, personality, perception, and behavior to individual development.
Standard E - The student identifies and describes ways regional, ethnic, and national cultures influence individuals daily lives.
Standard F - The student identifies and describes the influence of perception, attitudes, values, and beliefs on personal identity.
Standard G - The student identifies and interprets examples of stereotyping, conformity, and altruism.
Standard H - The student works independently and cooperatively to accomplish goals.
Theme V: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Standard E - The student identifies and describes examples of tensions between belief systems and government policies and laws.
Theme VI: Power, Authority and Governance
Standard A - The student examines issues involving the rights, roles and status of the individual in relation to the general welfare.
Standard C - The student analyzes and explains ideas and governmental mechanisms to meet wants and needs of citizens, regulate territory, manage conflict, and establish order and security.
Standard E - The student identifies and describes the basic features of the political system of the United States, and identify representative leaders.
Standard F - The student explains, actions and motivations that contribute to conflict and cooperation within and among organizations.
Objectives for students
1) To examine Harry Truman's early years and determine how his upbringing influenced his character.
2) To explore Harry Truman's relationship with his family and neighbors in Independence before, during, and after the Presidency.
3) To trace Truman's political career from county judge to President and evaluate some of the decisions he made as a politician.
4) To consider the value of preserving buildings important to the history of our nation.
5) To locate and analyze historic buildings in their own community.
Materials for students
The materials listed below either can be used directly on the computer or can be printed out, photocopied, and distributed to students. The maps and images appear twice: in a smaller, low-resolution version with associated questions and alone in a larger version.
1) two maps of Independence, Missouri and surrounding region;
2) four readings on Harry S Truman's life and career;
3) three photographs of the Truman house and historic district;
4) one drawing of Truman's neighborhood in Independence.
Visiting the site
The Harry S Truman National Historic Site is made up of two units--one located in Independence and the other in Grandview, Missouri. The Independence home is located at 219 North Delaware Street. Tickets can be purchased at the park visitor center at the corner of Truman Road and Main Street. The visitor center is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. The Truman farm is located 1/2 mile west of Highway 71 on Blue Ridge Blvd. in Grandview. The farm home is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from the first Friday in May through the last Sunday in August. The grounds are open for visiting, using a self-guided brochure available onsite, seven days a week all year during daylight hours. For more information, contact the Superintendent, Harry S Truman National Historic Site, 223 North Main Street, Independence, MO 64050, or visit the park's Web site.
Determining the Facts
Reading 1: Years of Growth (1884-1906)
Harry Truman's life began in the small, country town of Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884. In 1890 his family moved 120 miles north to the growing community of Independence. The family bought a house at 619 South Crysler Avenue where Harry made friends, attended school, and did chores.
One reason for moving to Independence was that Harry, his brother, and sister could attend graded schools, rather than the typical country one-room schoolhouse with children of all ages and grades mixed together. In class, Harry studied spelling, reading, literature, language, grammar, penmanship, arithmetic, geography, history, civil government, drawing, music, hygiene or health, and physical culture (physical education). Teachers had a very important impact on young Harry Truman, as he later wrote in his memoirs, "I do not remember a bad teacher in all my experiences. They were all different, of course, but they were the salt of the earth. They gave us high ideals and they hardly ever received more than $40 a month for it."¹
Harry was very close to his family, especially his mother, who taught him how to read and play the piano. Radio and television were not invented yet, so Harry's family sang and played the piano for entertainment. The young boy also loved to read, especially history books, although his interests were so widespread that he later joked, "There were about three thousand books in the library downtown, and I guess I read them all, including the encyclopedias."² Harry's love of reading continued throughout his life.
In 1896, his family moved to a home on the corner of Waldo Street and River Boulevard. Here, Harry and his childhood friends enjoyed sledding in the winter and fishing in the local rivers during the summer. He remembered, "Our house became headquarters for all the boys and girls around.... There was a wonderful barn with stalls for horses and cows, a corn crib and a hayloft in which all the kids met and cooked up plans for all sorts of adventures...."³
Harry also kept busy with chores, and later, a job. To keep warm in the winter, wood had to be hauled in for the fireplace or stoves. Much of the family's food came from backyard gardens. Even in town, many people kept chickens and dairy cows. Of course homes did not have electricity. Some had gaslights, but most relied on candles and oil lamps. At 14, Harry began his first paying job at Clinton's drugstore on the town square. He received three dollars a week for working there before school and on the weekend.
Throughout high school Harry was an excellent student and loved to learn, especially about history. He wanted to go to college, but his family did not have the money to send him. So, following his 1901 graduation, he held a series of jobs before moving to Kansas City, where he made a good salary as a bank clerk. In 1906, he left this job and moved back to Grandview, Missouri, to help on his family's farm. He had never farmed before, and it was hard work for someone more used to city life.
Questions for Reading 1
1. How were schools in Independence different from country schools? What subjects did Truman study in school? How are they similar or different from what you study? What was Truman's favorite subject in school?
2. Name some things families did for entertainment in Truman's day.
3. What was Truman's favorite pastime at home? How did having a public library influence his life?
4. Why didn't Truman go to college? Where did he work after high school graduation?
5. Why did Truman move to Grandview, Missouri?
Reading 1 was compiled from Robert H. Ferrell, ed. The Autobiography of Harry S Truman (Boulder, Co.: Colorado Associated University Press, 1980); David G. McCullough, Truman (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992); Merle Miller, Plain Speaking (New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1973); and Harry S Truman, Year of Decisions, vol. 1, Memoirs by Harry S Truman (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1956).
¹ Harry S Truman. Year of Decisions, vol. 1, Memoirs by Harry S Truman (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1956), 118.
² Merle Miller. Plain Speaking (New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1973), 24.
³ Harry S Truman. Year of Decisions, vol. 1, Memoirs by Harry S Truman (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1956), 117.
Determining the Facts
Reading 2: Years of Change and Challenges (1906 - 1934)
While living on the farm in Grandview, Missouri, Truman continued to stay in contact with his friends and relatives in Independence. By 1910, he was dating Bess Wallace, who lived across the street from his aunt and uncle in Independence. He fell in love with Bess during grade school, but both were in their mid twenties by the time they started courting. To visit her, Truman would sometimes travel two hours between his family's Grandview farm and Bess's home on Delaware Street in Independence.
During the couple's courtship, World War I broke out and Truman served in the Army. He received basic training in Oklahoma in the fall of 1917, and "shipped out" to Europe in March of 1918. By the war's end he had been promoted to the rank of captain of his artillery unit and was in command of almost 200 men. Truman experienced all the hardships and terror of war, remembering later, "As a veteran of the First World War, I have seen death on the battlefield ... I know the strain, the mud, the misery, the utter weariness of the soldier in the field."¹
Returning home safely in the spring of 1919, he married Bess Wallace in Independence at the Trinity Episcopal Church. The couple lived with Bess's mother and younger brother in the Wallace house at 219 Delaware Street. That fall, Harry and a friend from the Army opened a men's clothing store [haberdashery] in downtown Kansas City. Because of economic hard times, the business closed only three years later, in 1922. Although he was $20,000 in debt, Truman refused to declare bankruptcy and repaid his creditors in full over the course of the next decade.
With the support of family and friends, Truman decided to run for political office in Jackson County. He won the position of eastern county judge in 1922, and served for a four-year term. After losing the race for re-election, Truman ran again in 1926 and became the presiding judge of Jackson Country. Although no law degree was required for the position, Truman studied law in night school for three years out of respect for his job and the people he served. Truman worked at the courthouse just a few blocks from his Delaware Street home.
Judge Truman's job was equivalent to that of a county commissioner today, being responsible for the county finances, its budget, and road building. He was determined to see that the voters had good roads, especially in the farming communities of eastern Jackson County. Feeling that every farm should be within 2.5 miles of a paved road, Truman raised $6.5 million in tax money to build them. He also helped finance the renovation of the courthouse in Independence and a new courthouse in Kansas City by 1933. During the Great Depression, Truman administered public works projects and created a highly recognized six-county regional plan, which became a model for future town planners.
Truman had been elected judge with the support of Thomas Pendergast's Democratic political organization in Kansas City. At times, this political machine fixed primary elections using vote fraud, then often controlling the government officials it had helped elect through bribes and other illegal methods. Harry witnessed fellow judges taking money for their vote on certain county jobs. Although he was personally honest, he was frustrated and wondered in a private note to himself, "Am I an administrator . . .? Or am I just a crook to compromise in order to get the job done? You judge I can't."² Truman knew corrupt practices were going on and at times looked the other way to accomplish many of his goals, but he never personally profited from his position as judge. Harry wrote, "I'm not a partner of any of them, and I'll go out poorer in every way than when I came into office."³ Truman neither concealed nor renounced his association with Thomas Pendergast, but conducted himself in public office with such personal integrity that he continued to be elected by his Missouri constituents after the political machine collapsed.
Still, Harry Truman wanted to do even more for the people of Missouri, and not only those from Jackson County. In 1934 he ran for the U.S. Senate, and to his delight, was elected.
Questions for Reading 2
1. How did family and friends in Independence still play a role in Truman's life while he lived in Grandview?
2. What rank did he earn as a soldier in World War I?
3. What type of business did he enter after returning home in 1919?
4. What was the first elected office Truman held? What projects did he complete in this office and how did they affect the people of Jackson County?
5. What political machine helped Truman get elected? How did Truman justify his association with the Pendergast machine? In your opinion, was Truman right to accept help from a corrupt political machine to get elected? Explain your reasoning.
Reading 2 was compiled from notes in the Truman Papers at the Harry S Truman Presidential Library; Robert H. Ferrell, Harry S Truman: A Life (Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri Press, 1994); Alonzo Hamby, Man of the People: A Life of Harry S Truman (New York: Oxford Press, 1995); David G. McCullough, Truman (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992); Merle Miller, Plain Speaking (New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1973); and Harry S Truman, Year of Decisions, vol. 1, Memoirs by Harry S Truman (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1956).
¹ Harry S Truman, Broadcast to the Armed Forces of the United States upon his Assumption of Office, April 17, 1945.
² Handwritten manuscript, "Politics. Life, etc." c. 1931, Pickwick Hotel Papers, Papers as Presiding Judge of the Jackson Co. (Missouri) Court, Harry S Truman Papers, Harry S Truman Presidential Library, 186.
³ Handwritten manuscript, "Politics. Life, etc." c. 1931, Pickwick Hotel Papers, Papers as Presiding Judge of the Jackson Co. (Missouri) Court, Harry S Truman Papers, Harry S Truman Presidential Library, 187.
Determining the Facts
Reading 3: Harry Truman and National Politics (1935-1952)
On January 3, 1935, with Missouri and the nation in the depths of the Great Depression, Harry Truman took the oath of office to become a U.S. Senator. He supported President Roosevelt's New Deal policies to help small businesses, defend labor unions, and fund federal projects that would help revive the country's economy. Truman felt that these programs were not only good for people of the nation and his state, but on a more personal level, that they would also assist his friends and family back in Independence. Harry often wrote letters to them to share information and ask for their support on the tough issues that faced him as Senator. He also corresponded regularly with his wife when she and their daughter, Margaret, returned home to Independence, often for months at a time.
Truman soon realized that the real work done by the Senate "was carried out by unassuming and conscientious men, not by those who managed to get the most publicity."¹ He was a hard-working Senator who applied what he had learned on the local level in the committees on which he served. For example, as a member of the Interstate Commerce Committee, Truman drew on his knowledge of road-building projects in eastern Jackson County to support a nationwide system of good railroads and highways.
One of the most important projects that Senator Truman worked on was the Senate's Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, usually known as the Truman Committee. Its purpose was to stop waste and unfair practices in companies that supplied military contracts for the Federal Government. From March 1941 until Truman left the committee in 1944, it saved U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars. Harry Truman's leadership and hard work had gained the attention of Democratic party leaders and President Roosevelt. The president selected him to be his running mate in 1944 in his unprecedented race for a fourth term. They easily won the fall election and Harry S Truman became the vice-president of the United States.
Truman had been in the job for only 82 days when President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. The next day he told the White House news reporters, "I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets fell on me."² Harry Truman shouldered the weight of the Presidency, including the responsibility of leading the United States to victory in World War II. In the next few months he oversaw the end of the war in Europe, the occupation of defeated Germany, and the formation of the United Nations. He met with Churchill and Stalin at Potsdam. Although he had not known of its existence when he became President, Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb to defeat Japan and end World War II.
Even with the end of fighting, international affairs demanded Truman's attention. He instituted the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe and countered Communist expansion (the Truman Doctrine) in Greece and Turkey as well as through the Berlin Airlift. Truman also recognized the new state of Israel.
At home, Truman began the difficult task of converting the U.S. economy from a wartime to a peacetime footing. Problems suppressed through the Depression and the war years surfaced and labor unrest increased. Consequently, few people believed that Truman could win the election campaign of 1948 against Republican candidate Thomas Dewey. Harry Truman decided to take his program directly to the American people and traveled thousands of miles by train during his famous "Whistlestop Campaign."
Truman defeated Dewey and won the election. His second term was dominated by efforts to contain the expansion of Communism. Following the defeat of Nationalist forces, China had become a communist power. In 1950, making what he called his hardest decision, Harry Truman sent American troops to defend South Korea when the communist North invaded it. The United States also formed the NATO alliance to contain Soviet expansion in Europe. However, a new red scare was unleashed in the form of McCarthyism. Domestic labor unrest continued, but the civil rights movement gained support when Truman issued executive orders to desegregate the U.S. armed forces. In 1952, Harry Truman decided not to seek the Presidency again but to return to Independence, a place he thought of often and missed a great deal.
Throughout these turbulent years, the President kept in touch with his friends and family in Independence by writing countless letters. In one to a good friend Ray Wills, who ran a local gas station, Harry urged him, "Take good care of yourself. Union Street and Maple Avenue will not be the same corner unless you are there to make it run." ³
On short trips back home, he thoroughly enjoyed his visits. From 1945 to 1952, the house on Delaware Street had also served as the nation's "Summer White House." Looking past the presidential election campaign of 1952, Harry Truman looked forward to returning home.
Questions for Reading 3
1. What national office did Truman hold before he became Vice President in 1944?
2. Describe Truman's committee work. Which of the committees that he worked on sounds most interesting to you, and why?
3. How did Harry Truman use his experiences in Independence to help him in government? How did he feel about his family and friends in Independence?
4. How did Truman become President of the United States? What challenges did he face and overcome?
5. What was the "Whistlestop Campaign"?
6. What did Truman consider to be his most difficult decision as President? Look over some of the other decisions Truman made. What would have been the most difficult for you, and why?
Reading 3 was compiled from Robert H. Ferrell, Harry S Truman: A Life (Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri Press, 1994); Richard S. Kirkendall, ed., The Harry S Truman Encyclopedia (Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1989); David G. McCullough, Truman (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992); Merle Miller, Plain Speaking (New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1973); and Harry S Truman, Year of Decisions, vol. 1, Memoirs by Harry S Truman (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company Inc., 1956).
¹ Richard S. Kirkendall, ed., The Harry S Truman Encyclopedia (Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1989), 325.
² David G. McCullough, Truman (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992), 353.
³ Letter, Harry S Truman to Ray Wills, Washington, D.C., May 26, 1948, #3193, Truman Papers, Harry S Truman Presidential Library.
Determining the Facts
Reading 4: The Retirement Years (1953-1982)
On January 20, 1953, after watching Dwight D. Eisenhower take the oath of office as the 34th President of the United States, private citizen Harry S Truman boarded an afternoon train for Missouri. Two days later, when they pulled into the Independence railroad depot, Harry and Bess Truman were welcomed by 10,000 of their fellow townspeople. The number of well wishers overwhelmed the couple, and Mrs. Truman commented as several thousand more greeted them at 219 North Delaware, "If this is what you get for all those years of hard work I guess it was worth it."¹
As they settled back into their private life at home, they adopted a daily routine. Harry rose at 5:30 and read his first newspaper and the previous day's mail. Before breakfast he would take a walk to stay fit, continuing a habit that he had started as a Senator in Washington. Strolling through the neighborhood at a quick rate of 120 paces a minute, he found great pleasure in exchanging greetings with neighbors along the way. At times, he would stop for an informal chat with family friends. On returning to his home, the former President might pose for a picture or sign an autograph for the many tourists and well wishers who waited for him there. He enjoyed the chance to meet new people from all walks of life, commenting that "There are always people waiting at the front gate when I leave for my walk and others there when I return. I think I'd miss them, though, if no one showed up."² After his walk, he would have a quiet breakfast with Bess at their kitchen table. Even though Harry Truman had left public office, he continued to be active. At approximately 8:15 a.m., the former President would drive eight miles to his office at the Federal Reserve Bank building in Kansas City. During his first three years of his retirement, he wrote his presidential memoirs and raised the funds to build the Harry S Truman Presidential Library in Independence. When the library opened in 1957, within walking distance of his home, he moved his office into the new facility.
Harry and Bess Truman lived very quiet, private lives. Harry Truman would return from the office at 3:00 p.m. each day. He might find his wife playing cards on the back porch with her bridge club. After visiting with the ladies or reading in the study, Harry would go upstairs for a nap, a daily practice prescribed by his doctor. Upon waking up, he and Mrs. Truman would telephone their daughter, Margaret, at her home in New York City. The couple would dine around 6:00 p.m. Evenings might be spent chatting with visitors either inside or out on the pleasant screened-in back porch. He also liked to play the piano in the music room or listen with Bess to favorite records of classical music. The Trumans' favorite after-dinner activity was reading in their library/study. His favorite topics were histories, biographies, and books on political subjects, while she enjoyed mysteries.
Famous guests who visited the couple at home included Presidents Hoover, Johnson, and Nixon. After the 1957 dedication of the Truman Library, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the couple. Hollywood celebrities such as Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Henry Fonda also chatted with the Trumans in their front living room.
Harry Truman died at the Kansas City Research Hospital on December 26, 1972 at the age of 88. Mrs. Truman continued to live in their home where Presidents Ford and Carter both called on her. Mrs. Truman passed away quietly on October 18, 1982 at the age of 97. She was buried next to her husband in the courtyard of the Truman Library.
In her will, Mrs. Truman left the 14-room Victorian style home--built by her paternal grandfather in 1885--and most of her possessions to the people of the United States, to be cared for by the Federal Government. In 1983, Congress established Harry S Truman National Historic Site, to be administered by the National Park Service. Park rangers give tours of the home for 50,000 to 60,000 annual visitors. Park Service staff take care of the home, furnishings, and personal possessions of Harry S Truman and Bess Wallace Truman. Much of the collection of more than 50,000 objects remains in the Truman home to help visitors understand what home life was like for the Trumans. Furnishings include furniture and household accessories belonging to the Trumans and to Bess Truman's extended family. Personal possessions include the Trumans' library of books, phonograph record collection, photographs, clothing, and Harry Truman's last automobile. The museum collection also includes historic fabric and architectural samples removed from the Truman home during restoration and archeological materials recovered from the property.
In 1972, to recognize the importance of the area that had such a large impact on this First Family, the Department of Interior designated the neighborhood around the Truman Home, as the Harry S Truman Historic District, National Historic Landmark. Today this area looks very similar to the way it did when the Truman family lived here. Along with their home, this area serves as a living legacy to the "Trumans of Independence."
Questions for Reading 4
1. How did the people of their hometown react to the Trumans when they returned from the White House to Independence? Why do you think this reaction was important to them?
2. Describe what life was like for the Trumans after returning from the White House to Independence. How did their pastimes reflect the things they enjoyed doing? After the excitement of the Presidency, why do you think they enjoyed this lifestyle?
3. Although they enjoyed privacy, give examples of how the Trumans also enjoyed interacting with other people.
4. When did Harry and Bess Truman die? Where are they buried?
5. What happened to the Truman home after Mrs. Truman died? Who preserves the home today?
6. How do you think the furnishings and other pieces from the museum collection contribute to the visitor's experience of the house? How do you think they contribute to historians' understanding of Truman's life?
7. Today the neighborhood around the Truman residence looks much the same way it did when the Trumans lived in Independence. What does preserving an entire neighborhood teach us that a single preserved structure cannot?
Reading 4 was compiled from correspondence in the Truman Papers at the Truman Presidential Library; Robert H. Ferrell, Harry S Truman: A Life (Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri Press, 1994); Richard S. Kirkendall, ed. The Harry S Truman Encyclopedia (Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1989); David G. McCullough, Truman (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992); Merle Miller, Plain Speaking (New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1973); Charles Robbins, Last of His Kind: An Informal Portrait of Harry S Truman (New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1979); Harry S Truman, Mr. Citizen (New York: Bernard Geis Associates, 1960); and Margaret Truman, Harry S Truman (New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1972)
¹ Harry S Truman, Mr. Citizen (New York: Bernard Geis Associates, 1960), 24.
² Charles Robbins, Last of His Kind: An Informal Portrait of Harry S Truman (New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1979), photo section.
Before and after returning to Independence in 1953, one of Harry Truman's favorite activities was his early morning walk. These walks helped him to remember his life in Independence and to connect to his town. Truman explained:
I've been taking my walks around the city and passing places that bring back wonderful recollections.... I pass by Noland School where I first went to school in 1892. Just south of this building stood the old Columbian School, which was brand-new when I was ready for the third and fourth grade. The Ott School over on Liberty and College where I was in the fifth grade under Aunt Nanny Wallace--Bess's aunt. I pass the site of the old Independence High School [now Palmer Junior High on this site] at Maple and Pleasant. Ours [Bess and Harry's] was the first class to be graduated there, in 1901, fifty-two years ago. And so it goes. What a pleasure to be back here at home--once more a free and independent citizen of the gateway city of the old Great West.¹
Drawing 1 Key:
The Truman Home - The house at 219 Delaware Street was the home to Harry S Truman and his wife, Bess Wallace Truman, from the time of their marriage in 1919 until their deaths in the 1972 and 1982, respectively. The house was built in 1885 by Bess Wallace's grandparents.
The First Presbyterian Church - In 1890, six-year-old Harry Truman met Bess Wallace in Sunday school class at this church.
Independence High School - Harry Truman and Bess Wallace graduated from this school in 1901.
Trinity Episcopal Church - Harry S Truman married Bess Wallace at Trinity Episcopal on June 28, 1919. The church was also the site of the 1956 wedding of their daughter, Margaret.
Jackson County Courthouse - Harry S Truman presided as administrative judge for Jackson County from an office and courtroom in this courthouse from 1926-1934.
Harry S Truman Library - Completed in 1957, the Truman Presidential Library houses papers and museum exhibits about Truman's life and presidency. He maintained an office at the library until his death in 1972. Harry S Truman and Bess Wallace Truman are buried in the courtyard of the library.
Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District - Established to recognize the important relationship between Truman and his neighborhood.
Questions for Drawing 1
1. Locate some of the important sites of Harry Truman's life: Trinity Episcopal Church, the Truman Home, First Presbyterian Church, Independence High School, Jackson County Courthouse, and Harry S Truman Library. Arrange a list of the sites as they might appear in a chronology or timeline of Harry Truman's life.
2. Estimate the distance Harry Truman would have walked to and from his office at the Truman Library. Do you think Truman's daily walks helped to contribute to his physical and mental fitness during his retirement? Why?
3. Trace the outline of the Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District. Why was it established? What are some of the places it recognizes?'
¹ Robert H. Ferrell, ed. The Autobiography of Harry S Truman (Boulder, Co.: Colorado Associated University Press, 1980), 109-111.
Putting It All Together
Harry S Truman's life serves as an example of civic duty. Always seeing himself as a public servant, he became a leader whose decisions made a real difference in this country and around the globe and which continue to affect our lives today. The following activities help students to explore the interaction of community and the common, as well as the great people, of America's past, present, and future.
Activity 1: The Place We Call Home
Explain to students that the homes and neighborhoods where we have lived help create who we are in the present, and who we will become in the future. Sometimes, opportunities exist to revisit our past. To return to a former house or neighborhood reminds us of where we came from and who influenced our lives. It enables us to have a better understanding of who we are as individuals, and as part of a larger community.
1. Each one of us has a place we consider home. Have the students discuss what "home" means to them. Ask them to draw a picture of their home and explain what makes it special to them.
2. Ask students to compare their neighborhoods to the one that President Truman lived in for most of his life. Discuss similarities and differences between their surroundings and his in Independence.
3. The neighborhoods surrounding our homes also influence our lives. Ask students to take a walk through their neighborhood. Direct them to take notes on who lives around them and what types of businesses or shops are nearby. Have students draw a map of their neighborhood.
4. Ask students to use their notes to write an essay about what makes this area important to them. They should discuss the things that are good about their neighborhood and the things that are bad.
5. Harry Truman was always interested in making his hometown better. Ask the students to design and undertake a project to improve their own neighborhood. Projects might include: a local cleanup project, planting trees, starting a community garden, or visiting elderly family friends or relatives to learn about local history.
Activity 2: Why Preserve Old Buildings?
Explain to students that Harry Truman loved history. He understood that historical events in the past could help shape events in the present and future. Truman also felt strongly about preserving the history of our states, towns, and local neighborhoods. Before and after his time in the White House, he was involved in various organizations that preserved local history in his hometown of Independence. In 1926, he was elected president of the National Old Trails Organization. After returning home from Washington, he helped to establish a local chapter of the Civil War Roundtable, as well as the Jackson County Historical Society. Realizing that developers were threatening the integrity of his hometown neighborhood, the former President also showed his support in the effort to save private residences near his home.
It is much easier to understand and explain our past if we keep physical reminders of it. These include such individual structures such as homes, but also intact whole neighborhoods. A real sense of "place" can then be preserved for future generations to learn from and appreciate. The former President knew this when he helped to establish the Harry S Truman National Historic District, National Historic Landmark in his neighborhood.
1. Ask students if any of them have lived their entire lives in a single area. Since most will not have, ask them why it's important to learn about the neighborhood in which they presently live.
2. Ask students to go out into their neighborhood and look at an old building. Have them take pictures to document their findings. Ask them what they can find out simply by looking at it. Can it tell them when it was built or for what purpose? Can it tell them any stories of who lived or worked there?
3. If possible, have them follow up their visit by conducting an interview with someone who lived or worked in the building. Or, ask them to conduct research at the library's local history section, the community historical society, or county or parish courthouse to learn more about the structure. Ask students to share their findings in a class presentation; either with an illustrated talk or a computer slide (Power Point) presentation.
Harry Truman and Independence, Missouri: "This is Where I Belong"--
Supplementary Resources
By working with Harry S Truman and Independence, Missouri: "This is where I Belong," students will learn about the 33rd President of the United States and the town which helped to form his character. Those interested in learning more will find that the Internet offers a variety of interesting materials.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
Harry S Truman National Historic Site is a unit of the National Park Service. The park's Web pages are an excellent resource for information about Harry S Truman's life and accomplishments.
National Park Service - Museum Management Program
American Visionary: Harry S. Truman
American Visionary: Harry S. Truman is an informative online exhibit exploring the life of Harry S Truman through treasured belongings and political memorabilia from the Harry S Truman National Historic Site museum collections and supplemental photographs from the Truman Library. Included as part of this unique learning experience is a virtual reality tour of several rooms from his home in Independence, MO. The Museum Management Program also has two lesson plans focused on Harry S. Truman: The Etiquette of Calling and The Many Hats of Harry S. Truman.
Truman Presidential Museum and Library
The Truman Presidential Museum and Library has chronologies, a kids' page, and an online archives including transcriptions of oral histories of Truman associates, and photographs of Harry Truman's life and times.
Project Whistlestop
Project WhistleStop was funded by a five-year education technology challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant expired, but the content of Project WhistleStop is now being underwritten and hosted by the Truman Presidential Library and Museum. This project provides teachers and students with abundant archival material about Harry S. Truman including audio files, cartoons, photographs, and a digital archive of written documents ranging on subjects from Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb to his executive order desegregating the U.S. armed forces.
Kansas City Public Library
The Kansas City Public Library has a number of online resources that help researchers understand the Missouri context of Harry Truman's life including biographies of people he knew, such as the Pendergasts, and photographs detailing the construction of the Kansas City Courthouse, one of Truman's undertakings. The Library also has a useful general information guide on how to research the history of your house. Use the search engine to find these resources.
Library of Congress
Search the American Memory Collection for a variety of resources on Harry S. Truman (also search "Truman, Harry S.") including documentation (with photos) by the NPS Historic American Building Survey on his home in Missouri, presidential portraits, documents associated with his presidency, and much more.
American Presidents, Life Portraits
In this series, C-SPAN explores the life stories of the men who have been president by traveling to presidential homes, museums, libraries, and grave sites and speaking with presidential scholars. Included on the website is information about the American President, Harry S. Truman. [http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=32]
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 2
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e7/Cscr-featured.svg/20px-Cscr-featured.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1b/Semi-protection-shackle.svg/20px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Harry_S_Truman_Signature.svg/128px-Harry_S_Truman_Signature.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Flag_of_the_United_States_%281912-1959%29.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%281912-1959%29.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/US-O6_insignia.svg/25px-US-O6_insignia.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Harry_ca._1897.jpg/220px-Harry_ca._1897.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Trumanhist.JPG/220px-Trumanhist.JPG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Harry_S._Truman_in_his_World_War_I_Army_uniform.jpg/220px-Harry_S._Truman_in_his_World_War_I_Army_uniform.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Harry_S._Truman_WW_I.jpg/220px-Harry_S._Truman_WW_I.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Officers%2C_129th_Field_Artillery%2C_at_regimental_headquarters_at_Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Chesnay_near_Courcemont%2C_France%2C_March_1919._Cap_-_NARA_-_530949.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Officers%2C_129th_Field_Artillery%2C_at_regimental_headquarters_at_Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Chesnay_near_Courcemont%2C_France%2C_March_1919._Cap_-_NARA_-_530949.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/TrumanWedding.PNG/220px-TrumanWedding.PNG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Senate_Desk_Truman.jpg/220px-Senate_Desk_Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Truman-Mother-LIFE-1944.jpg/220px-Truman-Mother-LIFE-1944.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg/220px-RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_taking_the_oath_of_office_as_President_of_the_United_States_in_the_Cabinet_Room_of_the..._-_NARA_-_199062.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_taking_the_oath_of_office_as_President_of_the_United_States_in_the_Cabinet_Room_of_the..._-_NARA_-_199062.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-29645-0001%2C_Potsdamer_Konferenz%2C_Stalin%2C_Truman%2C_Churchill.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-29645-0001%2C_Potsdamer_Konferenz%2C_Stalin%2C_Truman%2C_Churchill.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg/220px-Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_reading_the_announcement_of_Japan%27s_surrender_to_assembled..._-_NARA_-_199171.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_reading_the_announcement_of_Japan%27s_surrender_to_assembled..._-_NARA_-_199171.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/President_Truman_with_Greek_sponge_divers..jpg/220px-President_Truman_with_Greek_sponge_divers..jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Charles_Griffith_Ross.jpg/220px-Charles_Griffith_Ross.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Truman_receives_menorah.jpg/220px-Truman_receives_menorah.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/President_Truman_with_Governor_Dewey_at_dedication_of_the_Idlewild_Airport_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-President_Truman_with_Governor_Dewey_at_dedication_of_the_Idlewild_Airport_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/ElectoralCollege1948.svg/250px-ElectoralCollege1948.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Dewey_Defeats_Truman.jpg/220px-Dewey_Defeats_Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg/220px-Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Photograph_of_President_Truman_and_Indian_Prime_Minister_Jawaharlal_Nehru%2C_with_Nehru%27s_sister%2C_Madame_Pandit%2C_waving..._-_NARA_-_200154.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_and_Indian_Prime_Minister_Jawaharlal_Nehru%2C_with_Nehru%27s_sister%2C_Madame_Pandit%2C_waving..._-_NARA_-_200154.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Photograph_of_the_Shah_of_Iran_speaking_at_Washington_National_Airport%2C_during_ceremonies_welcoming_him_to_the_United..._-_NARA_-_200143.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Photograph_of_the_Shah_of_Iran_speaking_at_Washington_National_Airport%2C_during_ceremonies_welcoming_him_to_the_United..._-_NARA_-_200143.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/HarryTruman.jpg/220px-HarryTruman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/White-house-1950-interior-shell.jpg/220px-White-house-1950-interior-shell.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Nuvola_apps_kaboodle.svg/16px-Nuvola_apps_kaboodle.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Harry_S_Truman_-_NARA_-_530677_%282%29.jpg/220px-Harry_S_Truman_-_NARA_-_530677_%282%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office_with_the_Democratic_nominees_for_President_and_Vice_President..._-_NARA_-_200393.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office_with_the_Democratic_nominees_for_President_and_Vice_President..._-_NARA_-_200393.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_conferring_with_labor_leader_Walter_Reuther%2C_president_of_the..._-_NARA_-_200406.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_conferring_with_labor_leader_Walter_Reuther%2C_president_of_the..._-_NARA_-_200406.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Lyndon_Johnson_signing_Medicare_bill%2C_with_Harry_Truman%2C_July_30%2C_1965.jpg/250px-Lyndon_Johnson_signing_Medicare_bill%2C_with_Harry_Truman%2C_July_30%2C_1965.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Photograph_of_President_John_F._Kennedy%2C_on_his_first_full_day_in_office%2C_greeting_former_President_Harry_S._Truman..._-_NARA_-_200436.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_John_F._Kennedy%2C_on_his_first_full_day_in_office%2C_greeting_former_President_Harry_S._Truman..._-_NARA_-_200436.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_and_JFK_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_and_JFK_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/TrumanFuneralWreath.jpg/220px-TrumanFuneralWreath.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Harry_S._and_Bess_Truman_graves_July_2007.jpg/220px-Harry_S._and_Bess_Truman_graves_July_2007.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Truman_pass-the-buck.jpg/220px-Truman_pass-the-buck.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Harry_S_TRuman_1973_Issue-8c.jpg/165px-Harry_S_TRuman_1973_Issue-8c.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg/27px-Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/23px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/26px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/15px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/PD-icon.svg/12px-PD-icon.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/100px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/100px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg/80px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/FDR_in_1933.jpg/100px-FDR_in_1933.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/100px-Harry_S._Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/P_vip.svg/19px-P_vip.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/A_coloured_voting_box.svg/19px-A_coloured_voting_box.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/21px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/poweredby_mediawiki.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"
] |
2001-08-23T21:11:09+00:00
|
en
|
/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
President of the United States from 1945 to 1953
"Harry Truman" redirects here. For other uses, see Harry Truman (disambiguation).
Harry S. Truman[b] (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States senator from Missouri from 1935 to 1945 and briefly as the 34th vice president in 1945 under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assuming the presidency after Roosevelt's death, Truman implemented the Marshall Plan in the wake of World War II to rebuild the economy of Western Europe and established both the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain the expansion of Soviet communism. He proposed numerous liberal domestic reforms, but few were enacted by the conservative coalition that dominated the Congress.
Truman was raised in Independence, Missouri, and during World War I fought in France as a captain in the Field Artillery. Returning home, he opened a haberdashery in Kansas City, Missouri, and was elected as a judge of Jackson County in 1922. Truman was elected to the United States Senate from Missouri in 1934. Between 1940 and 1944, he gained national prominence as chairman of the Truman Committee, which was aimed at reducing waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts.
Truman was elected vice president in the 1944 presidential election and assumed the presidency upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. It was only when Truman assumed the presidency that he was informed about the ongoing Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb. Truman authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the world war. Truman's administration engaged in an internationalist foreign policy by working closely with Britain. Truman staunchly denounced isolationism. He energized the New Deal coalition during the 1948 presidential election, despite a divided Democratic Party, and won a surprise victory against Republican Party nominee Thomas E. Dewey that secured his own presidential term.
Truman presided over the onset of the Cold War in 1947. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan in 1948. With the involvement of the US in the Korean War of 1950–1953, South Korea repelled the invasion by North Korea. Domestically, the postwar economic challenges such as strikes and inflation created a mixed reaction over the effectiveness of his administration. In 1948, he proposed Congress pass comprehensive civil rights legislation. Congress refused, so Truman issued Executive Order 9980 and Executive Order 9981, which prohibited discrimination in federal agencies and desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces.
Investigations revealed corruption in parts of the Truman administration, and this became a major campaign issue in the 1952 presidential election, although they did not implicate Truman himself. He was eligible for reelection in 1952 but, with poor polling, he chose not to run. Truman went into a retirement marked by the founding of his presidential library and the publication of his memoirs. It was long thought that his retirement years were financially difficult for Truman, resulting in Congress establishing a pension for former presidents, but evidence eventually emerged that he amassed considerable wealth, some of it while still president. When he left office, Truman's administration was heavily criticized. Despite this controversy, scholars rank Truman in the first quartile of American presidents. In addition, critical reassessment of his presidency has improved his reputation among historians and the general population.[7]
Early life, family, and education
Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884, the oldest child of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. He was named for his maternal uncle, Harrison "Harry" Young. His middle initial, "S", is not an abbreviation of one particular name. Rather, it honors both his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, a somewhat common practice in the American South at the time.[b] A brother, John Vivian, was born soon after Harry, followed by sister Mary Jane. While Truman's ancestry was primarily English, he also had some Scots-Irish, German, and French ancestry.[10][11]
John Truman was a farmer and livestock dealer. The family lived in Lamar until Harry was ten months old, when they moved to a farm near Harrisonville, Missouri. They next moved to Belton and in 1887 to his grandparents' 600-acre (240 ha) farm in Grandview. When Truman was six, his parents moved to Independence, Missouri, so he could attend the Presbyterian Church Sunday School. He did not attend a conventional school until he was eight years old. While living in Independence, he served as a Shabbos goy for Jewish neighbors, doing tasks for them on Shabbat that their religion prevented them from doing on that day.[14][15][16]
Truman was interested in music, reading, history, and math,[17] all encouraged by his mother, with whom he was very close. As president, he solicited political as well as personal advice from her. Truman learned to play the piano at age seven and took lessons from Mrs. E.C. White, a well-respected teacher in Kansas City. He got up at five o'clock every morning to practice the piano, which he studied more than twice a week until he was fifteen, becoming quite a skilled player. Truman worked as a page at the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City; his father had many friends active in the Democratic Party who helped young Harry to gain his first political position.
After graduating from Independence High School in 1901,[23] Truman took classes at Spalding's Commercial College, a Kansas City business school. He studied bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing but stopped after a year.
Working career
Truman was employed briefly in the mailroom of The Kansas City Star[25] before making use of his business college experience to obtain a job as a timekeeper for construction crews on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, which required him to sleep in workmen's camps along the rail lines. Truman and his brother Vivian later worked as clerks at the National Bank of Commerce in Kansas City.[27]
In 1906, Truman returned to the Grandview farm, where he lived until entering the army in 1917. During this period, he courted Bess Wallace.[29] He proposed in 1911, but she turned him down. Believing Wallace turned him down because he did not have much money, Truman later said he intended to propose again, but he wanted to have a better income than that earned by a farmer. In fact, Wallace later told Truman she did not intend to marry, but if she did, it would be to him. Still determined to improve his finances, during his years on the farm and immediately after World War I, Truman became active in several business ventures. These included a lead and zinc mine near Commerce, Oklahoma, a company that bought land and leased the oil drilling rights to prospectors, and speculation in Kansas City real estate. Truman occasionally derived some income from these enterprises, but none proved successful in the long term.[33]
Truman is the only president since William McKinley (elected in 1896) who did not earn a college degree.[34] In addition to having briefly attended business college, from 1923 to 1925 he took night courses toward an LL.B. at the Kansas City Law School (now the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law) but dropped out after losing reelection as county judge. He was informed by attorneys in the Kansas City area that his education and experience were probably sufficient to receive a license to practice law but did not pursue it because he won election as presiding judge.[36]
While serving as president in 1947, Truman applied for a law license.[37] A friend who was an attorney began working out the arrangements, and informed Truman that his application had to be notarized. By the time Truman received this information he had changed his mind, so he never followed up. After the discovery of Truman's application in 1996 the Missouri Supreme Court issued him a posthumous honorary law license.[38]
Military service
National Guard
Due to the lack of funds for college, Truman considered attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which had no tuition, but he was refused an appointment because of poor eyesight. He enlisted in the Missouri National Guard in 1905 and served until 1911 in the Kansas City-based Battery B, 2nd Missouri Field Artillery Regiment, in which he attained the rank of corporal. At his induction, his eyesight without glasses was unacceptable 20/50 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left (past the standard for legal blindness). The second time he took the test, he passed by secretly memorizing the eye chart. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, gray eyed, dark haired and of light complexion.[42]
World War I
When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, Truman rejoined Battery B, successfully recruiting new soldiers for the expanding unit, for which he was elected as their first lieutenant.[43] Before deployment to France, Truman was sent for training to Camp Doniphan, Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma, when his regiment was federalized as the 129th Field Artillery.[44] The regimental commander during its training was Robert M. Danford, who later served as the Army's Chief of Field Artillery. Truman recalled that he learned more practical, useful information from Danford in six weeks than from six months of formal Army instruction, and when Truman served as an artillery instructor, he consciously patterned his approach on Danford's.
Truman also ran the camp canteen with Edward Jacobson, a clothing store clerk he knew from Kansas City. Unlike most canteens funded by unit members, which usually lost money, the canteen operated by Truman and Jacobson turned a profit, returning each soldier's initial $2 investment and $10,000 in dividends in six months. At Fort Sill, Truman met Lieutenant James M. Pendergast, nephew of Tom Pendergast, a Kansas City political boss, a connection that had a profound influence on Truman's later life.[47]
In mid-1918, about one million soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were in France. Truman was promoted to captain effective April 23,[49] and in July became commander of the newly arrived Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division.[51] Battery D was known for its discipline problems, and Truman was initially unpopular because of his efforts to restore order. Despite attempts by the men to intimidate him into quitting, Truman succeeded by making his corporals and sergeants accountable for discipline. He promised to back them up if they performed capably and reduce them to private if they did not. In an event memorialized in battery lore as "The Battle of Who Run", his soldiers began to flee during a sudden night attack by the Germans in the Vosges Mountains; Truman succeeded at ordering his men to stay and fight, using profanity from his railroad days. The men were so surprised to hear Truman use such language that they immediately obeyed.
Truman's unit joined in a massive prearranged assault barrage on September 26, 1918, at the opening of the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[53] They advanced with difficulty over pitted terrain to follow the infantry, and set up an observation post west of Cheppy.[53] On September 27, Truman saw through his binoculars an enemy artillery battery deploying across a river in a position which would allow them to fire upon the neighboring 28th Division.[53] Truman's orders limited him to targets facing the 35th Division, but he ignored this and patiently waited until the Germans had walked their horses well away from their guns, ensuring they could not relocate out of range of Truman's battery.[53] He then ordered his men to open fire, and their attack destroyed the enemy battery.[53] His actions were credited with saving the lives of 28th Division soldiers who otherwise would have come under fire from the Germans. Truman was given a dressing down by his regimental commander, Colonel Karl D. Klemm, who threatened to convene a court-martial, but Klemm never followed through, and Truman was not punished.[53]
In other action during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, Truman's battery provided support for George S. Patton's tank brigade, and fired some of the last shots of the war on November 11, 1918. Battery D did not lose any men while under Truman's command in France. To show their appreciation for his leadership, his men presented him with a large loving cup upon their return to the United States after the war.
The war was a transformative experience in which Truman manifested his leadership qualities. He had entered the service in 1917 as a family farmer who had worked in clerical jobs that did not require the ability to motivate and direct others, but during the war, he gained leadership experience and a record of success that greatly enhanced and supported his post-war political career in Missouri.
Truman was brought up in the Presbyterian and Baptist churches,[57] but avoided revivals and sometimes ridiculed revivalist preachers.[58] He rarely spoke about religion, which to him, primarily meant ethical behavior along traditional Protestant lines.[59] Truman once wrote in a letter to his future wife, Bess: "You know that I know nothing about Lent and such things..."[60] Most of the soldiers he commanded in the war were Catholics, and one of his close friends was the 129th Field Artillery's chaplain, Monsignor L. Curtis Tiernan.[61] The two remained friends until Tiernan's death in 1960. Developing leadership and interpersonal skills that later made him a successful politician helped Truman get along with his Catholic soldiers, as he did with soldiers of other Christian denominations and the unit's Jewish members.[63][64]
Officers' Reserve Corps
Truman was honorably discharged from the Army as a captain on May 6, 1919.[65] In 1920, he was appointed a major in the Officers Reserve Corps.[66] He became a lieutenant colonel in 1925 and a colonel in 1932.[67] In the 1920s and 1930s he commanded 1st Battalion, 379th Field Artillery Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division.[68] After promotion to colonel, Truman advanced to command of the regiment.[69]
After his election to the U.S. Senate, Truman was transferred to the General Assignments Group, a holding unit for less active officers, although he had not been consulted in advance.[70] Truman protested his reassignment, which led to his resumption of regimental command.[70] He remained an active reservist until the early 1940s.[71] Truman volunteered for active military service during World War II, but was not accepted, partly because of age, and partly because President Franklin D. Roosevelt desired senators and congressmen who belonged to the military reserves to support the war effort by remaining in Congress, or by ending their active duty service and resuming their congressional seats.[72] He was an inactive reservist from the early 1940s until retiring as a colonel in the then redesignated U.S. Army Reserve on January 20, 1953.[73]
Military awards and decorations
Truman was awarded a World War I Victory Medal with two battle clasps (for St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne) and a Defensive Sector Clasp. He was also the recipient of two Armed Forces Reserve Medals.[74]
Politics
Jackson County judge
After his wartime service, Truman returned to Independence, where he married Bess Wallace on June 28, 1919. The couple had one child, Mary Margaret Truman.
Shortly before the wedding, Truman and Jacobson opened a haberdashery together at 104 West 12th Street in downtown Kansas City. After brief initial success, the store went bankrupt during the recession of 1921. Truman did not pay off the last of the debts from that venture until 1935, when he did so with the aid of banker William T. Kemper, who worked behind the scenes to enable Truman's brother Vivian to buy Truman's $5,600 promissory note during the asset sale of a bank that had failed in the Great Depression. The note had risen and fallen in value as it was bought and sold, interest accumulated and Truman made payments, so by the time the last bank to hold it failed, it was worth nearly $9,000. Thanks to Kemper's efforts, Vivian Truman was able to buy it for $1,000. Jacobson and Truman remained close friends even after their store failed, and Jacobson's advice to Truman on Zionism later played a role in the U.S. Government's decision to recognize Israel.
With the help of the Kansas City Democratic machine led by Tom Pendergast, Truman was elected in 1922 as County Court judge of Jackson County's eastern district—Jackson County's three-judge court included judges from the western district (Kansas City), the eastern district (the county outside Kansas City), and a presiding judge elected countywide. This was an administrative rather than a judicial court, similar to county commissions in many other jurisdictions. Truman lost his 1924 reelection campaign in a Republican wave led by President Calvin Coolidge's landslide election to a full term. Two years selling automobile club memberships convinced him that a public service career was safer for a family man approaching middle age, and he planned a run for presiding judge in 1926.
Truman won the job in 1926 with the support of the Pendergast machine, and he was re-elected in 1930. As presiding judge, Truman helped coordinate the Ten Year Plan, which transformed Jackson County and the Kansas City skyline with new public works projects, including an extensive series of roads and construction of a new Wight and Wight-designed County Court building. Also in 1926, he became president of the National Old Trails Road Association, and during his term he oversaw dedication of 12 Madonna of the Trail monuments to honor pioneer women.
In 1933, Truman was named Missouri's director for the Federal Re-Employment program (part of the Civil Works Administration) at the request of Postmaster General James Farley. This was payback to Pendergast for delivering the Kansas City vote to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election. The appointment confirmed Pendergast's control over federal patronage jobs in Missouri and marked the zenith of his power. It also created a relationship between Truman and Roosevelt's aide Harry Hopkins and assured Truman's avid support for the New Deal.
U.S. Senator from Missouri
After serving as a county judge, Truman wanted to run for governor or Congress,[85][86] but Pendergast rejected these ideas. Truman then thought he might serve out his career in some well-paying county sinecure;[86] circumstances changed when Pendergast reluctantly backed him as the machine's choice in the 1934 Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, after Pendergast's first four choices had declined to run. In the primary, Truman defeated Congressmen John J. Cochran and Jacob L. Milligan with the solid support of Jackson County, which was crucial to his candidacy. Also critical were the contacts he had made statewide in his capacity as a county official, member of the Freemasons,[c] military reservist,[d] and member of the American Legion.[e] In the general election, Truman defeated incumbent Republican Roscoe C. Patterson by nearly 20 percentage points in a continuing wave of pro-New Deal Democrats elected during the Great Depression.
Truman assumed office with a reputation as "the Senator from Pendergast". He referred patronage decisions to Pendergast but maintained that he voted with his own conscience. He later defended the patronage decisions by saying that "by offering a little to the machine, [he] saved a lot". In his first term, Truman spoke out against corporate greed and the dangers of Wall Street speculators and other moneyed special interests attaining too much influence in national affairs. Though he served on the high-profile Appropriations and Interstate Commerce Committees, he was largely ignored by President Roosevelt and had trouble getting calls returned from the White House.
During the U.S. Senate election in 1940, U.S. Attorney Maurice Milligan (former opponent Jacob Milligan's brother) and former governor Lloyd Stark both challenged Truman in the Democratic primary. Truman was politically weakened by Pendergast's imprisonment for income tax evasion the previous year; the senator had remained loyal, having claimed that Republican judges (not the Roosevelt administration) were responsible for the boss's downfall. St. Louis party leader Robert E. Hannegan's support of Truman proved crucial; he later brokered the deal that put Truman on the national ticket. In the end, Stark and Milligan split the anti-Pendergast vote in the Senate Democratic primary and Truman won by a total of 8,000 votes. In the November election, Truman defeated Republican Manvel H. Davis by 51–49 percent. As senator, Truman opposed both Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. Two days after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Truman said:
If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia, and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances.[99]
This quote without its last part later became a staple in Soviet and later Russian propaganda as "evidence" of an American conspiracy to destroy the country.[100][101]
Truman Committee
Further information: Truman Committee
In late 1940, Truman traveled to various military bases. The waste and profiteering he saw led him to use his chairmanship of the Committee on Military Affairs Subcommittee on War Mobilization to start investigations into abuses while the nation prepared for war. A new special committee was set up under Truman to conduct a formal investigation; the White House supported this plan rather than weather a more hostile probe by the House of Representatives. The main mission of the committee was to expose and fight waste and corruption in the gigantic government wartime contracts.
Truman's initiative convinced Senate leaders of the necessity for the committee, which reflected his demands for honest and efficient administration and his distrust of big business and Wall Street. Truman managed the committee "with extraordinary skill" and usually achieved consensus, generating heavy media publicity that gave him a national reputation.[102] Activities of the Truman Committee ranged from criticizing the "dollar-a-year men" hired by the government, many of whom proved ineffective, to investigating a shoddily built New Jersey housing project for war workers.[104] In March 1944, Truman attempted to probe the expensive Manhattan Project but was persuaded by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to discontinue with the investigation.[106]: 634
The committee reportedly saved as much as $15 billion (equivalent to $260 billion in 2023), and its activities put Truman on the cover of Time magazine. According to the Senate's historical minutes, in leading the committee, "Truman erased his earlier public image as an errand-runner for Kansas City politicos", and "no senator ever gained greater political benefits from chairing a special investigating committee than did Missouri's Harry S. Truman."
Vice presidency (1945)
Roosevelt's advisors knew that Roosevelt might not live out a fourth term and that his vice president would very likely become the next president. Henry Wallace had served as Roosevelt's vice president for four years and was popular on the left, but he was viewed as too far to the left and too friendly to labor for some of Roosevelt's advisers. The President and several of his confidantes wanted to replace Wallace with someone more acceptable to Democratic Party leaders. Outgoing Democratic National Committee chairman Frank C. Walker, incoming chairman Hannegan, party treasurer Edwin W. Pauley, Bronx party boss Ed Flynn, Chicago Mayor Edward Joseph Kelly, and lobbyist George E. Allen all wanted to keep Wallace off the ticket. Roosevelt told party leaders that he would accept either Truman or Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.[114]
State and city party leaders strongly preferred Truman, and Roosevelt agreed. Truman had repeatedly said that he was not in the race and that he did not want the vice presidency, and he remained reluctant. One reason was that his wife and sister Mary Jane were both on his Senate staff payroll, and he feared negative publicity. Truman did not campaign for the vice-presidential spot, though he welcomed the attention as evidence that he had become more than the "Senator from Pendergast". Truman's nomination was dubbed the "Second Missouri Compromise" and was well received. The Roosevelt–Truman ticket achieved a 432–99 electoral-vote victory in the election, defeating the Republican ticket of Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York and running mate Governor John Bricker of Ohio. Truman was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 1945. After the inauguration, Truman called his mother, who instructed him, "Now you behave yourself."[118]
Truman's brief vice-presidency was relatively uneventful. Truman mostly presided over the Senate and attended parties and receptions. He kept the same offices from his Senate years, mostly only using the Vice President's official office in the Capitol to greet visitors. Truman was the first vice president to have a Secret Service agent assigned to him. Truman envisioned the office as a liaison between the Senate and the president. On April 10, 1945,[120] Truman cast his only tie-breaking vote as president of the Senate, against a Robert A. Taft amendment that would have blocked the postwar delivery of Lend-Lease Act items contracted for during the war.[121][122] Roosevelt rarely contacted him, even to inform him of major decisions; the president and vice president met alone together only twice during their time in office.
In one of his first acts as vice president, Truman created some controversy when he attended the disgraced Pendergast's funeral. He brushed aside the criticism, saying simply, "He was always my friend and I have always been his." He had rarely discussed world affairs or domestic politics with Roosevelt; he was uninformed about major initiatives relating to the war and the top-secret Manhattan Project, which was about to test the world's first atomic bomb. In an event that generated negative publicity for Truman, he was photographed with actress Lauren Bacall sitting atop the piano at the National Press Club as he played for soldiers.[125]
Truman had been vice president for 82 days when President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Truman, presiding over the Senate, as usual, had just adjourned the session for the day and was preparing to have a drink in House Speaker Sam Rayburn's office when he received an urgent message to go immediately to the White House, where Eleanor Roosevelt told him that her husband had died after a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Truman asked her if there was anything he could do for her; she replied, "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now!" He was sworn in as president at 7:09 p.m. in the West Wing of the White House, by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone.[129]
Presidency (1945–1953)
At the White House, Truman replaced Roosevelt holdovers with old confidants. The White House was badly understaffed with no more than a dozen aides; they could barely keep up with the heavy workflow of a greatly expanded executive department. Truman acted as his own chief of staff on a daily basis, as well as his own liaison with Congress—a body he already knew very well. He was not well prepared to deal with the press, and never achieved the jovial familiarity of FDR. Filled with latent anger about all the setbacks in his career, he bitterly mistrusted journalists. He saw them as enemies lying in wait for his next careless miscue. Truman was a very hard worker, often to the point of exhaustion, which left him testy, easily annoyed, and on the verge of appearing unpresidential or petty. In terms of major issues, he discussed them in depth with top advisors. He mastered the details of the federal budget as well as anyone. Truman was a poor speaker reading a text. However, his visible anger made him an effective stump speaker, denouncing his enemies as his supporters hollered back at him "Give Em Hell, Harry!"[130]
Truman surrounded himself with his old friends and appointed several to high positions that seemed well beyond their competence, including his two secretaries of the treasury, Fred Vinson and John Snyder. His closest friend in the White House was his military aide Harry H. Vaughan, who knew little of military or foreign affairs and was criticized for trading access to the White House for expensive gifts. Truman loved to spend as much time as possible playing poker, telling stories and sipping bourbon. Alonzo Hamby notes that:
... to many in the general public, gambling and bourbon swilling, however low-key, were not quite presidential. Neither was the intemperant "give 'em hell" campaign style nor the occasional profane phrase uttered in public. Poker exemplified a larger problem: the tension between his attempts at an image of leadership necessarily a cut above the ordinary and an informality that at times appeared to verge on crudeness.
First term (1945–1949)
Assuming office
On his first full day, Truman told reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don't know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me."
Truman asked all the members of Roosevelt's cabinet to remain in place, but he soon replaced almost all of them, especially with old friends from his Senate days.
Dropping atomic bombs on Japan
Truman benefited from a honeymoon period from the success in defeating Nazi Germany in Europe and the nation celebrated V-E Day on May 8, 1945, his 61st birthday.
Although Truman was told briefly on the afternoon of April 12 that he had a new, highly destructive weapon, it was not until April 25 that Secretary of War Henry Stimson told him the details:
We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire destruction prophesied in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous Ark.
— Harry Truman, writing about the atomic bomb in his diary on July 25, 1945[140]
Truman journeyed to Berlin for the Potsdam Conference with Joseph Stalin and the British leader Winston Churchill. He was there when he learned the Trinity test—the first atomic bomb—on July 16 had been successful. He hinted to Stalin that he was about to use a new kind of weapon against the Japanese. Though this was the first time the Soviets had been officially given information about the atomic bomb, Stalin was already aware of the bomb project—having learned about it through atomic espionage long before Truman did.
In August, the Japanese government refused surrender demands as specifically outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. With the invasion of Japan imminent, Truman approved the schedule for dropping the two available bombs. Truman maintained the position that attacking Japan with atomic bombs saved many lives on both sides; a military estimate for the invasion of Japan submitted to Truman by Herbert Hoover indicated that an invasion could take at least a year and result in 500,000 to 1,000,000 Allied casualties.[144] A study done for the staff of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson by William Shockley estimated that invading Japan would cost 1.7–4 million American casualties, including 400,000–800,000 fatalities, and five to ten million Japanese fatalities if Japanese civilians participated in the defense of Japan.[145] The U.S. Army Service Forces estimated in their document "Redeployment of the United States Army after the Defeat of Germany," that between June 1945 and December 1946 the Army would be required to furnish replacements for 43,000 dead and evacuated wounded every month during this period.[146] From analysis of the replacement schedule and projected strengths in overseas theaters, it suggested that Army losses alone in those categories, excluding the Navy and Marine Corps, would be approximately 863,000 through the first part of 1947, of whom 267,000 would be killed or missing.[147]
Hiroshima was bombed on August 6, and Nagasaki three days later, leaving 105,000 dead.[148] The Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 9 and invaded Manchuria. Japan agreed to surrender the following day.
Supporters[f] of Truman's decision argue that, given the tenacious Japanese defense of the outlying islands, the bombings saved hundreds of thousands of lives of Allied prisoners, Japanese civilians, and combatants on both sides that would have been lost in an invasion of Japan. Some modern criticism has argued that the use of nuclear weapons was unnecessary, given that conventional attacks or a demonstrative bombing of an uninhabited area might have forced Japan's surrender, and therefore assert that the attack constituted a crime of war.[151][152][153] In 1948 Truman defended his decision to use atomic bombs:
As President of the United States, I had the fateful responsibility of deciding whether or not to use this weapon for the first time. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. But the President cannot duck hard problems—he cannot pass the buck. I made the decision after discussions with the ablest men in our Government, and after long and prayerful consideration. I decided that the bomb should be used to end the war quickly and save countless lives—Japanese as well as American.[154]
Truman continued to strongly defend himself in his memoirs in 1955–1956, stating many lives could have been lost had the United States invaded mainland Japan without the atomic bombs. In 1963, he stood by his decision, telling a journalist "it was done to save 125,000 youngsters on the U.S. side and 125,000 on the Japanese side from getting killed and that is what it did. It probably also saved a half million youngsters on both sides from being maimed for life."[155]
Labor unions, strikes and economic issues
See also: Strike wave of 1946
The end of World War II was followed by an uneasy transition from war to a peacetime economy. The costs of the war effort had been enormous, and Truman was intent on diminishing military services as quickly as possible to curtail the government's military expenditures. The effect of demobilization on the economy was unknown, proposals were met with skepticism and resistance, and fears existed that the nation would slide back into depression. In Roosevelt's final years, Congress began to reassert legislative power and Truman faced a congressional body where Republicans and conservative southern Democrats formed a powerful "conservative coalition" voting bloc. The New Deal had greatly strengthened labor unions and they formed a major base of support for Truman's Democratic Party. The Republicans, working with big business, made it their highest priority to weaken those unions.[156] The unions had been promoted by the government during the war and tried to make their gains permanent through large-scale strikes in major industries. Meanwhile, price controls were slowly ending, and inflation was soaring. Truman's response to the widespread dissatisfaction was generally seen as ineffective.
When a national rail strike threatened in May 1946, Truman seized the railroads in an attempt to contain the issue, but two key railway unions struck anyway. The entire national railroad system was shut down, immobilizing 24,000 freight trains and 175,000 passenger trains a day.[158] For two days, public anger mounted. His staff prepared a speech that Truman read to Congress calling for a new law, whereby railroad strikers would be drafted into the army. As he concluded his address, he was handed a note that the strike had been settled on presidential terms; nevertheless, a few hours later, the House voted to draft the strikers. The bill died in the Senate.[160]
Approval rating falls; Republicans win Congress in 1946
The president's approval rating dropped from 82 percent in the polls in January 1946 to 52 percent by June. This dissatisfaction led to large Democratic losses in the 1946 midterm elections, and Republicans took control of Congress for the first time since 1930. When Truman dropped to 32 percent in the polls, Democratic Arkansas Senator William Fulbright suggested that Truman resign; the president said he did not care what Senator "Halfbright" said.
Truman cooperated closely with the Republican leaders on foreign policy but fought them bitterly on domestic issues. The power of the labor unions was significantly curtailed by the Taft–Hartley Act which was enacted over Truman's veto. Truman twice vetoed bills to lower income tax rates in 1947. Although the initial vetoes were sustained, Congress overrode his veto of a tax cut bill in 1948. In one notable instance of bipartisanship, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which replaced the secretary of state with the Speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate as successor to the president after the vice president.
Proposes "Fair Deal" liberalism
As he readied for the 1948 election, Truman made clear his identity as a Democrat in the New Deal tradition, advocating for national health insurance,[165] and repeal of the Taft–Hartley Act. He broke with the New Deal by initiating an aggressive civil rights program which he termed a moral priority. His economic and social vision constituted a broad legislative agenda that came to be called the "Fair Deal." Truman's proposals were not well received by Congress, even with renewed Democratic majorities in Congress after 1948. The Solid South rejected civil rights as those states still enforced segregation. Only one of the major Fair Deal bills, the Housing Act of 1949, was ever enacted.[168] Many of the New Deal programs that persisted during Truman's presidency have since received minor improvements and extensions.
Marshall Plan, Cold War, and China
As a Wilsonian internationalist, Truman supported Roosevelt's policy in favor of the creation of the United Nations and included Eleanor Roosevelt on the delegation to the first UN General Assembly. With the Soviet Union expanding its sphere of influence through Eastern Europe, Truman and his foreign policy advisors took a hard line against the USSR. In this, he matched U.S. public opinion which quickly came to believe the Soviets were intent upon world domination.
Although he had little personal expertise on foreign matters, Truman listened closely to his top advisors, especially George Marshall and Dean Acheson. The Republicans controlled Congress in 1947–1948, so he worked with their leaders, especially Senator Arthur H. Vandenburg, chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee.[173] He won bipartisan support for both the Truman Doctrine, which formalized a policy of Soviet containment, and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to help rebuild postwar Europe.
To get Congress to spend the vast sums necessary to restart the moribund European economy, Truman used an ideological argument, arguing that communism flourishes in economically deprived areas. As part of the U.S. Cold War strategy, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 and reorganized military forces by merging the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment (later the Department of Defense) and creating the U.S. Air Force. The act also created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Council. On November 4, 1952, Truman authorized the official, though at the time, confidential creation of the National Security Agency (NSA).[178][179]
Truman did not know what to do about China, where the Nationalists and Communists were fighting a large-scale civil war. The Nationalists had been major wartime allies and had large-scale popular support in the United States, along with a powerful lobby. General George Marshall spent most of 1946 in China trying to negotiate a compromise but failed. He convinced Truman the Nationalists would never win on their own and a very large-scale U.S. intervention to stop the Communists would significantly weaken U.S. opposition to the Soviets in Europe. By 1949, the Communists under Mao Zedong had won the civil war, the United States had a new enemy in Asia, and Truman came under fire from conservatives for "losing" China.[180]
Berlin airlift
Further information: Berlin Blockade
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. The Allies had not negotiated a deal to guarantee supply of the sectors deep within the Soviet-occupied zone. The commander of the U.S. occupation zone in Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, proposed sending a large armored column across the Soviet zone to West Berlin with instructions to defend itself if it were stopped or attacked. Truman believed this would entail an unacceptable risk of war. He approved Ernest Bevin's plan to supply the blockaded city by air.
On June 25, the Allies initiated the Berlin Airlift, a campaign to deliver food, coal and other supplies using military aircraft on a massive scale. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before, and no single nation had the capability, either logistically or materially, to accomplish it. The airlift worked; ground access was again granted on May 11, 1949. Nevertheless, the airlift continued for several months after that. The Berlin Airlift was one of Truman's great foreign policy successes; it significantly aided his election campaign in 1948.
Recognition of Israel
Truman had long taken an interest in the history of the Middle East and was sympathetic to Jews who sought to re-establish their ancient homeland in Mandatory Palestine. As a senator, he announced support for Zionism; in 1943 he called for a homeland for those Jews who survived the Nazi regime. However, State Department officials were reluctant to offend the Arabs, who were opposed to the establishment of a Jewish state in the large region long populated and dominated culturally by Arabs. Secretary of Defense James Forrestal warned Truman of the importance of Saudi Arabian oil in another war; Truman replied he would decide his policy on the basis of justice, not oil. U.S. diplomats with experience in the region were opposed, but Truman told them he had few Arabs among his constituents.
Palestine was secondary to the goal of protecting the "Northern Tier" of Greece, Turkey, and Iran from communism, as promised by the Truman Doctrine. Weary of both the convoluted politics of the Middle East and pressure by Jewish leaders, Truman was undecided on his policy and skeptical about how the Jewish "underdogs" would handle power.[185][186] He later cited as decisive in his recognition of the Jewish state the advice of his former business partner, Eddie Jacobson, a non-religious Jew whom Truman absolutely trusted.
Truman decided to recognize Israel over the objections of Secretary of State George Marshall, who feared it would hurt relations with the populous Arab states. Marshall believed the paramount threat to the United States was the Soviet Union and feared Arab oil would be lost to the United States in the event of war; he warned Truman the United States was "playing with fire with nothing to put it out". Truman recognized the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, eleven minutes after it declared itself a nation. Of his decision to recognize the Israeli state, Truman said in an interview years later: "Hitler had been murdering Jews right and left. I saw it, and I dream about it even to this day. The Jews needed some place where they could go. It is my attitude that the American government couldn't stand idly by while the victims [of] Hitler's madness are not allowed to build new lives."
Calls for Civil Rights
Under his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Fair Employment Practices Committee was created to address racial discrimination in employment,[191] and in 1946, Truman created the President's Committee on Civil Rights. On June 29, 1947, Truman became the first president to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The speech took place at the Lincoln Memorial during the NAACP convention and was carried nationally on radio. In that speech, Truman laid out the need to end discrimination, which would be advanced by the first comprehensive, presidentially proposed civil rights legislation. Truman on "civil rights and human freedom", declared:[192]
It is my deep conviction that we have reached a turning point in the long history of our country's efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens … it is more important today than ever before to ensure that all Americans enjoy these rights. … [And] When I say all Americans, I mean all Americans … Our immediate task is to remove the last remnants of the barriers which stand between millions of our citizens and their birthright. There is no justifiable reason for discrimination because of ancestry, or religion, or race, or color. We must not tolerate such limitations on the freedom of any of our people and on their enjoyment of basic rights which every citizen in a truly democratic society must possess. Every man should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in making the public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trial in a fair court. We must ensure that these rights – on equal terms – are enjoyed by every citizen. To these principles I pledge my full and continued support. Many of our people still suffer the indignity of insult, the harrowing fear of intimidation, and, I regret to say, the threat of physical injury and mob violence. Prejudice and intolerance in which these evils are rooted still exist. The conscience of our nation, and the legal machinery which enforces it, have not yet secured to each citizen full freedom from fear.
In February 1948, Truman delivered a formal message to Congress requesting adoption of his 10-point program to secure civil rights, including anti-lynching, voter rights, and elimination of segregation. "No political act since the Compromise of 1877," argued biographer Taylor Branch, "so profoundly influenced race relations; in a sense it was a repeal of 1877."[193]
1948 election
The 1948 presidential election is remembered for Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory. In the spring of 1948, Truman's public approval rating stood at 36 percent, and the president was nearly universally regarded as incapable of winning the general election. At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Truman attempted to unify the party with a vague civil rights plank in the party platform. His intention was to assuage the internal conflicts between the northern and southern wings of his party. Events overtook his efforts. A sharp address given by Mayor Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis—as well as the local political interests of a number of urban bosses—convinced the convention to adopt a stronger civil rights plank, which Truman approved wholeheartedly.[196] Truman delivered an aggressive acceptance speech attacking the 80th Congress, which Truman called the "Do Nothing Congress," and promising to win the election and "make these Republicans like it."
Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home—but not for housing. They are strong for labor—but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage—the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all—but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine—for people who can afford them ... They think American standard of living is a fine thing—so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.
— Harry S. Truman, October 13, 1948, St. Paul, Minnesota, Radio Broadcast[198][199][200][201]
Within two weeks of the 1948 convention Truman issued Executive Order 9981, ending racial discrimination in the Armed Services, and Executive Order 9980 to end discrimination in federal agencies.[202][203] Truman took a considerable political risk in backing civil rights, and many seasoned Democrats were concerned the loss of Dixiecrat support might seriously weaken the party. South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond, a segregationist, declared his candidacy for the presidency on a Dixiecrat ticket and led a full-scale revolt of Southern "states' rights" proponents. This rebellion on the right was matched by one on the left, led by Wallace on the Progressive Party ticket. The Democratic Party was splitting three ways and victory in November seemed unlikely. For his running mate, Truman accepted Kentucky Senator Alben W. Barkley, though he really wanted Justice William O. Douglas, who turned down the nomination.
Truman's political advisors described the political scene as "one unholy, confusing cacophony." They told Truman to speak directly to the people, in a personal way.[206] Campaign manager William J. Bray said Truman took this advice, and spoke personally and passionately, sometimes even setting aside his notes to talk to Americans "of everything that is in my heart and soul."[207]
The campaign was a 21,928-mile (35,290 km) presidential odyssey. In a personal appeal to the nation, Truman crisscrossed the United States by train; his "whistle stop" speeches from the rear platform of the presidential car, Ferdinand Magellan, came to represent his campaign. His combative appearances captured the popular imagination and drew huge crowds. Six stops in Michigan drew a combined half-million people; a full million turned out for a New York City ticker-tape parade.
The large crowds at Truman's whistle-stop events were an important sign of a change in momentum in the campaign, but this shift went virtually unnoticed by the national press corps. It continued reporting Republican Thomas Dewey's apparent impending victory as a certainty. The three major polling organizations stopped polling well before the November 2 election date—Roper in September, and Crossley and Gallup in October—thus failing to measure the period when Truman appears to have surged past Dewey.
In the end, Truman held his progressive Midwestern base, won most of the Southern states despite the civil rights plank, and squeaked through with narrow victories in a few critical states, notably Ohio, California, and Illinois. The final tally showed the president had secured 303 electoral votes, Dewey 189, and Thurmond only 39. Henry Wallace got none. The defining image of the campaign came after Election Day, when an ecstatic Truman held aloft the erroneous front page of the Chicago Tribune with a huge headline proclaiming "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Full elected term (1949–1953)
Truman's second inauguration was the first ever televised nationally.
Hydrogen bomb decision
The Soviet Union's atomic bomb project progressed much faster than had been expected, and they detonated their first bomb on August 29, 1949. Over the next several months there was an intense debate that split the U.S. government, military, and scientific communities regarding whether to proceed with the development of the far more powerful hydrogen bomb. The debate touched on matters from technical feasibility to strategic value to the morality of creating a massively destructive weapon. On January 31, 1950, Truman made the decision to go forward on the grounds that if the Soviets could make an H-bomb, the United States must do so as well and stay ahead in the nuclear arms race. The development achieved fruition with the first U.S. H-bomb test on October 31, 1952, which was officially announced by Truman on January 7, 1953.
Korean War
Further information: Korean War
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army under Kim Il-sung invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War. In the early weeks of the war, the North Koreans easily pushed back their southern counterparts. Truman called for a naval blockade of Korea, only to learn that due to budget cutbacks, the U.S. Navy could not enforce such a measure.
Truman promptly urged the United Nations to intervene; it did, authorizing troops under the UN flag led by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. Truman decided he did not need formal authorization from Congress, believing that most legislators supported his position; this would come back to haunt him later when the stalemated conflict was dubbed "Mr. Truman's War" by legislators. Rockoff writes that "President Truman responded quickly to the June invasion by authorizing the use of U.S. troops and ordering air strikes and a naval blockade. He did not, however, seek a declaration of war, or call for full mobilization, in part because such actions might have been misinterpreted by Russia and China. Instead, on July 19 he called for partial mobilization and asked Congress for an appropriation of $10 billion for the war."[224] Cohen writes that: "All of Truman's advisers saw the events in Korea as a test of American will to resist Soviet attempts to expand their power, and their system. The United States ordered warships to the Taiwan Strait to prevent Mao's forces from invading Taiwan and mopping up the remnants of Chiang Kai-shek's army there."[225]
However, on July 3, 1950, Truman did give Senate Majority Leader Scott W. Lucas a draft resolution titled "Joint Resolution Expressing Approval of the Action Taken in Korea". Lucas stated Congress supported the use of force, the formal resolution would pass but was unnecessary, and the consensus in Congress was to acquiesce. Truman responded he did not want "to appear to be trying to get around Congress and use extra-Constitutional powers," and added that it was "up to Congress whether such a resolution should be introduced."[226]
By August 1950, U.S. troops pouring into South Korea under UN auspices were able to stabilize the situation. Responding to criticism over readiness, Truman fired his secretary of defense, Louis A. Johnson, replacing him with the retired General Marshall. With UN approval, Truman decided on a "rollback" policy—liberation of North Korea. UN forces led by General Douglas MacArthur led the counterattack, scoring a stunning surprise victory with an amphibious landing at the Battle of Inchon that nearly trapped the invaders. UN forces marched north, toward the Yalu River boundary with China, with the goal of reuniting Korea under UN auspices.
China surprised the UN forces with a large-scale invasion in November. The UN forces were forced back to below the 38th parallel, then recovered. By early 1951 the war became a fierce stalemate at about the 38th parallel where it had begun. Truman rejected MacArthur's request to attack Chinese supply bases north of Yalu, but MacArthur promoted his plan to Republican House leader Joseph Martin, who leaked it to the press. Truman was gravely concerned further escalation of the war might lead to open conflict with the Soviet Union, which was already supplying weapons and providing warplanes (with Korean markings and Soviet aircrew). Therefore, on April 11, 1951, Truman fired MacArthur from his commands.
The dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur was among the least politically popular decisions in presidential history. Truman's approval ratings plummeted, and he faced calls for his impeachment from, among others, Senator Robert A. Taft. Fierce criticism from virtually all quarters accused Truman of refusing to shoulder the blame for a war gone sour and blaming his generals instead. Others, including Eleanor Roosevelt and all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly supported Truman's decision. MacArthur meanwhile returned to the United States to a hero's welcome, and addressed a joint session of Congress, a speech the president called "a bunch of damn bullshit."
Truman and his generals considered the use of nuclear weapons against the Chinese army, but ultimately chose not to escalate the war to a nuclear level.[235] The war remained a frustrating stalemate for two years, with over 30,000 Americans killed, until an armistice ended the fighting in 1953. In February 1952, Truman's approval mark stood at 22 percent according to Gallup polls, which is the all-time lowest approval mark for a sitting U.S. president, though it was matched by Richard Nixon in 1974.[238]
Worldwide defense
The escalation of the Cold War was highlighted by Truman's approval of NSC 68, a secret statement of foreign policy. It called for tripling the defense budget, and the globalization and militarization of containment policy whereby the United States and its NATO allies would respond militarily to actual Soviet expansion. The document was drafted by Paul Nitze, who consulted State and Defense officials and was formally approved by President Truman as the official national strategy after the war began in Korea. It called for partial mobilization of the U.S. economy to build armaments faster than the Soviets. The plan called for strengthening Europe, weakening the Soviet Union, and building up the United States both militarily and economically.
Truman was a strong supporter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which established a formal peacetime military alliance with Canada and democratic European nations of the Western Bloc following World War II. The treaty establishing it was widely popular and easily passed the Senate in 1949; Truman appointed General Eisenhower as commander. NATO's goals were to contain Soviet expansion in Europe and to send a clear message to communist leaders that the world's democracies were willing and able to build new security structures in support of democratic ideals. The United States, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, and Canada were the original treaty signatories. The alliance resulted in the Soviets establishing a similar alliance, called the Warsaw Pact.
General Marshall was Truman's principal adviser on foreign policy matters, influencing such decisions as the U.S. choice against offering direct military aid to Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist Chinese forces in the Chinese Civil War against their communist opponents. Marshall's opinion was contrary to the counsel of almost all of Truman's other advisers; Marshall thought propping up Chiang's forces would drain U.S. resources necessary for Europe to deter the Soviets. When the communists took control of the mainland, establishing the People's Republic of China and driving the nationalists to Taiwan, Truman would have been willing to maintain some relationship between the United States and the new government, but Mao was unwilling. Truman announced on January 5, 1950, that the United States would not engage in any dispute involving the Taiwan Strait, and that he would not intervene in the event of an attack by the PRC.[244]
On June 27, 1950, after the outbreak of fighting in Korea, Truman ordered the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent further conflict between the communist government on the China mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan.[246]
Truman usually worked well with his top staff – the exceptions were Israel in 1948 and Spain in 1945–1950. Truman was a very strong opponent of Francisco Franco, the right-wing dictator of Spain. He withdrew the American ambassador (but diplomatic relations were not formally broken), kept Spain out of the UN, and rejected any Marshall Plan financial aid to Spain. However, as the Cold War escalated, support for Spain was strong in Congress, the Pentagon, the business community and other influential elements especially Catholics and cotton growers.
Liberal opposition to Spain had faded after the Wallace element broke with the Democratic Party in 1948; the CIO became passive on the issue. As Secretary of State Acheson increased his pressure on Truman, the president stood alone in his administration as his own top appointees wanted to normalize relations. When China entered the Korean War and pushed American forces back, the argument for allies became irresistible. Admitting he was "overruled and worn down," Truman relented and sent an ambassador and made loans available.[247]
Soviet espionage and McCarthyism
In August 1948, Whittaker Chambers, a former spy for the Soviets and a senior editor at Time magazine, testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He said an underground communist network had worked inside the U.S. government during the 1930s, of which Chambers had been a member, along with Alger Hiss, until recently a senior State Department official. Chambers did not allege any spying during the Truman presidency. Although Hiss denied the allegations, he was convicted in January 1950 for perjury for denials under oath.
The Soviet Union's success in exploding an atomic weapon in 1949 and the fall of the nationalist Chinese the same year led many Americans to conclude subversion by Soviet spies was responsible and to demand that communists be rooted out from the government and other places of influence. Hoping to contain these fears, Truman began a "loyalty program" with Executive Order 9835 in 1947.[250] However, Truman got himself into deeper trouble when he called the Hiss trial a "red herring".[251] Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy accused the State Department of harboring communists and rode the controversy to political fame, leading to the Second Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism. McCarthy's stifling accusations made it difficult to speak out against him. This led Truman to call McCarthy "the greatest asset the Kremlin has" by "torpedo[ing] the bipartisan foreign policy of the United States."[255]
Charges that Soviet agents had infiltrated the government were believed by 78 percent of the people in 1946 and became a major campaign issue for Eisenhower in 1952. Truman was reluctant to take a more radical stance, because he felt it could threaten civil liberties and add to a potential hysteria. At the same time, he felt political pressure to indicate a strong national security. It is unclear to what extent President Truman was briefed of the Venona intercepts, which discovered widespread evidence of Soviet espionage on the atom bomb project and afterward.[258][259] Truman continued his own loyalty program for some time while believing the issue of communist espionage was overstated.[258] In 1949, Truman described American communist leaders, whom his administration was prosecuting, as "traitors". Truman would later state in private conversations with friends that his creation of a loyalty program had been a "terrible" mistake.
In 1950, Truman vetoed the McCarran Internal Security Act, which was passed by Congress just after the start of the Korean War and was aimed at controlling communists in America. Truman called the Act, "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press, and assembly since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798," a "mockery of the Bill of Rights" and a "long step toward totalitarianism".[262][263] His veto was immediately overridden by Congress and the Act became law. In the mid-1960s, parts of the Act were found to be unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court.[264][265]
Blair House and assassination attempt
In 1948, Truman ordered an addition to the exterior of the White House: a second-floor balcony in the south portico, which came to be known as the Truman Balcony. The addition was unpopular. Some said it spoiled the appearance of the south facade, but it gave the First Family more living space. Meanwhile, structural deterioration and a near-imminent collapse of the White House led to a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the building's interior from 1949 to 1952. Architectural and engineering investigations during 1948 deemed it unsafe for occupancy. Truman, his family, and the entire residence staff were relocated across the street into Blair House during the renovations. As the newer West Wing, including the Oval Office, remained open, Truman walked to and from his work across the street each morning and afternoon.
External videos Newsreel scenes in English of the assassination attempt on U.S. President Harry S. Truman
On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. On the street outside the residence, Torresola mortally wounded a White House policeman, Leslie Coffelt. Before he died, the officer shot and killed Torresola. Collazo was wounded and stopped before he entered the house. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in 1952. Truman commuted his sentence to life in prison. To try to settle the question of Puerto Rican independence, Truman allowed a plebiscite in Puerto Rico in 1952 to determine the status of its relationship to the United States. Nearly 82 percent of the people voted in favor of a new constitution for the Estado Libre Asociado, a continued 'associated free state.'[270]
Steel and coal strikes
Further information: 1952 steel strike
In response to a labor/management impasse arising from bitter disagreements over wage and price controls, Truman instructed his Secretary of Commerce, Charles W. Sawyer, to take control of a number of the nation's steel mills in April 1952. Truman cited his authority as commander in chief and the need to maintain an uninterrupted supply of steel for munitions for the war in Korea. The Supreme Court found Truman's actions unconstitutional, however, and reversed the order in a major separation-of-powers decision, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952). The 6–3 decision, which held that Truman's assertion of authority was too vague and was not rooted in any legislative action by Congress, was delivered by a court composed entirely of justices appointed by either Truman or Roosevelt. The high court's reversal of Truman's order was one of the notable defeats of his presidency.[271]
Scandals and controversies
In 1950, the Senate, led by Estes Kefauver, investigated numerous charges of corruption among senior administration officials, some of whom received fur coats and deep freezers in exchange for favors. A large number of employees of the Internal Revenue Bureau (today the IRS) were accepting bribes; 166 employees either resigned or were fired in 1950, with many soon facing indictment. When Attorney General J. Howard McGrath fired the special prosecutor in early 1952 for being too zealous, Truman fired McGrath. Truman submitted a reorganization plan to reform the IRB; Congress passed it, but corruption was a major issue in the 1952 presidential election.
On December 6, 1950, Washington Post music critic Paul Hume wrote a critical review of a concert by the president's daughter Margaret Truman:
Miss Truman is a unique American phenomenon with a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality ... [she] cannot sing very well ... is flat a good deal of the time—more last night than at any time we have heard her in past years ... has not improved in the years we have heard her ... [and] still cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish.
Truman wrote a scathing response:
I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an 'eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay.' It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively that you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work. Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below! Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry.
Truman was criticized by many for the letter. However, he pointed out that he wrote it as a loving father and not as the president.
In 1951, William M. Boyle, Truman's longtime friend and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was forced to resign after being charged with financial corruption.[280]
Civil rights
A 1947 report by the Truman administration titled To Secure These Rights presented a detailed ten-point agenda of civil rights reforms. Speaking about this report, international developments have to be taken into account, for with the UN Charter being passed in 1945, the question of whether international human rights law could be applicable also on an inner-land basis became crucial in the United States. Though the report acknowledged such a path was not free from controversy in the 1940s United States, it nevertheless raised the possibility for the UN-Charter to be used as a legal tool to combat racial discrimination in the United States.[281]
In February 1948, the president submitted a civil rights agenda to Congress that proposed creating several federal offices devoted to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices. This provoked a storm of criticism from southern Democrats in the runup to the national nominating convention, but Truman refused to compromise, saying: "My forebears were Confederates ... but my very stomach turned over when I had learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of Army trucks in Mississippi and beaten."
Tales of the abuse, violence, and persecution suffered by many African American veterans upon their return from World War II infuriated Truman and were major factors in his decision to issue Executive Order 9981, in July 1948, requiring equal opportunity in the armed forces. In the early 1950s after several years of planning, recommendations and revisions between Truman, the Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity and the various branches of the military, the services became racially integrated. Truman later appointed people who aligned with civil rights agenda. He appointed fellow colonel and civil rights icon Blake R. Van Leer to the board of the United States Naval Academy and UNESCO who had a focus to work against racism through influential statements on race.[286][287]
Executive Order 9980, also in 1948, made it illegal to discriminate against persons applying for civil service positions based on race. A third, in 1951, established the Committee on Government Contract Compliance, which ensured defense contractors did not discriminate because of race.
Administration and cabinet
Foreign policy
From 1947 until 1989, world affairs were dominated by the Cold War, in which the U.S. and its allies faced the Soviet Union and its allies. There was no large-scale fighting but instead several local civil wars as well as the ever-present threat of a catastrophic nuclear war.[290][291]
Unlike Roosevelt, Truman distrusted Stalin and the Soviet Union, and did not have FDR's faith in the UN to soften major tensions. Nevertheless, he cooperated in terms of dividing control over Germany. Soviet efforts to use its army to control politics in Eastern Europe and Iran angered Washington. The final break came in 1947 when the Labour government in London could no longer afford to help Greece fight communism and asked Washington to assume responsibility for suppressing the Communist uprising there.[292][293] The result was the Truman Doctrine of 1947–48 which made it national policy to contain Communist expansion.[294]
Truman was supported by the great majority of Democrats, after he forced out the Henry Wallace faction that wanted good terms with Moscow.[295] Truman's policy had the strong support of most Republicans, who led by Senator Arthur Vandenberg overcame the isolationist Republicans led by Senator Robert A. Taft.[296]
In 1948, Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which supplied Western Europe—including Germany—with US$13 billion in reconstruction aid. Stalin vetoed any participation by East European nations. A similar program was operated by the United States to restore the Japanese economy. The U.S. actively sought allies, which it subsidized with military and economic "foreign aid", as well as diplomatic support. The main diplomatic initiative was the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, committing the United States to nuclear defense of Western Europe. The result was a peace in Europe, coupled with the fear of Soviet invasion and a reliance on American protection.[297] The United States operated a worldwide network of bases for its Army, Navy and Air Force, with large contingents stationed in Germany, Japan and South Korea.[298] Washington had a weak intelligence community before 1942, and the Soviets had a very effective network of spies. The solution was to create the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1947.[299] Economic and propaganda warfare against the communist world became part of the American toolbox.[300]
The containment policy was developed by State Department official George Kennan in 1947.[301] Kennan characterized the Soviet Union as an aggressive, anti-Western power that necessitated containment, a characterization which would shape US foreign policy for decades to come. The idea of containment was to match Soviet aggression with force wherever it occurred while not using nuclear weapons. The policy of containment created a bipolar, zero-sum world where the ideological conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States dominated geopolitics. Due to the antagonism on both sides and each countries' search for security, a tense worldwide contest developed between the two states as the two nations' governments vied for global supremacy militarily, culturally, and politically.[302]
The Cold War was characterized by a lack of global hot wars. Instead there were proxy wars, fought by client states and proxies of the United States and Soviet Union. The most important was Korean War (1950–1953), a stalemate that drained away Truman's base of support. Truman made five international trips during his presidency.[303]
1952 election
In 1951, the United States ratified the 22nd Amendment, making a president ineligible for election to a third term or for election to a second full term after serving more than two remaining years of a term of a previously elected president. The latter clause did not apply to Truman's situation in 1952 because of a grandfather clause exempting the incumbent president.
Therefore, he seriously considered running for another term in 1952 and left his name on the ballot in the New Hampshire primary. However, all his close advisors, pointing to his age, his failing abilities, and his poor showing in the polls, talked him out of it.[305] At the time of the 1952 New Hampshire primary, no candidate had won Truman's backing. His first choice, Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, had declined to run; Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson had also turned Truman down, Vice President Barkley was considered too old, and Truman distrusted and disliked Senator Kefauver, who had made a name for himself by his investigations of the Truman administration scandals.
Truman let his name be entered in the New Hampshire primary by supporters. The highly unpopular Truman was handily defeated by Kefauver; 18 days later the president formally announced he would not seek a second full term. Truman was eventually able to persuade Stevenson to run, and the governor gained the nomination at the 1952 Democratic National Convention.
Eisenhower gained the Republican nomination, with Senator Nixon as his running mate, and campaigned against what he denounced as Truman's failures: "Korea, communism and corruption". He pledged to clean up the "mess in Washington," and promised to "go to Korea." Eisenhower defeated Stevenson decisively in the general election, ending 20 years of Democratic presidents. While Truman and Eisenhower had previously been on good terms, Truman felt annoyed that Eisenhower did not denounce Joseph McCarthy during the campaign. Similarly, Eisenhower was outraged when Truman accused the former general of disregarding "sinister forces ... Anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, and anti-foreignism" within the Republican Party.
Post-presidency (1953–1972)
Financial situation
Before being elected as Jackson County judge, Truman had earned little money, and was in debt from the failure of his haberdashery. His election as senator in 1934 carried with it a salary of $10,000 (about $210,000 in 2022), high for the time, but the need to maintain two homes, with one in expensive Washington, Margaret Truman's college expenses, and contributions to the support of needy relatives, left the Trumans little extra money. He likely had around $7,500 in cash and government bonds when nominated for vice president.[311]
His finances were transformed by his accession to the presidency, which carried with it a salary of $75,000 ($1.24 million in 2022), which was increased to $100,000 in 1949 (about $1.25 million in 2022). This was more than any Major League Baseball star except Joe DiMaggio, who also earned $100,000 in his final two seasons (1950 and 1951). Beginning in 1949, the president was also granted a $50,000 expense allowance ($589,000 in 2022), which was initially tax-free, and did not have to be accounted for. Although the allowance became taxable later in his presidency, Truman never reported it on his tax return, and converted some of the funds to cash he kept in the White House safe and later in a safe deposit box in Kansas City.[311]
Upon leaving the presidency, Truman returned to Independence, Missouri, to live at the Wallace home he and Bess had shared for years with her mother. In a biography that contributed greatly to the myth that Truman was near penury after departing the White House,[311] David McCullough stated that the Trumans had little alternative than to return to Independence, for his only income was his army pension of $112.56 per month (equivalent to $1,282 in 2023), and he had only been able to save a modest amount from his salary as president. In February 1953, Truman signed a book deal for his memoirs, and in a draft will dated December of that year listed land worth $250,000, savings bonds of the same amount, and cash of $150,000.[311] He wrote, "Bonds, land, and cash all come from savings of presidential salary and free expense account. It should keep you and Margaret comfortably."[311]
The writing of the memoirs was a struggle for Truman, and he went through a dozen collaborators during the project, not all of whom served him well, but he remained heavily involved in the result. For the memoirs, Truman received a payment of $670,000 (equivalent to $7,620,522 in 2023). The memoirs were a commercial and critical success.[319] They were published in two volumes: Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions (1955) and Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Years of Trial and Hope (1956).
Former members of Congress and the federal courts received a federal retirement package; President Truman himself ensured that former servants of the executive branch of government received similar support. In 1953, however, there was no such benefit package for former presidents, and Congressional pensions were not approved until 1946, after Truman had left the Senate, so he received no pension for his Senate service. Truman, behind the scenes, lobbied for a pension, writing to congressional leaders that he had been near penury but for the sale of family farmlands, and in February 1958, in the first televised interview of a former US president that aired on CBS, Truman claimed that "If I hadn't inherited some property that finally paid things through, I'd be on relief right now."[311] That year, Congress passed the Former Presidents Act, offering a $25,000 (equivalent to $264,014 in 2023) yearly pension to each former president, and it is likely that Truman's claim to be in difficult financial straits played a role in the law's enactment. The only other living former president at the time, Herbert Hoover, also took the pension, even though he did not need the money; reportedly, he did so to avoid embarrassing Truman.
Truman's net worth improved further in 1958 when he and his siblings sold most of the family farm to a Kansas City real estate developer. When he was serving as a county judge, Truman borrowed $31,000 (equivalent to $353,030 in 2023) by mortgaging the farm to the county school fund, which was legal at the time. When Republicans controlled the court in 1940, they foreclosed in an effort to embarrass Truman politically, and his mother and sister Mary Jane had to vacate the home. In 1945, Truman organized a syndicate of supporters who purchased the farm with the understanding that they would sell it back to the Trumans. Harry and Vivian Truman purchased 87 acres in 1945, and Truman purchased another portion in 1946. In January 1959, Truman calculated his net worth as $1,046,788.86 ($10.71 million in 2022), including a share in the Los Angeles Rams football team. Nevertheless, the Trumans always lived modestly in Independence, and when Bess Truman died in 1982, almost a decade after her husband, the house was found to be in poor condition due to deferred maintenance.[311]
Bess Truman's personal papers were made public in 2009,[326] including financial records and tax returns. The myth that Truman had been in straitened circumstances after his presidency was slow to dissipate; Paul Campos wrote in 2021, "The current, 20,000-plus-word Wikipedia biography of Truman goes so far as to assert that, because his earlier business ventures had failed, Truman left the White House with 'no personal savings.' Every aspect of this narrative is false."[311][g]
Truman Library and academic positions
Truman's predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had organized his own presidential library, but legislation to enable future presidents to do something similar had not been enacted. Truman worked to garner private donations to build a presidential library, which he donated to the federal government to maintain and operate—a practice adopted by his successors.
He testified before Congress to have money appropriated to have presidential papers copied and organized. He was proud of the bill's passage in 1957. Max Skidmore, in his book on the life of former presidents, wrote that Truman was a well-read man, especially in history. Skidmore added that the presidential papers legislation and the founding of his library "was the culmination of his interest in history. Together they constitute an enormous contribution to the United States—one of the greatest of any former president."
Truman taught occasional courses at universities, including Yale, where he was a Chubb Fellow visiting lecturer in 1958.[329] In 1962, Truman was a visiting lecturer at Canisius College.[330]
Politics
Truman supported Adlai Stevenson's second bid for the White House in 1956, although he had initially favored Democratic governor W. Averell Harriman of New York. He continued to campaign for Democratic senatorial candidates for many years.
In 1960 Truman gave a public statement announcing he would not attend the Democratic Convention that year, citing concerns about the way that the supporters of John F. Kennedy had gained control of the nominating process, and called on Kennedy to forgo the nomination for that year.[333] Kennedy responded with a press conference where he bluntly rebuffed Truman's advice.[334]
Despite his supportive stance on civil rights during his presidency, Truman expressed criticism of the civil rights movement during the 1960s. In 1960, he stated that he believed the sit-in movement to be part of a Soviet plot.[335] Truman's statement garnered a response from Martin Luther King Jr., who wrote a letter to the former president stating that he was "baffled" by the accusation, and demanded a public apology.[336] Truman would later criticize King following the Selma march in 1965, believing the protest to be "silly" and claiming that it "can't accomplish a darn thing except to attract attention."[337] In 1963, Truman voiced his opposition to interracial marriage, believing that daughters of white people would never love someone of an opposite color.[338][339]
Upon turning 80 in 1964, Truman was feted in Washington, and addressed the Senate, availing himself of a new rule that allowed former presidents to be granted privilege of the floor.
Medicare
After a fall in his home in late 1964, Truman's physical condition declined. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and gave the first two Medicare cards to Truman and his wife Bess to honor the former president's fight for government health care while in office.
Death
On December 5, 1972, Truman was admitted to Kansas City's Research Hospital and Medical Center with pneumonia. He developed multiple organ failure, fell into a coma, and died at 7:50 a.m. on December 26, at the age of 88.[341]
Bess Truman opted for a simple private service at the library rather than a state funeral in Washington. A week after the funeral, foreign dignitaries and Washington officials attended a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral.[342]
Bess Truman died in 1982 and was buried next to her husband at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.
Tributes and legacy
Legacy
When he left office in 1953, Truman was one of the most unpopular chief executives in history. His job approval rating of 22% in the Gallup Poll of February 1952 was lower than Richard Nixon's 24% in August 1974, the month that Nixon resigned. American public feeling towards Truman grew steadily warmer with the passing years; as early as 1962, a poll of 75 historians conducted by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. ranked Truman among the "near great" presidents. The period following his death consolidated a partial rehabilitation of his legacy among both historians and members of the public. Truman died when the nation was consumed with crises in Vietnam and Watergate, and his death brought a new wave of attention to his political career. In the early and mid-1970s, Truman captured the popular imagination much as he had in 1948, this time emerging as a kind of political folk hero, a president who was thought to exemplify an integrity and accountability many observers felt was lacking in the Nixon White House. This public reassessment of Truman was aided by the popularity of a book of reminiscences which Truman had told to journalist Merle Miller beginning in 1961, with the agreement that they would not be published until after Truman's death.
Truman had his latter-day critics as well. After a review of information available to Truman about the presence of espionage activities in the U.S. government, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan concluded that Truman was "almost willfully obtuse" concerning the danger of American communism. In 2010, historian Alonzo Hamby concluded that "Harry Truman remains a controversial president." However, Truman has fared well in polls ranking the presidents, consistently being listed in the top ten; this includes a 2022 poll by the Siena College Research Institute, which placed him in seventh.
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 caused Truman advocates to claim vindication for Truman's decisions in the postwar period. According to Truman biographer Robert Dallek, "His contribution to victory in the cold war without a devastating nuclear conflict elevated him to the stature of a great or near-great president." The 1992 publication of David McCollough's favorable biography of Truman further cemented the view of Truman as a highly regarded chief executive. According to historian Daniel R. McCoy in his book on the Truman presidency:
Harry Truman himself gave a strong and far-from-incorrect impression of being a tough, concerned and direct leader. He was occasionally vulgar, often partisan, and usually nationalistic ... On his own terms, Truman can be seen as having prevented the coming of a third world war and having preserved from Communist oppression much of what he called the free world. Yet clearly he largely failed to achieve his Wilsonian aim of securing perpetual peace, making the world safe for democracy, and advancing opportunities for individual development internationally.
Sites and honors
In 1956, Truman traveled to Europe with his wife. In Britain, he received an honorary degree in Civic Law from Oxford University and met with Winston Churchill. In 1959, he was given a 50-year award by the Masons, recognizing his longstanding involvement: he was initiated on February 9, 1909, into the Belton Freemasonry Lodge in Missouri. In 1911, he helped establish the Grandview Lodge, and he served as its first Worshipful Master. In September 1940, during his Senate re-election campaign, Truman was elected Grand Master of the Missouri Grand Lodge of Freemasonry; Truman said later that the Masonic election assured his victory in the general election. In 1945, he was made a 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General and an Honorary Member of the supreme council at the Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Southern Jurisdiction Headquarters in Washington D.C. Truman was also a member of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and a card-carrying member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Two of his relatives were Confederate soldiers.
In 1975, the Truman Scholarship was created as a federal program to honor U.S. college students who exemplified dedication to public service and leadership in public policy.
In 1983 the Harry S. Truman State Office Building in Jefferson City was completed.[360]
In 2004, the President Harry S. Truman Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering was created as a distinguished postdoctoral three-year appointment at Sandia National Laboratories. In 2001, the University of Missouri established the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs to advance the study and practice of governance. The University of Missouri's Missouri Tigers athletic programs have an official mascot named Truman the Tiger. On July 1, 1996, Northeast Missouri State University became Truman State University—to mark its transformation from a teachers' college to a highly selective liberal arts university and to honor the only Missourian to become president. A member institution of the City Colleges of Chicago, Harry S. Truman College in Chicago, Illinois, is named in his honor for his dedication to public colleges and universities. In 2000, the headquarters for the State Department, built in the 1930s but never officially named, was dedicated as the Harry S. Truman Building.
Despite Truman's attempt to curtail the naval carrier arm, which led to the 1949 Revolt of the Admirals, an aircraft carrier is named after him. The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was christened on September 7, 1996. The 129th Field Artillery Regiment is designated "Truman's Own" in recognition of Truman's service as commander of its D Battery during World War I.
In 1991, Truman was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, and a bronze bust depicting him is on permanent display in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. In 2006, Thomas Daniel, grandson of the Trumans, accepted a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame to honor his late grandfather. In 2007, John Truman, a nephew, accepted a star for Bess Truman. The Walk of Fame is in Marshfield, Missouri, a city Truman visited in 1948.
In 2004, international relations scholar Rachel Kleinfeld and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy Matthew Spence founded the Truman National Security Project. In 2013, they launched the Truman Center for National Policy. Both organizations were named after Truman.[368]
A statue of Harry S. Truman was installed in the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on September 29, 2022, as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection.[369]
On the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in 2023, South Korea erected a statue of Truman in Dabu-dong, Gyeongsangbuk-do to commemorate him sending US troops to defend the country.[370]
Other sites associated with Truman include:
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site includes the Wallace House at 219 N. Delaware in Independence and the family farmhouse at Grandview, Missouri (Truman sold most of the farm for Kansas City suburban development including the Truman Corners Shopping Center).
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site is the house where Truman was born and spent 11 months in Lamar, Missouri.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum – The Presidential library in Independence
Harry S. Truman Little White House – Truman's winter getaway at Key West, Florida
See also
Electoral history of Harry S. Truman
"Harry Truman", a 1975 hit song by the band Chicago
List of members of the American Legion
List of presidents of the United States
Truman (film)
Truman Day
Truman National Security Project
Notes
References
Bibliography
Biographies of Truman
Burnes, Brian (2003). Harry S. Truman: His Life and Times. Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Star Books. ISBN 978-0-9740009-3-0.
Dallek, Robert (2008). Harry S. Truman. New York: Times Books. ISBN 978-0-8050-6938-9.
Daniels, Jonathan (1998). The Man of Independence. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1190-9.
Donovan, Robert J. (1983). Tumultuous Years: 1949–1953. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-01619-2.
Ferrell, Robert H. (1994). Harry S. Truman: A Life. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-1050-0.
Hamby, Alonzo L., ed. (1974). Harry S. Truman and the Fair Deal. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath & Co. ISBN 978-0-669-87080-0.
Hamby, Alonzo L. (1995). Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-504546-8.
Judis, John B. (2014). Genesis: Truman, American Jews, and the Origins of the Arab/Israeli Conflict. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-16109-5.
Freeland, Richard M. (1970). The Truman Doctrine and the Origins of McCarthyism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-8147-2576-4.
Giglio, James N. (2001). Truman in Cartoon and Caricature. Kirksville, Missouri: Truman State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8138-1806-1.
Kirkendall, Richard S. (1989). Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia. Boston: G. K. Hall Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8161-8915-1.
McCoy, Donald R. (1984). The Presidency of Harry S. Truman. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-0252-0.
McCullough, David (1992). Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-86920-5.
Margolies, Daniel S. ed. A Companion to Harry S. Truman (2012); 614pp; emphasis on historiography; see Sean J. Savage, "Truman in Historical, Popular, and Political Memory," pp. 9–25. excerpt
Miller, Merle (1974). Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman. New York: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 978-0-399-11261-4.
Mitchell, Franklin D. (1998). Harry S. Truman and the News Media: Contentious Relations, Belated Respect. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1180-1.
Oshinsky, David M. (2004). "Harry Truman". In Brinkley, Alan; Dyer, Davis (eds.). The American Presidency. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-618-38273-6.
Pietrusza, David (2011). 1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year That Transformed America. New York: Union Square Press. ISBN 978-1-4027-6748-7.
Scarborough, Joe (2020). Saving Freedom. New York: Harper Collins.
Books
Ambrose, Stephen E. (1983). Eisenhower: 1890–1952. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-44069-5.
Binning, William C.; Esterly, Larry E.; Sracic, Paul A. (1999). Encyclopedia of American Parties, Campaigns, and Elections. Westport, CT: Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-8131-1755-3.
Chambers II, John W. (1999). The Oxford Companion to American Military History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507198-0.
Cohen, Eliot A.; Gooch, John (2006). Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War. New York: Free Press. ISBN 978-0-7432-8082-2.
Current, Richard Nelson; Freidel, Frank Burt; Williams, Thomas Harry (1971). American History: A Survey. Vol. II. New York: Knopf.
Eakin, Joanne C.; Hale, Donald R., eds. (1995). Branded as Rebels. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. ASIN B003GWL8J6.
Eisler, Kim Isaac (1993). A Justice for All: William J. Brennan, Jr., and the Decisions that Transformed America. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-76787-7.
Evans, M. Stanton (2007). Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies. New York: Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-23866-5.
Goodwin, Doris Kearns (1994). No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-64240-2.
Haas, Lawrence J. Harry & Arthur: Truman, Vandenberg, and the Partnership That Created the Free World (2016)
Hamilton, Lee H. (2009). "Relations between the President and Congress in Wartime". In James A. Thurber (ed.). Rivals for Power: Presidential–Congressional Relations. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-6142-7.
Holsti, Ole (1996). Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-06619-3.
Kloetzel, James E.; Charles, Steve, eds. (April 2012). Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog. Vol. 1. Sidney, OH: Scott Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-89487-460-4.
Lenczowski, George (1990). American Presidents and the Middle East. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-0972-7.
MacGregor, Morris J. Jr. (1981). Integration of the Armed Services 1940–1965. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History. ISBN 978-0-16-001925-8.
Savage, Sean J. (1991). Roosevelt: The Party Leader, 1932–1945. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-1755-3.
Skidmore, Max J. (2004). After the White House: Former Presidents as Private Citizens (rev ed.). New York: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29559-2.
Stohl, Michael (1988). "National Interest and State Terrorism". The Politics of Terrorism. New York: CRC Press.
Stokesbury, James L. (1990). A Short History of the Korean War. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-688-09513-0.
Troy, Gil (2008). Leading from the Center: Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-00293-1.
Weinstein, Allen (1997). Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case (revised ed.). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-77338-X.
Young, Ken; Schilling, Warner R. (2019). Super Bomb: Organizational Conflict and the Development of the Hydrogen Bomb. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-4516-4.
Primary sources
Truman, Harry S. (1955). Memoirs: Year of Decisions. Vol. 1. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. online
——— (1956). Memoirs: Years of Trial and Hope. Vol. 2. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. online v 2
——— (1960). Mr. Citizen. Independence, MO: Independence Press.
Truman, Harry S. (2002). Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). The Autobiography of Harry S. Truman. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1445-2.
Truman, Margaret (1973). Harry S. Truman. New York:
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 9
|
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm%3FProjectID%3D30808
|
en
|
404 File Not found
|
[
"https://parkplanning.nps.gov/images/bannerPEPC.gif",
"https://parkplanning.nps.gov/images/logoFooter.gif",
"https://parkplanning.nps.gov/images/footer_nps.gif",
"https://parkplanning.nps.gov/images/experience.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
favicon.ico
| null |
Error
Sorry, we can't find that page. Please use the PEPC Home page or the Search Documents tool to try finding the projects and documents that you need.
Links
No related links were found. Please return to the homepage.
|
|||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 56
|
https://cv.libguides.com/US_Vice_Presidents/htruman
|
en
|
LibGuides at Chattahoochee Valley Community College
|
[
"https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/sites/16060/banner/_Chattahoochee_Valley_Community_College.jpg",
"https://www.biography.com/.image/ar_1:1%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_300/MTE5NTU2MzE2MzkwNTI0NDI3/harry-truman-9511121-1-402.jpg",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0308100441/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0393056368/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0870810901/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0807100544/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0231033354/LC.GIF&client=springshare",
"https://syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0060112816/LC.GIF&client=springshare"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Cory Williams"
] | null |
LibGuides: U.S. Vice Presidents: Harry Truman
|
en
|
//d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/apps/common/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png
|
https://cv.libguides.com/US_Vice_Presidents/htruman
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Missouri on May 8, 1884. He was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s vice president for just 82 days before Roosevelt died and Truman became the 33rd president. In his first months in office he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, ending World War II. His policy of communist containment started the Cold War, and he initiated U.S. involvement in the Korean War. Truman left office in 1953 and died in 1972.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 8
|
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-S-Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman | U.S. President & History
|
[
"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/69/4769-004-95DA9DEB/Harry-S-Truman-1945.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/29/172729-138-277EF0E4/overview-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/32/139932-004-D125F321/events-life-Harry-S-Truman.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/42/71342-004-1D6ECA2F/Harry-S-Truman-Potsdam-Conference-Joseph-Stalin-July-1945.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/48/180248-138-AE498C42/Overview-Potsdam-Conference.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/84/22984-138-3E91C903/deck-battleship-Douglas-MacArthur-surrender-terms-representatives.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/46/73646-004-1BAB98A7/Button-campaign-Harry-S-Truman-1948.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/67/178867-004-87C40A15/Harry-S-Truman-alliance-pact-NATO-Congress-1949.jpg",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/26/188426-050-2AF26954/Germany-Poland-September-1-1939.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-121/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.121.12",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/35/10735-131-96F338E8/US-Marines-flag-Mount-Suribachi-Iwo-Jima-February-1945.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/44/164744-131-7A6008A3/Richard-M-Nixon-campaign-stop-crowd-gesture-1968.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/73/130473-131-E8E49EEC/hydrogen-bomb-MIKE-Marshall-Islands-Photo-height-1952.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/09/153009-131-58881A36/Washington-Monument-George-fireworks-obelisk-end-DC.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/39/126139-131-A64CBAE4/portico-side-White-House.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/04/79904-131-6DCAD337/Elizabeth-II-speech-throne-Parliament-state-opening-1958.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/55/91555-131-C5BCDFC8/Gerald-R-Ford.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/95/198495-131-65394043/US-Marines-Korean-War-explosions-bombs-fighter-December-1950.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/22/232222-050-C7D008B3/Hand-ballot-box-vote-election.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/58/177758-131-C43424C8/Gerald-Ford-golf-Mackinac-Island-Michigan-1975.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/53/130653-131-6C7B3BE8/clock-St-John-the-Baptist-cathedral-Lyon-2019.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/93/173193-131-3EE3B458/Nelson-Mandela.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/57/194857-131-F5FF4C32/meadow-adder-snake-viper-Ursini-tongue.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/45/189145-131-45FF672E/Secret-Service-Agent-Earpiece.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/94/182194-131-A1441287/Andrew-Jackson-town-supporters-inauguration-way-1829.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/85/203585-131-D4FEE60A/Solar-Eclipse-Flare-Astronomy-Outer-Space.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/68/220368-131-C835E48E/United-States-electoral-college-votes-by-state.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/69/4769-050-CBA1A512/Harry-S-Truman-1945.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/29/172729-138-277EF0E4/overview-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/32/139932-050-E01CBD08/events-life-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?w=300",
"https://cdn.britannica.com/26/188426-050-2AF26954/Germany-Poland-September-1-1939.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Harry S. Truman",
"encyclopedia",
"encyclopeadia",
"britannica",
"article"
] | null |
[
"Alfred Steinberg"
] |
1999-07-28T00:00:00+00:00
|
Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the United States (1945–53), who led his country through the final stages of World War II and through the early years of the Cold War, vigorously opposing Soviet expansionism in Europe and sending U.S. forces to turn back a communist invasion during the Korean War.
|
en
|
/favicon.png
|
Encyclopedia Britannica
|
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-S-Truman
|
Early life and career
Truman was the eldest of three children of John A. and Martha E. Truman; his father was a mule trader and farmer. After graduating from high school in 1901 in Independence, Missouri, he went to work as a bank clerk in Kansas City. In 1906 he moved to the family farm near Grandview, and he took over the farm management after his father’s death in 1914. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Truman—nearly 33 years old and with two tours in the National Guard (1905–11) behind him—immediately volunteered. He was sent overseas a year later and served in France as the captain of Battery D, a field artillery unit that saw action at Saint Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. The men under his command came to be devoted to him, admiring him for his bravery and evenhanded leadership.
Returning to the United States in 1919, Truman married Elizabeth Wallace (Bess Truman), whom he had known since childhood; they had one child, Margaret, in 1924. With army friend Edward Jacobson he opened a haberdashery, but the business failed in the severe recession of the early 1920s. Another army friend introduced him to Thomas Pendergast, Democratic boss of Kansas City. With the backing of the Pendergast machine, Truman launched his political career in 1922, running successfully for county judge. He lost his bid for reelection in 1924, but he was elected presiding judge of the county court in 1926, again with Pendergast’s support. He served two four-year terms, during which he acquired a reputation for honesty (unusual among Pendergast politicians) and for skillful management.
In 1934 Truman’s political career seemed at an end because of the two-term tradition attached to his job and the reluctance of the Pendergast machine to advance him to higher office. When several people rejected the machine’s offer to run in the Democratic primary for a seat in the U.S. Senate, however, Pendergast extended the offer to Truman, who quickly accepted. He won the primary with a 40,000-vote plurality, assuring his election in solidly Democratic Missouri. In January 1935 Truman was sworn in as Missouri’s junior senator by Vice Pres. John Nance Garner.
Britannica Quiz
Pop Quiz: 17 Things to Know About World War II
He began his Senate career under the cloud of being a puppet of the corrupt Pendergast, but Truman’s friendliness, personal integrity, and attention to the duties of his office soon won over his colleagues. He was responsible for two major pieces of legislation: the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, establishing government regulation of the aviation industry, and the Wheeler-Truman Transportation Act of 1940, providing government oversight of railroad reorganization. Following a tough Democratic primary victory in 1940, he won a second term in the Senate, and it was during this term that he gained national recognition for leading an investigation into fraud and waste in the U.S. military. While taking care not to jeopardize the massive effort being launched to prepare the nation for war, the Truman Committee (officially the Special Committee Investigating National Defense) exposed graft and deficiencies in production. The committee made it a practice to issue draft reports of its findings to corporations, unions, and government agencies under investigation, allowing for the correction of abuses before formal action was initiated.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 57
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/truman-harry-s
|
en
|
Truman, Harry S.
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/profiles/custom/stanford_profile/themes/stanford_basic/favicon.ico
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/profiles/custom/stanford_profile/themes/stanford_basic/favicon.ico
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/profiles/custom/stanford_profile/themes/stanford_basic/favicon.ico
|
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/truman-harry-s
|
May 8, 1884 to December 26, 1972
Following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945, Harry S. Truman became the 33rd president of the United States, after serving only 83 days as vice president. Martin Luther King had admired Truman’s record on civil rights until 1960, when Truman made defamatory statements linking the sit-in demonstrations with communism.
Truman was born 8 May 1884, in Lamar, Missouri. After graduating from high school in 1901, when his family could not afford to send him to college, Truman worked a variety of jobs before enlisting in the Missouri National Guard in 1907. He was discharged as a corporal in 1911, and shortly after the United States entered World War I Truman enlisted in the Missouri Field Artillery, serving in France and later achieving the rank of colonel in the reserves. Returning to Missouri after the war, in 1922 Truman was elected judge of the Jackson County Court, a position he held for two years. He later served as presiding judge of the same court from 1926 to 1934.
Following his judgeship, Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate to represent Missouri. During his 10 years in the Senate, Truman supported Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, as well as legislation that aided farmers and labor unions. Although he was openly racist when among his Senate peers, he lobbied for an end to legalized racial discrimination because it violated basic American ideals. Truman served as Roosevelt’s running mate in the 1944 election, and the two men won 53 percent of the popular vote. After Roosevelt’s death Truman assumed the presidency, and served until 1953.
During his presidency, Truman issued Executive Order 9808 (1946), which established the President’s Committee on Civil Rights; Executive Order 9980 (1948), which established a fair employment board to eliminate discriminatory hiring within the federal government; and Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. armed forces. Truman’s civil rights record was well received by African Americans, including King, who sent Truman an autographed copy of his first book, Stride Toward Freedom, in 1958.
A few years later Truman made public accusations that southern lunch counter demonstrations were orchestrated by Communists, and argued that: “If anyone came into my store and tried to stop business I’d throw him out. The Negro should behave himself and show he’s a good citizen” (Papers 5:437). In response to Truman’s comments, King wrote him, acknowledging his previous admiration for Truman’s civil rights record and expressing his confusion and disappointment over the former president’s statement. King stated: “It is a sad day for our country when men come to feel that oppressed people cannot desire freedom and human dignity unless they are motivated by Communism.… When the accusations come from a man who was once chosen by the American people to serve as the chief custodian of the nation’s destiny then they rise to shocking and dangerous proportions” (Papers 5:438). King then asked Truman for a public apology, but no reply from Truman has been located. Following his tenure as president, Truman retired to Independence, Missouri. He died on 26 December 1972.
Footnotes
King to Truman, 19 April 1960, in Papers 5:437–439.
Miller, Truman, 1986.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 3
|
https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-before-the-presidency
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman: Life Before the Presidency
|
https://millercenter.org/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
https://millercenter.org/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
[
"https://millercenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumb_2x_360x360/public/auth-hamby_alonzo-116x116.jpg?itok=1BSjcnvF"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Alonzo L. Hamby"
] |
2016-10-04T16:15:18-04:00
|
en
|
/themes/custom/miller/favicon.ico
|
Miller Center
|
https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-before-the-presidency
|
Harry S. Truman was born in the small town of Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884. In 1890, Harry's parents, John and Martha, moved the family (which included Harry's brother Vivian and sister Mary Jane) to Independence, Missouri, a county-seat town of just 6,000 people. Located ten miles east of Kansas City, Independence had links to both the American West and South. The town, in which wagon trains picked up the Oregon and Sante Fe trails, was a gateway to America's western frontier. Most residents of Independence had migrated from the states of the Upper South, however, bringing with them many southern cultural and social mores. As in many other southern towns—and quite a few northern ones as well—black residents lived in a segregated part of town.
Harry's childhood and young adulthood were at times quite trying. He worked hard at making friends, but was uncomfortable in the company of girls his age or older. He was born with poor vision and required glasses, a solution that separated him from many of his peers. Moreover, Truman's mother, to whom he was very attached, directed him to avoid rough-housing with his peers. Harry instead developed keen interests in reading and music. He became a fine piano player and even considered for a short while pursuing a career as a concert pianist. Like other boys his age, he also dreamed of becoming a great soldier.
Harry was a solid and hard-working student who graduated from high school in 1901. He wanted to attend West Point, but his poor eyesight foreclosed the possibility of a commission. Moreover, his father's financial problems, which began in the early 1900s, prevented Harry from attending a four-year college. Instead, he attended a business college in Kansas City for a semester but, with his family's finances increasingly dire, dropped out of school and took a job in the mailroom of the Kansas City Star in the summer of 1902. Truman subsequently worked for a construction company and as a bank clerk.
In 1906, Truman left his position at the bank and went to work on the family farm in Grandview, Missouri, with his father and his brother Vivian. Truman spent most of the next decade on the farm, though the farm itself rarely made much of a profit. Harry kept the books and did his share of manual labor, neither of which he enjoyed. He did, however, find satisfaction in two other pursuits. In 1905, Truman joined the National Guard, which offered a chance to escape the farm and provided him with masculine companionship for the next six years. In 1910, Truman began courting Bess Wallace, with whom he had graduated high school. Bess refused a marriage proposal in 1911, but they continued their romance nonetheless.
Truman's father died in 1914, an event which caused Harry much heartache. John Truman's passing, however, did allow Harry to ease away from the farm. He spent the next few years trying to earn a living as an owner and operator of a small mining company and as a partner in an oil business. Neither enterprise met with much success. In 1917, with the United States on the verge of entering World War I, he rejoined his National Guard unit. After it was federalized, Harry Truman became a member of the 129th Artillery Regiment.
A Military Career and Marriage
The soldiering life suited Truman. He rose to the rank of captain and ran the regiment's only successful canteen. More impressive, he turned his battery—which had a reputation for unruliness and ineffectiveness—into a top-notch unit. In March 1918, his regiment shipped out to France. Truman and his men saw their first action in the Vosges mountains (August 1918) and then in the Argonnes campaign (September and October 1918), the last major engagement of the war.
Truman's service during World War I had a profound effect upon his life. His ability to lead a group of men under the most trying of circumstances boosted his self-confidence; his men, in turn, respected his leadership. Truman established close friendships with some of his fellow soldiers. Eddie Jacobson, Truman's right-hand man at the canteen, became his business partner in the early 1920s. Harry Vaughn, though not in Truman's battery, would serve as an aide throughout Truman's political life. Finally, Truman's service in the war—and the friends and acquaintances he made - would eventually provide him a political power base in the Kansas City area.
Before departing for training with his regiment in 1917, Bess Wallace had tearfully told Truman that she wanted to get married. Truman asked her to wait until he returned from the war, writing "I don't think it would be right for me to ask you to tie yourself to a prospective cripple—or a sentiment." But he made clear his feelings in a letter to her, writing, "I'm crazy about you." On June 28, 1919, following Truman's return home one month earlier, Harry and Bess married in Independence. Four years later, the couple had their first and only child, Mary Margaret.
Help from the Democratic Boss
A few months after his wedding, Truman and war buddy Eddie Jacobson opened a haberdashery (a store that sold men's clothing and accessories) in Kansas City. Truman and Jacobson took out a number of loans to get the store up and running, and initially business was quite good. The enterprise, however, could not survive the nation's acute economic downturn of the early 1920s. The clothing shop closed its doors in September 1922, leaving Truman nearly bankrupt and heavily in debt.
Even though the store failed financially, it brought Truman distinct social benefits. He kept up with his network of friends and acquaintances from the National Guard, many of whom often stopped by the shop. As a respected businessman, he joined several civic organizations, like the Triangle Club (a group of businessmen dedicated to improving the city), and actively participated in veterans groups like the American Legion and the Reserve Officers Association.
In 1922, Thomas J. Pendergast, the Democratic boss of Kansas City and uncle of one of Truman's war buddies, asked Harry to run for a judgeship on the county court of the eastern district of Jackson County. (Jackson County encompassed Kansas City in the west and Independence and other smaller towns and communities in the east.) Pendergast believed that Truman's reputation for honesty and hard-work would attract independent-minded voters and, just as important, that Truman's fellow veterans would support him at the polls. Truman won a tight, five candidate Democratic primary, then easily beat his Republican challenger in November.
As eastern district judge, Truman served essentially as a county commissioner. His main concerns were the county's budget and roads, and the distribution of patronage positions and contracts to Pendergast supporters. Truman lost his re-election bid in 1924 when a feud in the county Democratic Party cost him votes. In 1926, though, he was elected (again with the help of the Pendergast machine) as presiding judge of the county court; he easily won re-election in 1930. As presiding judge, he skillfully guided a major rebuilding and modernization of Jackson county's road system, presided over several significant construction projects, and managed the county's finances during the early years of the Great Depression.
While Truman could not escape the taint of corruption that came from his association with Pendergast, he did establish a reputation for personal integrity, honesty, and efficiency. As part of the Pendergast machine, Truman certainly rewarded the machine's allies; he would not have remained in Pendergast's good graces had he done otherwise. But he also genuinely strove to make local governance as efficient and effective as possible. Indeed, his reputation for scrupulousness benefited Pendergast, who could point to the honest judge as an example of good, clean government. Just as important, Truman during these years proved to be a politician who could win support from both urban—including black and ethnic minorities—and rural constituencies.
Senator Truman
In 1934, Truman asked Pendergast to support his run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. Though the details of this episode are murky, Pendergast supposedly agreed initially but then changed his mind: he wanted Truman to run for the U.S. Senate. Following a bruising Democratic primary that featured widespread ballot-box stuffing by Truman's (and his main competitor's) supporters, Truman captured the Democratic nomination. He then easily defeated his Republican opponent in November. On December 31, 1934, Senator-elect Truman, his wife Bess, and daughter Margaret arrived in Washington, D.C.
Truman's first term as senator was largely unremarkable. He enjoyed his life in the Senate, especially the male camaraderie and "old boys" network that characterized the institution. The long hours and time away from Bess and Margaret tried his family life, however. Politically, Truman emerged as a reliable ally of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" programs and built especially strong ties with labor unions. He made his mark on transportation issues as a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Interstate Commerce Committee. He helped write (with Democratic Senator Burton Wheeler of Montana) the Transportation Act of 1940, which tried to bring some order to the tangle of regulations affecting transportation industries. Truman also helped design the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, which laid the groundwork for the growth of the airline industry over the next four decades.
Truman faced a tough re-election campaign in 1940. The Democratic machine that had powered him to victory in 1934 had collapsed during the intervening years. Pendergast was ill and in prison as the election cycle approached. As in 1934, Truman's largest challenge was winning the Democratic nomination. He managed to defeat Governor Lloyd Stark by only 8,000 votes; Truman overcame Stark's support from rural voters by running up large margins in urban Kansas City and St. Louis. According to Truman biographer Alonzo Hamby, the 1940 election showed Truman to be a "candidate of the cities, an urban liberal."Truman began his second term in the Senate in 1941 as the United States prepared for war. During the last six months of 1940, Congress had appropriated more than ten billion dollars for defense and military spending. Truman convinced the Senate leadership and the Roosevelt administration to make him head of a special Senate investigative committee—which became known as the Truman committee—charged with uncovering and stopping wasteful defense spending. He described the committee's work as protecting the "little man" from the greedy predations of big labor and big business. While moderately successful on this score, he did garner both popularity and recognition.
The coming of World War II forced Truman to clarify and crystallize his thinking about American foreign policy. In the mid-1930s, Truman voted for the Neutrality Acts, but this support was politically motivated—his constituents were mildly isolationist—rather than indicative of a deeply-ingrained isolationism. Indeed, Truman had warned publicly of the threats posed by Germany and Japan and of the need for increased American military preparedness. After the outbreak of hostilities in August 1939, Truman supported initiatives like the "cash-and-carry" and Lend-Lease policies designed to succor American allies in their time of need. He also supported American rearmament efforts and the Selective Service Act. Truman explained his evolving position in early 1941, writing to a Missouri voter, "We are facing a bunch of thugs, and the only theory a thug understands is a gun and a bayonet."
Vice President Truman
In 1944, President Roosevelt decided to drop Henry A. Wallace, his sitting vice president, from the Democratic ticket in the upcoming general election. Wallace's liberal political views and somewhat bizarre mysticism offended party professionals and conservative Democrats whose support the President needed. After a set of complicated behind-the-scenes maneuvers orchestrated by Democratic party officials, Truman emerged as the consensus choice for the vice-presidential slot and performed admirably, if not flawlessly, during the national campaign. The Democratic ticket defeated Republican challengers Thomas Dewey and John Bricker by a comfortable margin in the November general election.
As vice president, Truman functioned as a "pipeline" between the White House and the Senate, over which he presided. He also cast the tie-breaking votes to confirm former Vice President Wallace as secretary of commerce and to prevent passage of the Taft lend-lease amendment, which would have forbade the use of lend-lease agreements for post-war relief. Truman, however, was not a major player in the Roosevelt administration and had a superficial relationship with the President.
Truman served only eighty-two days in the vice presidency. On the afternoon of April 12, 1945, he was summoned to the White House. Upon arrival, Eleanor Roosevelt approached him and said, "Harry, the president is dead." Within hours, Harry S. Truman took the oath of office to become the thirty-third President of the United States.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 19
|
https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/harry-truman
|
en
|
Facts, Presidency & WWII
|
[
"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=3005002&cs_ucfr=1&cv=3.6&cj=1",
"https://www.history.com/assets/images/history/logo.svg",
"https://www.history.com/assets/images/history/logo.svg",
"https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=640&height=426.66666666666663&crop=640%3A426.66666666666663%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 640w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=750&height=500&crop=750%3A500%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 750w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=828&height=552&crop=828%3A552%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 828w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=1080&height=540&crop=1080%3A540%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 1080w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=1248&height=624&crop=1248%3A624%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 1248w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=1920&height=960&crop=1920%3A960%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 1920w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=2048&height=1024&crop=2048%3A1024%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 2048w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/truman-healthcare-gettyimages-515411776.jpg?width=3840&height=1920&crop=3840%3A1920%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp 3840w",
"https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=16&quality=75&auto=webp 16w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=32&quality=75&auto=webp 32w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=48&quality=75&auto=webp 48w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=64&quality=75&auto=webp 64w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=96&quality=75&auto=webp 96w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=128&quality=75&auto=webp 128w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=256&quality=75&auto=webp 256w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=392&quality=75&auto=webp 392w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=640&quality=75&auto=webp 640w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=750&quality=75&auto=webp 750w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=828&quality=75&auto=webp 828w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp 1080w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=1248&quality=75&auto=webp 1248w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp 1920w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=2048&quality=75&auto=webp 2048w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp 3840w",
"https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=16&quality=75&auto=webp 16w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=32&quality=75&auto=webp 32w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=48&quality=75&auto=webp 48w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=64&quality=75&auto=webp 64w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=96&quality=75&auto=webp 96w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=128&quality=75&auto=webp 128w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=256&quality=75&auto=webp 256w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=392&quality=75&auto=webp 392w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=640&quality=75&auto=webp 640w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=750&quality=75&auto=webp 750w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=828&quality=75&auto=webp 828w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp 1080w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=1248&quality=75&auto=webp 1248w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp 1920w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=2048&quality=75&auto=webp 2048w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/06/IHBANNER-1.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp 3840w"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Harry Truman - Facts, Presidency & WWII",
"History.com Editors"
] |
2009-11-12T19:41:07+00:00
|
Harry Truman (1884-1972), the 33rd U.S. president, assumed office following the death of President Franklin Roosevelt. In the White House from 1945 to 1953, Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan in World War II, helped rebuild postwar Europe, worked to contain communism and led the United States into the Korean War (1950-1953).
|
en
|
HISTORY
|
https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/harry-truman
|
Harry S. Truman’s Early Years
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in the farm community of Lamar, Missouri, to John Truman (1851-1914), a livestock trader, and Martha Young Truman (1852-1947). (Truman’s parents gave him the middle initial S to honor his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, although the S didn’t stand for a specific name.)
In 1890, the Trumans settled in Independence, Missouri, where Harry attended school and was a strong student. As a child, he had to wear thick eyeglasses due to poor vision, and his doctor advised him not to play sports in order to avoid breaking them. Truman had hoped to attend the U.S. military academy at West Point, but his eyesight prevented him from gaining admittance.
Truman’s family could not afford to send him to college, so after graduating high school in 1901 he worked as a bank clerk and held various other jobs. Starting in 1906, he spent over a decade helping his father manage the family’s 600-acre farm near Grandview, Missouri. During this time, Truman also served in the Missouri National Guard.
In 1917, when America entered World War I, Truman, then in his early 30s, reenlisted in the National Guard and was sent to France. He saw action in several campaigns and was promoted to captain of his artillery unit.
In 1919, after returning from the war, Truman married Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace (1885-1982), his childhood classmate. That same year, Truman and a friend opened a men’s clothing store in Kansas City; however, the business closed in 1922 due to a poor economy. The Trumans had one daughter, Mary Margaret Truman (1924-2008), who grew up to become a professional singer and author of biographies and mystery novels.
From County Judge to U.S. Vice President
In 1922, Harry Truman, with the backing of Kansas City political boss Thomas Pendergast (1873-1945), was elected district judge in Jackson County, Missouri, an administrative position that involved handling the county’s finances, public works projects and other affairs. In 1926, Truman won the election as the county’s presiding judge. Earning a reputation for efficiency and integrity, he was reelected in 1930.
In 1934, Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate. As a senator, he supported President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, designed to help lift the nation out of the Great Depression, which began in 1929 and lasted about a decade. Additionally, Truman was instrumental in the passage of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, which established government regulation of the burgeoning aviation industry, and the Transportation Act of 1940, which established new federal regulations for America’s railroad, shipping and trucking industries.
From 1941 to 1944, Truman headed the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, which worked to reduce waste and mismanagement in U.S. military spending. Commonly known as the Truman Committee, it saved American taxpayers millions of dollars and propelled Truman into the national spotlight.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Dies In Office
In 1944, as Roosevelt sought an unprecedented fourth term as president, Truman was selected as his running mate, replacing Vice President Henry Wallace (1888-1965), a divisive figure in the Democratic Party. (Truman, a moderate Democrat, was jokingly referred to as the “second Missouri Compromise.”) In the general election, Roosevelt easily defeated Republican Thomas Dewey, the governor of New York, and was sworn into office on January 20, 1945. Less than three months later, on April 12, 1945, the president died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 63.
Several hours after learning of Roosevelt’s death, a stunned Truman was given the oath of office in the White House by Chief Justice Harlan Stone (1872-1946). The new president later told reporters, “I don’t know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets had fallen on me.”
Harry S. Truman’s First Administration: 1945-1949
Upon assuming the presidency, Harry Truman, who had met privately with Roosevelt only a few times before his death and had never been informed by the president about the construction of the atomic bomb, faced a series of monumental challenges and decisions. During Truman’s initial months in office, the war in Europe ended when the Allies accepted Nazi Germany’s surrender on May 8; the United Nations Charter was signed, and the president participated in the Potsdam Conference to discuss postwar treatment of Germany with Great Britain’s Winston Churchill (1874-1965) and the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin (1878-1953).
In an effort to end the war in the Pacific and prevent the massive U.S. casualties that could result from an invasion of Japan, Truman approved the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (on August 6) and Nagasaki (on August 9). Japan’s surrender was announced on August 14, 1945; however, Truman’s use of the atomic bomb continues to be one of the most controversial decisions of any American president.
In the aftermath of the war, the Truman administration had to contend with deteriorating U.S.-Soviet relations and the start of the Cold War (1946-1991). The president adopted a policy of containment toward Soviet expansion and the spread of communism. In 1947, he introduced the Truman Doctrine to provide aid to Greece and Turkey in an effort to protect them from communist aggression. That same year, Truman also instituted the Marshall Plan, which gave billions of dollars in aid to help stimulate economic recovery in European nations. (The president defended the plan by stating that communism would thrive in economically depressed regions.) In 1948, Truman initiated an airlift of food and other supplies to the Western-held sectors of Berlin, Germany, that were blockaded by the Soviets. He also recognized the new state of Israel.
On the home front, Truman was faced with the challenge of transitioning America to a peacetime economy. Amid labor disputes, a shortage of consumer goods and a national railroad strike, he saw his approval ratings plummet. He ran for reelection in 1948 and was widely expected to lose to Republican challenger Thomas Dewey. However, Truman conducted a vigorous whistle-stop campaign in which he traveled by train around the country, giving hundreds of speeches.
The president and his running mate Alben Barkley (1877-1956), a U.S. senator from Kentucky, won with 303 electoral votes and 49.6 percent of the popular vote, while Dewey captured 189 electoral votes and 45.1 percent of the popular vote. Dixiecrat candidate Strom Thurmond (1902-2003) earned 39 electoral votes and 2.4 percent of the popular vote. An iconic photograph from the day after the president’s upset victory shows him holding a copy of the Chicago Tribune featuring the inaccurate front-page headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.”
Harry Truman’s Second Administration: 1949-1953
Harry Truman was sworn in for his second term in January 1949; his inauguration was the first to be nationally televised. The president set forth an ambitious social reform agenda, known as the Fair Deal, which included national medical insurance, federal housing programs, a higher minimum wage, assistance for farmers, repeal of the Taft-Hartley labor act, increases in Social Security and civil rights reforms. Truman’s proposals were largely blocked by conservatives in Congress; however, he had some legislative successes, such as the Housing Act of 1949, and also issued executive orders (at the end of his first term) to end segregation in the U.S. armed forces and to prohibit discrimination in federal government jobs.
The threat of communism continued to be a major focus of Truman’s second administration. The president supported the creation in 1949 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance of democratic nations, including the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and eight other countries, and appointed Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) as its first commander. Also that year, a revolution in China brought the Communists to power, and the Soviets tested their first nuclear weapon. Additionally, during his second term, Truman had to contend with unproven accusations made by U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) of Wisconsin that the president’s administration and the U.S. State Department, among other organizations, had been infiltrated by communist spies.
In June 1950, when communist forces from North Korea invaded South Korea, Truman sent in U.S. planes, ships and ground troops to aid the South Koreans. The conflict turned into a lengthy stalemate that left Americans frustrated and hurt Truman’s popularity; however, his decision to intervene ultimately preserved South Korea’s independence.
Although he was eligible to run for another presidential term, Truman announced in March 1952 that he would not do so. In that year’s general election, Democrat Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965), the governor of Illinois, was defeated by Republican Dwight Eisenhower.
Harry S. Truman’s Final Years
After Eisenhower’s inauguration in January 1953, Harry and Bess Truman traveled by train from Washington to their home in Independence. There, the former president penned his memoirs, met with visitors, continued his habit of brisk daily walks and raised funds for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, which opened in Independence in 1957.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 16
|
https://www.biography.com/political-figures/harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Quotes, Facts & WW2
|
[
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/search.f1c199c.svg",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/close.38e3324.svg",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/logos/logo.5ec9b18.svg?primary=%2523ffffff",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/play.db7c035.svg?primary=%2523ffffff",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=640:* 640w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=980:* 980w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1024:* 1120w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1120:* 1200w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-harry-s-truman-seated-at-his-desk-holding-a-pencil-getty.jpg?crop=1xw:0.5625xh;center,top&resize=1200:* 1920w",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=640:* 640w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=768:* 980w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=980:* 1120w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=980:* 1200w, https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/truman-defeats-dewey.jpg?resize=980:* 1920w",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/president-theodore-roosevelt-sitting-in-an-automobile-news-photo-1721078436.jpg?crop=0.805xw:1.00xh;0.0992xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/franklin-delano-roosevelt-1882-1945-32nd-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-1933-1945-giving-one-of-his-fireside-broadcasts-to-the-american-nation-during-photo-by-universal-history-archivegetty.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/vintage-american-history-painting-of-royalty-free-illustration-1693947567.jpg?crop=0.758xw:0.628xh;0.141xw,0.186xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/joe-biden-wife-car-accident-gettyimages-515342964.jpg?crop=0.545xw:0.698xh;0.00650xw,0.0729xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/republican-presidential-candidate-former-u-n-ambassador-news-photo-1709824211.jpg?crop=0.580xw:0.868xh;0.357xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/bio-oppenheimer-and-truman-649dcfc170b6c.jpg?crop=0.503xw:1.00xh;0.236xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/who-killed-jfk-655d6b19b8b24.jpeg?crop=0.506xw:0.900xh;0.200xw,0.0456xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-97347150.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-646427982.jpg?crop=0.992xw:0.992xh;0.00321xw,0.00321xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/jimmy-carter-democratic-presidential-candidate-and-his-wife-rosalynn-share-a-moment-aboard-his-campaign-plane-getty.jpg?crop=0.665xw:1.00xh;0.144xw,0&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/abraham-lincoln-the-sixteenth-president-of-the-united-news-photo-1689291310.jpg?crop=0.782xw:0.662xh;0.188xw,0.137xh&resize=360:*",
"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/walt-nauta-aid-to-former-president-donald-trump-follows-news-photo-1686680759.jpg?crop=0.473xw:0.707xh;0.252xw,0.0240xh&resize=360:*",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/logos/logo.5ec9b18.svg?primary=%2523ffffff",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/social/x.3361b6d.svg?primary=%2523ffffff&id=social-button-icon",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/social/facebook.a5a3a69.svg?primary=%2523ffffff&id=social-button-icon",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/fre/static/icons/social/instagram.f282b14.svg?primary=%2523ffffff&id=social-button-icon",
"https://www.biography.com/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/logos/network-logo.04aa008.svg?primary=%2523ffffff"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"School: Independence High School (now William Chrisman High School)",
"Last Name: Truman",
"First Name: Harry",
"Death Year: 1972",
"Death State: Missouri",
"Death Month/Day: December 26",
"Death City: Kansas City",
"Birth Month/Day: May 8",
"Birth City: Lamar",
"Birth Year: 1884",
"Life Events/Experience: Held Political Office",
"Industry/Interest Area: World Politics",
"Affiliations: U.S. Democrat",
"Industry/Interest Area: U.S. Politics",
"Group: Who Is On Your Money?",
"Birth State: Missouri",
"Death Month: 12",
"Birth Month: 5",
"Astrological Sign: Taurus",
"Death Country: United States",
"Birth Country: United States"
] | null |
[] |
2014-04-03T01:23:39
|
Sworn in as the 33rd president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt's sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.
|
en
|
/_assets/design-tokens/biography/static/images/favicon.3635572.ico
|
Biography
|
https://www.biography.com/political-figures/harry-s-truman
|
(1884-1972)
Who Was Harry S. Truman?
Harry S. Truman was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s vice president for just 82 days before Roosevelt died and Truman became the 33rd president. In his first months in office, he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, ending World War II. His policy of communist containment started the Cold War, and he initiated U.S. involvement in the Korean War. Truman left office in 1953 and died in 1972.
Early Life
Truman was the first of three children born to John Anderson Truman, a farmer and mule trader, and his wife, Martha Ellen Truman. Truman was named in honor of his maternal uncle, Harrison Young, but his parents couldn’t decide on a middle name. After more than a month, they settled on simply using the letter “S” as a tribute to both his maternal grandfather, Solomon Young, and his paternal grandfather, Anderson Shipp Truman.
Truman grew up on the family farm in Independence, Missouri, and did not attend college. He worked a variety of jobs after high school, first as a timekeeper for a railroad construction company, and then as a clerk and a bookkeeper at two separate banks in Kansas City. After five years, he returned to farming and joined the National Guard.
Military Career
When World War I erupted, Truman volunteered for duty. Though he was 33 years-old—two years older than the age limit for the draft—and eligible for exemption as a farmer, he helped organize his National Guard regiment, which was ultimately called into service in the 129th Field Artillery. Truman was promoted to captain in France and assigned Battery D, which was known for being the most unruly battery in the regiment. In spite of a generally shy and modest temperament, Truman captured the respect and admiration of his men and led them successfully through heavy fighting during the Meuse-Argonne campaign.
Early Involvement in Politics
After the war, Truman returned home and married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace in 1919, with whom he had one daughter, Mary Margaret. That same year, he made a foray into business when he and an associate, Eddie Jacobson, set up a hat shop in Kansas City. But with America experiencing an economic decline in the early 1920s, the business failed in 1922. With the closing of the business, Truman owed $20,000 to creditors. He refused to accept bankruptcy and insisted on paying back all the money he borrowed, which took more than 15 years.
About this time, he was approached by Democratic boss Thomas Pendergast, whose nephew James served with Truman during the war. Pendergast appointed Truman to a position as an overseer of highways, and after a year, chose him to run for one of three county-judge positions in Jackson County. He was elected judge, which was an administrative rather than a judicial position, but he was defeated when he ran for a second term. Truman ran again in 1926 and was elected as a presiding judge, a position he held until he ran for senator.
Senator
Truman was elected to the United States Senate in 1934. In his first term, he served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which was responsible for allocating tax money for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal projects, and the Interstate Commerce Committee, which oversaw railroads, shipping, and interstate transport. Along with Senator Burton Wheeler, Truman began investigating railroads, and in 1940, he initiated legislation that imposed tighter federal regulation on the railroads, which helped him establish his reputation as a man of integrity.
By the time Truman was up for reelection in 1940, Thomas Pendergast had been convicted of tax evasion and associated with voter fraud, and many predicted Truman’s connection to Pendergast would result in a defeat. Truman didn’t try to hide or distort his relationship with Pendergast, however, and his reputation as a frank and ethical man helped him win re-election, albeit narrowly.
In his second term, Truman chaired a special committee to investigate the National Defense Program to prevent war profiteering and wasteful spending in defense industries. He gained public support and recognition for his straightforward reports and practical recommendations, and he won the respect of his colleagues and the populace alike.
Vice Presidency
When Roosevelt had to choose a running mate for the 1944 presidential election, he deemed his acting vice president, Henry Wallace, unacceptable. Wallace was disliked by many of the senior Democrats in Washington, and since it was apparent that Roosevelt might not survive his fourth term, the vice presidential pick was especially important. Truman’s popularity, as well as his reputation as a fiscally responsible man and a defender of citizens’ rights, made him an attractive option. Truman was initially reluctant to accept, but once he received the nomination, he campaigned vigorously.
Roosevelt and Truman were elected in November 1944, and Truman took the oath of office on January 20, 1945. He served as vice president just 82 days before Roosevelt died of a massive stroke, and he was sworn in as president on April 12, 1945.
With no prior experience in foreign policy, Truman was thrust into the role of commander in chief and charged with ending a world war. In the first six months of his term, he announced the Germans’ surrender, dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—ending World War II—and signed the charter ratifying the United Nations.
After the War
In spite of these early successes, Truman’s diplomatic situation was beset with challenges. Although the Soviet Union had been a powerful ally to the United States during the war, international relations deteriorated quickly when it became apparent that the Soviets intended to remain in control of Eastern European nations that were expected to be reestablished according to their pre-Hitler governments. This, along with the exclusion of the Soviets from the reconstruction of Asia, began the Cold War.
Re-Election
Republicans won both houses of Congress in 1946, which was seen as a judgment of Truman’s policies, and polls indicated that re-election was all but impossible. So certain seemed the victory of New York Governor Thomas Dewey that the “Chicago Tribune” famously went to press with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” before many polling locations had released results. The final outcome was a win for Truman with 49.5 percent of the vote, compared with Dewey’s 45.1 percent, and was one of the greatest upsets in the history of American elections.
Harry Truman holds up the newspaper cover that falsely predicted his defeat.
The Korean War
Truman announced his domestic policy initiative, the “Fair Deal” program, in his 1949 State of the Union address. Building on Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” it included universal health care, an increase in the minimum wage, more funding for education and a guarantee of equal rights under the law for all citizens.
The program was a mixed success. In 1948, racial discrimination was banned in federal government hiring practices, the military was desegregated and the minimum wage had gone up. National health insurance was rejected, as was more money for education.
The Korean War broke out in June 1950, and Truman swiftly committed U.S. troops to the conflict. He believed that North Korea’s invasion of South Korea was a challenge from the Soviets, and that, if left unchecked, it could escalate to another world war and to further communist aggression. After a brief wave of public support for his decision, criticism mounted.
Truman initially endorsed a rollback strategy and encouraged General Douglas MacArthur to breach the 38th parallel, bringing forces into North Korea to take over the government. But when China sent 300,000 troops to the aid of North Korea, Truman changed tactics. He reverted to the containment strategy, focusing on preserving the independence of South Korea rather than eliminating communism in the north. MacArthur publicly disagreed. To Truman, this was insubordination and a challenge to his authority, and he dismissed MacArthur in April 1951. MacArthur was a popular general, and Truman’s already-weak approval rating declined further.
Steel Strike
Truman’s challenges were not limited to international affairs. On the home front, he was struggling to manage a labor dispute between the United Steel Workers of America and the major steel mills. The union demanded a wage increase, but the mill owners refused to grant it unless the government allowed them to increase the prices of their consumer goods, which had been capped by the Wage Stabilization Board. Unable to broker an agreement and unwilling to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which was passed in spite of his veto in 1947 and would have allowed him to seek an injunction that prevented the union from striking, Truman seized the steel mills in the name of the government.
The steel companies responded by filing a suit against the government, and the case, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company v. Sawyer (sometimes referred to as "The Steel Seizure Case") went before the Supreme Court. The Court found in favor of the steel mills and forced Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to give the mills back to the owners. Truman's handling of this dispute further tarnished his reputation with the American people.
Post-Presidency and Death
In March 1952, Truman announced that he would not run for re-election. He gave his support to Governor Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic nominee, though Stevenson was distancing himself from the president because of his poor approval rating.
After retiring from the presidency, Truman returned to Independence, Missouri, where he wrote his memoirs, oversaw the construction of his presidential library and took long walks. He died on December 26, 1972, and is buried next to Bess in the courtyard of the Truman Library.
QUICK FACTS
Name: Harry S. Truman
Birth Year: 1884
Birth date: May 8, 1884
Birth State: Missouri
Birth City: Lamar
Birth Country: United States
Gender: Male
Best Known For: Sworn in as the 33rd president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt's sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.
Astrological Sign: Taurus
Schools
Independence High School (now William Chrisman High School)
Death Year: 1972
Death date: December 26, 1972
Death State: Missouri
Death City: Kansas City
Death Country: United States
Fact Check
We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us!
CITATION INFORMATION
Article Title: Harry S. Truman Biography
Author: Biography.com Editors
Website Name: The Biography.com website
Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/harry-s-truman
Access Date:
Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
Last Updated: April 15, 2021
Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
QUOTES
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 14
|
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harry-s-truman-is-born
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman is born
|
[
"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=3005002&cs_ucfr=1&cv=3.6&cj=1",
"https://www.history.com/assets/images/history/logo.svg",
"https://www.history.com/assets/images/history/logo.svg",
"https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/history-article-default.desktop.jpg",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=16&quality=75&auto=webp 16w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=32&quality=75&auto=webp 32w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=48&quality=75&auto=webp 48w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=64&quality=75&auto=webp 64w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=96&quality=75&auto=webp 96w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=128&quality=75&auto=webp 128w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=256&quality=75&auto=webp 256w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=392&quality=75&auto=webp 392w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=640&quality=75&auto=webp 640w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=750&quality=75&auto=webp 750w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=828&quality=75&auto=webp 828w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp 1080w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=1248&quality=75&auto=webp 1248w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp 1920w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=2048&quality=75&auto=webp 2048w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2023/03/2019-hvault-us-presidents-16x9-1.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F05%2Fthis-day-in-history-05-08-1945-v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2Fv-e-day-photo-gallery-getty-515220118.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=16&quality=75&auto=webp 16w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=32&quality=75&auto=webp 32w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=48&quality=75&auto=webp 48w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=64&quality=75&auto=webp 64w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=96&quality=75&auto=webp 96w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=128&quality=75&auto=webp 128w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=256&quality=75&auto=webp 256w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=392&quality=75&auto=webp 392w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=640&quality=75&auto=webp 640w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=750&quality=75&auto=webp 750w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=828&quality=75&auto=webp 828w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp 1080w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=1248&quality=75&auto=webp 1248w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp 1920w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=2048&quality=75&auto=webp 2048w, https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2024/05/beachcrop.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w",
"https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=16&q=75 16w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=32&q=75 32w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=48&q=75 48w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=64&q=75 64w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=96&q=75 96w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=128&q=75 128w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=256&q=75 256w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=392&q=75 392w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=640&q=75 640w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=750&q=75 750w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=828&q=75 828w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1080&q=75 1080w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1248&q=75 1248w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=1920&q=75 1920w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=2048&q=75 2048w, https://www.history.com/editorial/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.editorial.aetnd.com%2Fhistory-article-default.desktop.jpg&w=3840&q=75 3840w"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Missy Sullivan"
] |
2009-11-16T10:31:53+00:00
|
On May 8, 1884, Harry S. Truman is born in Lamar, Missouri. The son of a farmer, Truman could not afford to go to college. He joined the army at the relatively advanced age of 33 in 1916 to fight in World War I. After the war, he opened a haberdashery in Kansas City. When […]
|
en
|
HISTORY
|
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harry-s-truman-is-born
|
On May 8, 1884, Harry S. Truman is born in Lamar, Missouri. The son of a farmer, Truman could not afford to go to college. He joined the army at the relatively advanced age of 33 in 1916 to fight in World War I. After the war, he opened a haberdashery in Kansas City. When that business went bankrupt in 1922, he entered Missouri politics. Truman went on to serve in the U.S. Senate from 1934 until he was chosen as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s third vice president in 1945; it was during his Senate terms that he developed a reputation for honesty and integrity.
Upon FDR’s death on April 12, 1945, Truman became the 33rd president of the United States, assuming the role of commander in chief of a country still embroiled in World War II. With victory in Europe imminent, Truman agonized over whether or not to use the recently developed atomic bomb to force Japan to surrender. After only four months in office, Truman authorized the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945. He and his military advisors argued that using the bomb ultimately saved American and Japanese lives, since it appeared that the Japanese would fiercely resist any conventional attempt by the Allies to invade Japan and end the war. The use of the new weapon, dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August, succeeded in forcing Japan’s surrender, but also ushered in the Cold War. From that point until the late 1980s, the U.S. and Russia raced to out-spend and out-produce each other in nuclear weaponry.
After the war, the long-term and deadly effects of radiation fall-out on human beings were bleakly illustrated in pictures of the Japanese who survived the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Images and information released after the war regarding illnesses and environmental devastation related to nuclear weapons shocked the world and earned Truman lasting criticism for ushering in the possibility of complete global annihilation through nuclear warfare.
Although best known—and reviled by some—as the only president to choose to use nuclear weapons against innocent civilians in combat, Truman’s time in the executive branch was also notable in other areas. In 1941, Truman drove 10,000 miles across the country in his Dodge to investigate potential war profiteering in defense plants on the eve of World War II. After World War II, Truman helped push the Marshall Plan through Congress, which provided desperately needed reconstruction aid to European nations devastated by the war and on the verge of widespread famine. He also supported the establishment of a permanent Israeli state.
Truman was also known for his explosive temper and fierce loyalty to his family. In December 1950, his daughter Margaret gave a singing recital that was panned the following day in the Washington Post. Truman was so furious that he wrote a letter to the editor in which he threatened to give the reviewer a black eye and a broken nose. This was just one of many events that illustrated Truman's feisty, no-nonsense style, for which he was earlier given the nickname “Give ’em hell, Harry.”
Truman served as president for two terms from 1945 to 1953, when he and his wife Bess happily retired to Independence, Missouri, where he often referred to himself jokingly as “Mr. Citizen.” He died there on December 26, 1972.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 58
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/truman-harry-s
|
en
|
Truman, Harry S.
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/profiles/custom/stanford_profile/themes/stanford_basic/favicon.ico
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/profiles/custom/stanford_profile/themes/stanford_basic/favicon.ico
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/profiles/custom/stanford_profile/themes/stanford_basic/favicon.ico
|
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
|
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/truman-harry-s
|
May 8, 1884 to December 26, 1972
Following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945, Harry S. Truman became the 33rd president of the United States, after serving only 83 days as vice president. Martin Luther King had admired Truman’s record on civil rights until 1960, when Truman made defamatory statements linking the sit-in demonstrations with communism.
Truman was born 8 May 1884, in Lamar, Missouri. After graduating from high school in 1901, when his family could not afford to send him to college, Truman worked a variety of jobs before enlisting in the Missouri National Guard in 1907. He was discharged as a corporal in 1911, and shortly after the United States entered World War I Truman enlisted in the Missouri Field Artillery, serving in France and later achieving the rank of colonel in the reserves. Returning to Missouri after the war, in 1922 Truman was elected judge of the Jackson County Court, a position he held for two years. He later served as presiding judge of the same court from 1926 to 1934.
Following his judgeship, Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate to represent Missouri. During his 10 years in the Senate, Truman supported Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, as well as legislation that aided farmers and labor unions. Although he was openly racist when among his Senate peers, he lobbied for an end to legalized racial discrimination because it violated basic American ideals. Truman served as Roosevelt’s running mate in the 1944 election, and the two men won 53 percent of the popular vote. After Roosevelt’s death Truman assumed the presidency, and served until 1953.
During his presidency, Truman issued Executive Order 9808 (1946), which established the President’s Committee on Civil Rights; Executive Order 9980 (1948), which established a fair employment board to eliminate discriminatory hiring within the federal government; and Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. armed forces. Truman’s civil rights record was well received by African Americans, including King, who sent Truman an autographed copy of his first book, Stride Toward Freedom, in 1958.
A few years later Truman made public accusations that southern lunch counter demonstrations were orchestrated by Communists, and argued that: “If anyone came into my store and tried to stop business I’d throw him out. The Negro should behave himself and show he’s a good citizen” (Papers 5:437). In response to Truman’s comments, King wrote him, acknowledging his previous admiration for Truman’s civil rights record and expressing his confusion and disappointment over the former president’s statement. King stated: “It is a sad day for our country when men come to feel that oppressed people cannot desire freedom and human dignity unless they are motivated by Communism.… When the accusations come from a man who was once chosen by the American people to serve as the chief custodian of the nation’s destiny then they rise to shocking and dangerous proportions” (Papers 5:438). King then asked Truman for a public apology, but no reply from Truman has been located. Following his tenure as president, Truman retired to Independence, Missouri. He died on 26 December 1972.
Footnotes
King to Truman, 19 April 1960, in Papers 5:437–439.
Miller, Truman, 1986.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 23
|
https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/HallOfFame/Truman.htm
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://missouristate.info/ou/_resources/svg/sgf-logo.svg",
"https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/_Files/1_-_TRUMAN_PRES_PHOTO-EDIT-500px.jpg",
"https://missouristate.info/ou/_resources/svg/myms-straight-reversed.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2024-06-26T08:13:52.063763-07:00
|
en
|
/favicon.ico
|
https://PublicAffairs.MissouriState.edu/HallOfFame/Truman.htm
|
Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar in 1884 and grew up in Independence. In 1944, Truman was chosen to be President Rooseveltâs running mate, but served as vice president for only a brief period when Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. President Trumanâs years in the White House ended January 1953 when he returned to Independence.
As president, Truman made some of the crucial decisions in recent American history. After Japan rejected pleas by the Allies to surrender, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and shortly thereafter, Japan surrendered and World War II ended.
In June 1945, Truman oversaw the signing of the charter of the United Nations to establish a framework for future peacekeeping efforts. When the military forces of communist North Korea attacked South Korea in 1950, Truman ordered American troops to defend South Korea and its infant democracy. He orchestrated efforts at the United Nations to support a multi-national force to preserve South Koreaâs independence, while avoiding a major conflict with China.
On the domestic front, President Truman presented a 21-point program that proposed the expansion of Social Security, promoted full employment, proposed fair employment practices legislation and initiated plans to improve public housing and clear slums.
In addition to his extensive public record, after he left the White House he supported a "good neighbor policy" to bring peace and understanding to all peoples of the world by improving educational opportunities.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 38
|
https://www.npca.org/parks/harry-s-truman-national-historic-site
|
en
|
Harry S Truman
|
[
"https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=North+America&key=AIzaSyDO0gNvHmXVI4miwjVmjvewPjHO4Nwfruc&maptype=roadmap&markers=color%3A0x00714A%7CHarry+S.+Truman%2C+223+N+Main+St%2C+Independence%2C+MO+64050-2804%2C+USA&size=200x200&zoom=1",
"https://npca.s3.amazonaws.com/images/6180/f24cf64a-6930-47c9-b7a4-126b39bb7f22-wide.jpg?1445968735"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Harry S Truman lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue from 1945 to 1953, but 219 North Delaware Street was always his home. The Queen Anne-style house built by his wife Bess’s grandfather is the centerpiece of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site. The site also includes the two homes his brothers occupied, the Noland home where his aunt and cousins lived, and the Harry S Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri. A visit to the Truman home and a stroll through Independence, Missouri, provides important context to understanding this “uncommon common man.” A former farmer and tailor, Truman was a product of his small town upbringing. He brought the sensibility of his Midwestern roots to Washington, where he wanted to be remembered as the “People’s President.”
|
en
|
https://www.npca.org/favicon.ico
|
National Parks Conservation Association
|
https://www.npca.org/parks/harry-s-truman-national-historic-site
|
Harry S Truman lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue from 1945 to 1953, but 219 North Delaware Street was always his home. The Queen Anne-style house built by his wife Bess’s grandfather is the centerpiece of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site. The site also includes the two homes his brothers occupied, the Noland home where his aunt and cousins lived, and the Harry S Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri. A visit to the Truman home and a stroll through Independence, Missouri, provides important context to understanding this “uncommon common man.” A former farmer and tailor, Truman was a product of his small town upbringing. He brought the sensibility of his Midwestern roots to Washington, where he wanted to be remembered as the “People’s President.”
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 1
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e7/Cscr-featured.svg/20px-Cscr-featured.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1b/Semi-protection-shackle.svg/20px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Harry_S_Truman_Signature.svg/128px-Harry_S_Truman_Signature.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Flag_of_the_United_States_%281912-1959%29.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%281912-1959%29.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/US-O6_insignia.svg/25px-US-O6_insignia.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Harry_ca._1897.jpg/220px-Harry_ca._1897.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Trumanhist.JPG/220px-Trumanhist.JPG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Harry_S._Truman_in_his_World_War_I_Army_uniform.jpg/220px-Harry_S._Truman_in_his_World_War_I_Army_uniform.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Harry_S._Truman_WW_I.jpg/220px-Harry_S._Truman_WW_I.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Officers%2C_129th_Field_Artillery%2C_at_regimental_headquarters_at_Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Chesnay_near_Courcemont%2C_France%2C_March_1919._Cap_-_NARA_-_530949.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Officers%2C_129th_Field_Artillery%2C_at_regimental_headquarters_at_Ch%C3%A2teau_du_Chesnay_near_Courcemont%2C_France%2C_March_1919._Cap_-_NARA_-_530949.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/TrumanWedding.PNG/220px-TrumanWedding.PNG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Senate_Desk_Truman.jpg/220px-Senate_Desk_Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Truman-Mother-LIFE-1944.jpg/220px-Truman-Mother-LIFE-1944.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg/220px-RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_taking_the_oath_of_office_as_President_of_the_United_States_in_the_Cabinet_Room_of_the..._-_NARA_-_199062.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_taking_the_oath_of_office_as_President_of_the_United_States_in_the_Cabinet_Room_of_the..._-_NARA_-_199062.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-29645-0001%2C_Potsdamer_Konferenz%2C_Stalin%2C_Truman%2C_Churchill.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-29645-0001%2C_Potsdamer_Konferenz%2C_Stalin%2C_Truman%2C_Churchill.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg/220px-Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_reading_the_announcement_of_Japan%27s_surrender_to_assembled..._-_NARA_-_199171.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_reading_the_announcement_of_Japan%27s_surrender_to_assembled..._-_NARA_-_199171.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/President_Truman_with_Greek_sponge_divers..jpg/220px-President_Truman_with_Greek_sponge_divers..jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Charles_Griffith_Ross.jpg/220px-Charles_Griffith_Ross.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Truman_receives_menorah.jpg/220px-Truman_receives_menorah.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/President_Truman_with_Governor_Dewey_at_dedication_of_the_Idlewild_Airport_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-President_Truman_with_Governor_Dewey_at_dedication_of_the_Idlewild_Airport_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/ElectoralCollege1948.svg/250px-ElectoralCollege1948.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Dewey_Defeats_Truman.jpg/220px-Dewey_Defeats_Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg/220px-Truman_initiating_Korean_involvement.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Photograph_of_President_Truman_and_Indian_Prime_Minister_Jawaharlal_Nehru%2C_with_Nehru%27s_sister%2C_Madame_Pandit%2C_waving..._-_NARA_-_200154.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_and_Indian_Prime_Minister_Jawaharlal_Nehru%2C_with_Nehru%27s_sister%2C_Madame_Pandit%2C_waving..._-_NARA_-_200154.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Photograph_of_the_Shah_of_Iran_speaking_at_Washington_National_Airport%2C_during_ceremonies_welcoming_him_to_the_United..._-_NARA_-_200143.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Photograph_of_the_Shah_of_Iran_speaking_at_Washington_National_Airport%2C_during_ceremonies_welcoming_him_to_the_United..._-_NARA_-_200143.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/HarryTruman.jpg/220px-HarryTruman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/White-house-1950-interior-shell.jpg/220px-White-house-1950-interior-shell.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Nuvola_apps_kaboodle.svg/16px-Nuvola_apps_kaboodle.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Harry_S_Truman_-_NARA_-_530677_%282%29.jpg/220px-Harry_S_Truman_-_NARA_-_530677_%282%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office_with_the_Democratic_nominees_for_President_and_Vice_President..._-_NARA_-_200393.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office_with_the_Democratic_nominees_for_President_and_Vice_President..._-_NARA_-_200393.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_conferring_with_labor_leader_Walter_Reuther%2C_president_of_the..._-_NARA_-_200406.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Photograph_of_President_Truman_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_conferring_with_labor_leader_Walter_Reuther%2C_president_of_the..._-_NARA_-_200406.tif.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg/50px-Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Lyndon_Johnson_signing_Medicare_bill%2C_with_Harry_Truman%2C_July_30%2C_1965.jpg/250px-Lyndon_Johnson_signing_Medicare_bill%2C_with_Harry_Truman%2C_July_30%2C_1965.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Photograph_of_President_John_F._Kennedy%2C_on_his_first_full_day_in_office%2C_greeting_former_President_Harry_S._Truman..._-_NARA_-_200436.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_President_John_F._Kennedy%2C_on_his_first_full_day_in_office%2C_greeting_former_President_Harry_S._Truman..._-_NARA_-_200436.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_and_JFK_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg/220px-Photograph_of_Harry_S._Truman_and_JFK_in_the_Oval_Office.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/TrumanFuneralWreath.jpg/220px-TrumanFuneralWreath.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Harry_S._and_Bess_Truman_graves_July_2007.jpg/220px-Harry_S._and_Bess_Truman_graves_July_2007.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Truman_pass-the-buck.jpg/220px-Truman_pass-the-buck.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Harry_S_TRuman_1973_Issue-8c.jpg/165px-Harry_S_TRuman_1973_Issue-8c.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg/27px-Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/23px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/26px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/15px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/PD-icon.svg/12px-PD-icon.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg/100px-TRUMAN_58-766-06_%28cropped%29.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg/100px-Seal_of_the_President_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg/80px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/FDR_in_1933.jpg/100px-FDR_in_1933.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Harry_S._Truman.jpg/100px-Harry_S._Truman.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/P_vip.svg/19px-P_vip.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/A_coloured_voting_box.svg/19px-A_coloured_voting_box.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/21px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png",
"https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/poweredby_mediawiki.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"
] |
2001-08-23T21:11:09+00:00
|
en
|
/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
|
President of the United States from 1945 to 1953
"Harry Truman" redirects here. For other uses, see Harry Truman (disambiguation).
Harry S. Truman[b] (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States senator from Missouri from 1935 to 1945 and briefly as the 34th vice president in 1945 under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assuming the presidency after Roosevelt's death, Truman implemented the Marshall Plan in the wake of World War II to rebuild the economy of Western Europe and established both the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain the expansion of Soviet communism. He proposed numerous liberal domestic reforms, but few were enacted by the conservative coalition that dominated the Congress.
Truman was raised in Independence, Missouri, and during World War I fought in France as a captain in the Field Artillery. Returning home, he opened a haberdashery in Kansas City, Missouri, and was elected as a judge of Jackson County in 1922. Truman was elected to the United States Senate from Missouri in 1934. Between 1940 and 1944, he gained national prominence as chairman of the Truman Committee, which was aimed at reducing waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts.
Truman was elected vice president in the 1944 presidential election and assumed the presidency upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. It was only when Truman assumed the presidency that he was informed about the ongoing Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb. Truman authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the world war. Truman's administration engaged in an internationalist foreign policy by working closely with Britain. Truman staunchly denounced isolationism. He energized the New Deal coalition during the 1948 presidential election, despite a divided Democratic Party, and won a surprise victory against Republican Party nominee Thomas E. Dewey that secured his own presidential term.
Truman presided over the onset of the Cold War in 1947. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan in 1948. With the involvement of the US in the Korean War of 1950–1953, South Korea repelled the invasion by North Korea. Domestically, the postwar economic challenges such as strikes and inflation created a mixed reaction over the effectiveness of his administration. In 1948, he proposed Congress pass comprehensive civil rights legislation. Congress refused, so Truman issued Executive Order 9980 and Executive Order 9981, which prohibited discrimination in federal agencies and desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces.
Investigations revealed corruption in parts of the Truman administration, and this became a major campaign issue in the 1952 presidential election, although they did not implicate Truman himself. He was eligible for reelection in 1952 but, with poor polling, he chose not to run. Truman went into a retirement marked by the founding of his presidential library and the publication of his memoirs. It was long thought that his retirement years were financially difficult for Truman, resulting in Congress establishing a pension for former presidents, but evidence eventually emerged that he amassed considerable wealth, some of it while still president. When he left office, Truman's administration was heavily criticized. Despite this controversy, scholars rank Truman in the first quartile of American presidents. In addition, critical reassessment of his presidency has improved his reputation among historians and the general population.[7]
Early life, family, and education
Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884, the oldest child of John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. He was named for his maternal uncle, Harrison "Harry" Young. His middle initial, "S", is not an abbreviation of one particular name. Rather, it honors both his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, a somewhat common practice in the American South at the time.[b] A brother, John Vivian, was born soon after Harry, followed by sister Mary Jane. While Truman's ancestry was primarily English, he also had some Scots-Irish, German, and French ancestry.[10][11]
John Truman was a farmer and livestock dealer. The family lived in Lamar until Harry was ten months old, when they moved to a farm near Harrisonville, Missouri. They next moved to Belton and in 1887 to his grandparents' 600-acre (240 ha) farm in Grandview. When Truman was six, his parents moved to Independence, Missouri, so he could attend the Presbyterian Church Sunday School. He did not attend a conventional school until he was eight years old. While living in Independence, he served as a Shabbos goy for Jewish neighbors, doing tasks for them on Shabbat that their religion prevented them from doing on that day.[14][15][16]
Truman was interested in music, reading, history, and math,[17] all encouraged by his mother, with whom he was very close. As president, he solicited political as well as personal advice from her. Truman learned to play the piano at age seven and took lessons from Mrs. E.C. White, a well-respected teacher in Kansas City. He got up at five o'clock every morning to practice the piano, which he studied more than twice a week until he was fifteen, becoming quite a skilled player. Truman worked as a page at the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City; his father had many friends active in the Democratic Party who helped young Harry to gain his first political position.
After graduating from Independence High School in 1901,[23] Truman took classes at Spalding's Commercial College, a Kansas City business school. He studied bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing but stopped after a year.
Working career
Truman was employed briefly in the mailroom of The Kansas City Star[25] before making use of his business college experience to obtain a job as a timekeeper for construction crews on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, which required him to sleep in workmen's camps along the rail lines. Truman and his brother Vivian later worked as clerks at the National Bank of Commerce in Kansas City.[27]
In 1906, Truman returned to the Grandview farm, where he lived until entering the army in 1917. During this period, he courted Bess Wallace.[29] He proposed in 1911, but she turned him down. Believing Wallace turned him down because he did not have much money, Truman later said he intended to propose again, but he wanted to have a better income than that earned by a farmer. In fact, Wallace later told Truman she did not intend to marry, but if she did, it would be to him. Still determined to improve his finances, during his years on the farm and immediately after World War I, Truman became active in several business ventures. These included a lead and zinc mine near Commerce, Oklahoma, a company that bought land and leased the oil drilling rights to prospectors, and speculation in Kansas City real estate. Truman occasionally derived some income from these enterprises, but none proved successful in the long term.[33]
Truman is the only president since William McKinley (elected in 1896) who did not earn a college degree.[34] In addition to having briefly attended business college, from 1923 to 1925 he took night courses toward an LL.B. at the Kansas City Law School (now the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law) but dropped out after losing reelection as county judge. He was informed by attorneys in the Kansas City area that his education and experience were probably sufficient to receive a license to practice law but did not pursue it because he won election as presiding judge.[36]
While serving as president in 1947, Truman applied for a law license.[37] A friend who was an attorney began working out the arrangements, and informed Truman that his application had to be notarized. By the time Truman received this information he had changed his mind, so he never followed up. After the discovery of Truman's application in 1996 the Missouri Supreme Court issued him a posthumous honorary law license.[38]
Military service
National Guard
Due to the lack of funds for college, Truman considered attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which had no tuition, but he was refused an appointment because of poor eyesight. He enlisted in the Missouri National Guard in 1905 and served until 1911 in the Kansas City-based Battery B, 2nd Missouri Field Artillery Regiment, in which he attained the rank of corporal. At his induction, his eyesight without glasses was unacceptable 20/50 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left (past the standard for legal blindness). The second time he took the test, he passed by secretly memorizing the eye chart. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, gray eyed, dark haired and of light complexion.[42]
World War I
When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, Truman rejoined Battery B, successfully recruiting new soldiers for the expanding unit, for which he was elected as their first lieutenant.[43] Before deployment to France, Truman was sent for training to Camp Doniphan, Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma, when his regiment was federalized as the 129th Field Artillery.[44] The regimental commander during its training was Robert M. Danford, who later served as the Army's Chief of Field Artillery. Truman recalled that he learned more practical, useful information from Danford in six weeks than from six months of formal Army instruction, and when Truman served as an artillery instructor, he consciously patterned his approach on Danford's.
Truman also ran the camp canteen with Edward Jacobson, a clothing store clerk he knew from Kansas City. Unlike most canteens funded by unit members, which usually lost money, the canteen operated by Truman and Jacobson turned a profit, returning each soldier's initial $2 investment and $10,000 in dividends in six months. At Fort Sill, Truman met Lieutenant James M. Pendergast, nephew of Tom Pendergast, a Kansas City political boss, a connection that had a profound influence on Truman's later life.[47]
In mid-1918, about one million soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were in France. Truman was promoted to captain effective April 23,[49] and in July became commander of the newly arrived Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division.[51] Battery D was known for its discipline problems, and Truman was initially unpopular because of his efforts to restore order. Despite attempts by the men to intimidate him into quitting, Truman succeeded by making his corporals and sergeants accountable for discipline. He promised to back them up if they performed capably and reduce them to private if they did not. In an event memorialized in battery lore as "The Battle of Who Run", his soldiers began to flee during a sudden night attack by the Germans in the Vosges Mountains; Truman succeeded at ordering his men to stay and fight, using profanity from his railroad days. The men were so surprised to hear Truman use such language that they immediately obeyed.
Truman's unit joined in a massive prearranged assault barrage on September 26, 1918, at the opening of the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[53] They advanced with difficulty over pitted terrain to follow the infantry, and set up an observation post west of Cheppy.[53] On September 27, Truman saw through his binoculars an enemy artillery battery deploying across a river in a position which would allow them to fire upon the neighboring 28th Division.[53] Truman's orders limited him to targets facing the 35th Division, but he ignored this and patiently waited until the Germans had walked their horses well away from their guns, ensuring they could not relocate out of range of Truman's battery.[53] He then ordered his men to open fire, and their attack destroyed the enemy battery.[53] His actions were credited with saving the lives of 28th Division soldiers who otherwise would have come under fire from the Germans. Truman was given a dressing down by his regimental commander, Colonel Karl D. Klemm, who threatened to convene a court-martial, but Klemm never followed through, and Truman was not punished.[53]
In other action during the Meuse–Argonne offensive, Truman's battery provided support for George S. Patton's tank brigade, and fired some of the last shots of the war on November 11, 1918. Battery D did not lose any men while under Truman's command in France. To show their appreciation for his leadership, his men presented him with a large loving cup upon their return to the United States after the war.
The war was a transformative experience in which Truman manifested his leadership qualities. He had entered the service in 1917 as a family farmer who had worked in clerical jobs that did not require the ability to motivate and direct others, but during the war, he gained leadership experience and a record of success that greatly enhanced and supported his post-war political career in Missouri.
Truman was brought up in the Presbyterian and Baptist churches,[57] but avoided revivals and sometimes ridiculed revivalist preachers.[58] He rarely spoke about religion, which to him, primarily meant ethical behavior along traditional Protestant lines.[59] Truman once wrote in a letter to his future wife, Bess: "You know that I know nothing about Lent and such things..."[60] Most of the soldiers he commanded in the war were Catholics, and one of his close friends was the 129th Field Artillery's chaplain, Monsignor L. Curtis Tiernan.[61] The two remained friends until Tiernan's death in 1960. Developing leadership and interpersonal skills that later made him a successful politician helped Truman get along with his Catholic soldiers, as he did with soldiers of other Christian denominations and the unit's Jewish members.[63][64]
Officers' Reserve Corps
Truman was honorably discharged from the Army as a captain on May 6, 1919.[65] In 1920, he was appointed a major in the Officers Reserve Corps.[66] He became a lieutenant colonel in 1925 and a colonel in 1932.[67] In the 1920s and 1930s he commanded 1st Battalion, 379th Field Artillery Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division.[68] After promotion to colonel, Truman advanced to command of the regiment.[69]
After his election to the U.S. Senate, Truman was transferred to the General Assignments Group, a holding unit for less active officers, although he had not been consulted in advance.[70] Truman protested his reassignment, which led to his resumption of regimental command.[70] He remained an active reservist until the early 1940s.[71] Truman volunteered for active military service during World War II, but was not accepted, partly because of age, and partly because President Franklin D. Roosevelt desired senators and congressmen who belonged to the military reserves to support the war effort by remaining in Congress, or by ending their active duty service and resuming their congressional seats.[72] He was an inactive reservist from the early 1940s until retiring as a colonel in the then redesignated U.S. Army Reserve on January 20, 1953.[73]
Military awards and decorations
Truman was awarded a World War I Victory Medal with two battle clasps (for St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne) and a Defensive Sector Clasp. He was also the recipient of two Armed Forces Reserve Medals.[74]
Politics
Jackson County judge
After his wartime service, Truman returned to Independence, where he married Bess Wallace on June 28, 1919. The couple had one child, Mary Margaret Truman.
Shortly before the wedding, Truman and Jacobson opened a haberdashery together at 104 West 12th Street in downtown Kansas City. After brief initial success, the store went bankrupt during the recession of 1921. Truman did not pay off the last of the debts from that venture until 1935, when he did so with the aid of banker William T. Kemper, who worked behind the scenes to enable Truman's brother Vivian to buy Truman's $5,600 promissory note during the asset sale of a bank that had failed in the Great Depression. The note had risen and fallen in value as it was bought and sold, interest accumulated and Truman made payments, so by the time the last bank to hold it failed, it was worth nearly $9,000. Thanks to Kemper's efforts, Vivian Truman was able to buy it for $1,000. Jacobson and Truman remained close friends even after their store failed, and Jacobson's advice to Truman on Zionism later played a role in the U.S. Government's decision to recognize Israel.
With the help of the Kansas City Democratic machine led by Tom Pendergast, Truman was elected in 1922 as County Court judge of Jackson County's eastern district—Jackson County's three-judge court included judges from the western district (Kansas City), the eastern district (the county outside Kansas City), and a presiding judge elected countywide. This was an administrative rather than a judicial court, similar to county commissions in many other jurisdictions. Truman lost his 1924 reelection campaign in a Republican wave led by President Calvin Coolidge's landslide election to a full term. Two years selling automobile club memberships convinced him that a public service career was safer for a family man approaching middle age, and he planned a run for presiding judge in 1926.
Truman won the job in 1926 with the support of the Pendergast machine, and he was re-elected in 1930. As presiding judge, Truman helped coordinate the Ten Year Plan, which transformed Jackson County and the Kansas City skyline with new public works projects, including an extensive series of roads and construction of a new Wight and Wight-designed County Court building. Also in 1926, he became president of the National Old Trails Road Association, and during his term he oversaw dedication of 12 Madonna of the Trail monuments to honor pioneer women.
In 1933, Truman was named Missouri's director for the Federal Re-Employment program (part of the Civil Works Administration) at the request of Postmaster General James Farley. This was payback to Pendergast for delivering the Kansas City vote to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential election. The appointment confirmed Pendergast's control over federal patronage jobs in Missouri and marked the zenith of his power. It also created a relationship between Truman and Roosevelt's aide Harry Hopkins and assured Truman's avid support for the New Deal.
U.S. Senator from Missouri
After serving as a county judge, Truman wanted to run for governor or Congress,[85][86] but Pendergast rejected these ideas. Truman then thought he might serve out his career in some well-paying county sinecure;[86] circumstances changed when Pendergast reluctantly backed him as the machine's choice in the 1934 Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, after Pendergast's first four choices had declined to run. In the primary, Truman defeated Congressmen John J. Cochran and Jacob L. Milligan with the solid support of Jackson County, which was crucial to his candidacy. Also critical were the contacts he had made statewide in his capacity as a county official, member of the Freemasons,[c] military reservist,[d] and member of the American Legion.[e] In the general election, Truman defeated incumbent Republican Roscoe C. Patterson by nearly 20 percentage points in a continuing wave of pro-New Deal Democrats elected during the Great Depression.
Truman assumed office with a reputation as "the Senator from Pendergast". He referred patronage decisions to Pendergast but maintained that he voted with his own conscience. He later defended the patronage decisions by saying that "by offering a little to the machine, [he] saved a lot". In his first term, Truman spoke out against corporate greed and the dangers of Wall Street speculators and other moneyed special interests attaining too much influence in national affairs. Though he served on the high-profile Appropriations and Interstate Commerce Committees, he was largely ignored by President Roosevelt and had trouble getting calls returned from the White House.
During the U.S. Senate election in 1940, U.S. Attorney Maurice Milligan (former opponent Jacob Milligan's brother) and former governor Lloyd Stark both challenged Truman in the Democratic primary. Truman was politically weakened by Pendergast's imprisonment for income tax evasion the previous year; the senator had remained loyal, having claimed that Republican judges (not the Roosevelt administration) were responsible for the boss's downfall. St. Louis party leader Robert E. Hannegan's support of Truman proved crucial; he later brokered the deal that put Truman on the national ticket. In the end, Stark and Milligan split the anti-Pendergast vote in the Senate Democratic primary and Truman won by a total of 8,000 votes. In the November election, Truman defeated Republican Manvel H. Davis by 51–49 percent. As senator, Truman opposed both Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. Two days after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Truman said:
If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia, and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances.[99]
This quote without its last part later became a staple in Soviet and later Russian propaganda as "evidence" of an American conspiracy to destroy the country.[100][101]
Truman Committee
Further information: Truman Committee
In late 1940, Truman traveled to various military bases. The waste and profiteering he saw led him to use his chairmanship of the Committee on Military Affairs Subcommittee on War Mobilization to start investigations into abuses while the nation prepared for war. A new special committee was set up under Truman to conduct a formal investigation; the White House supported this plan rather than weather a more hostile probe by the House of Representatives. The main mission of the committee was to expose and fight waste and corruption in the gigantic government wartime contracts.
Truman's initiative convinced Senate leaders of the necessity for the committee, which reflected his demands for honest and efficient administration and his distrust of big business and Wall Street. Truman managed the committee "with extraordinary skill" and usually achieved consensus, generating heavy media publicity that gave him a national reputation.[102] Activities of the Truman Committee ranged from criticizing the "dollar-a-year men" hired by the government, many of whom proved ineffective, to investigating a shoddily built New Jersey housing project for war workers.[104] In March 1944, Truman attempted to probe the expensive Manhattan Project but was persuaded by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to discontinue with the investigation.[106]: 634
The committee reportedly saved as much as $15 billion (equivalent to $260 billion in 2023), and its activities put Truman on the cover of Time magazine. According to the Senate's historical minutes, in leading the committee, "Truman erased his earlier public image as an errand-runner for Kansas City politicos", and "no senator ever gained greater political benefits from chairing a special investigating committee than did Missouri's Harry S. Truman."
Vice presidency (1945)
Roosevelt's advisors knew that Roosevelt might not live out a fourth term and that his vice president would very likely become the next president. Henry Wallace had served as Roosevelt's vice president for four years and was popular on the left, but he was viewed as too far to the left and too friendly to labor for some of Roosevelt's advisers. The President and several of his confidantes wanted to replace Wallace with someone more acceptable to Democratic Party leaders. Outgoing Democratic National Committee chairman Frank C. Walker, incoming chairman Hannegan, party treasurer Edwin W. Pauley, Bronx party boss Ed Flynn, Chicago Mayor Edward Joseph Kelly, and lobbyist George E. Allen all wanted to keep Wallace off the ticket. Roosevelt told party leaders that he would accept either Truman or Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.[114]
State and city party leaders strongly preferred Truman, and Roosevelt agreed. Truman had repeatedly said that he was not in the race and that he did not want the vice presidency, and he remained reluctant. One reason was that his wife and sister Mary Jane were both on his Senate staff payroll, and he feared negative publicity. Truman did not campaign for the vice-presidential spot, though he welcomed the attention as evidence that he had become more than the "Senator from Pendergast". Truman's nomination was dubbed the "Second Missouri Compromise" and was well received. The Roosevelt–Truman ticket achieved a 432–99 electoral-vote victory in the election, defeating the Republican ticket of Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York and running mate Governor John Bricker of Ohio. Truman was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 1945. After the inauguration, Truman called his mother, who instructed him, "Now you behave yourself."[118]
Truman's brief vice-presidency was relatively uneventful. Truman mostly presided over the Senate and attended parties and receptions. He kept the same offices from his Senate years, mostly only using the Vice President's official office in the Capitol to greet visitors. Truman was the first vice president to have a Secret Service agent assigned to him. Truman envisioned the office as a liaison between the Senate and the president. On April 10, 1945,[120] Truman cast his only tie-breaking vote as president of the Senate, against a Robert A. Taft amendment that would have blocked the postwar delivery of Lend-Lease Act items contracted for during the war.[121][122] Roosevelt rarely contacted him, even to inform him of major decisions; the president and vice president met alone together only twice during their time in office.
In one of his first acts as vice president, Truman created some controversy when he attended the disgraced Pendergast's funeral. He brushed aside the criticism, saying simply, "He was always my friend and I have always been his." He had rarely discussed world affairs or domestic politics with Roosevelt; he was uninformed about major initiatives relating to the war and the top-secret Manhattan Project, which was about to test the world's first atomic bomb. In an event that generated negative publicity for Truman, he was photographed with actress Lauren Bacall sitting atop the piano at the National Press Club as he played for soldiers.[125]
Truman had been vice president for 82 days when President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Truman, presiding over the Senate, as usual, had just adjourned the session for the day and was preparing to have a drink in House Speaker Sam Rayburn's office when he received an urgent message to go immediately to the White House, where Eleanor Roosevelt told him that her husband had died after a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Truman asked her if there was anything he could do for her; she replied, "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now!" He was sworn in as president at 7:09 p.m. in the West Wing of the White House, by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone.[129]
Presidency (1945–1953)
At the White House, Truman replaced Roosevelt holdovers with old confidants. The White House was badly understaffed with no more than a dozen aides; they could barely keep up with the heavy workflow of a greatly expanded executive department. Truman acted as his own chief of staff on a daily basis, as well as his own liaison with Congress—a body he already knew very well. He was not well prepared to deal with the press, and never achieved the jovial familiarity of FDR. Filled with latent anger about all the setbacks in his career, he bitterly mistrusted journalists. He saw them as enemies lying in wait for his next careless miscue. Truman was a very hard worker, often to the point of exhaustion, which left him testy, easily annoyed, and on the verge of appearing unpresidential or petty. In terms of major issues, he discussed them in depth with top advisors. He mastered the details of the federal budget as well as anyone. Truman was a poor speaker reading a text. However, his visible anger made him an effective stump speaker, denouncing his enemies as his supporters hollered back at him "Give Em Hell, Harry!"[130]
Truman surrounded himself with his old friends and appointed several to high positions that seemed well beyond their competence, including his two secretaries of the treasury, Fred Vinson and John Snyder. His closest friend in the White House was his military aide Harry H. Vaughan, who knew little of military or foreign affairs and was criticized for trading access to the White House for expensive gifts. Truman loved to spend as much time as possible playing poker, telling stories and sipping bourbon. Alonzo Hamby notes that:
... to many in the general public, gambling and bourbon swilling, however low-key, were not quite presidential. Neither was the intemperant "give 'em hell" campaign style nor the occasional profane phrase uttered in public. Poker exemplified a larger problem: the tension between his attempts at an image of leadership necessarily a cut above the ordinary and an informality that at times appeared to verge on crudeness.
First term (1945–1949)
Assuming office
On his first full day, Truman told reporters: "Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don't know if you fellas ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me what happened yesterday, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me."
Truman asked all the members of Roosevelt's cabinet to remain in place, but he soon replaced almost all of them, especially with old friends from his Senate days.
Dropping atomic bombs on Japan
Truman benefited from a honeymoon period from the success in defeating Nazi Germany in Europe and the nation celebrated V-E Day on May 8, 1945, his 61st birthday.
Although Truman was told briefly on the afternoon of April 12 that he had a new, highly destructive weapon, it was not until April 25 that Secretary of War Henry Stimson told him the details:
We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire destruction prophesied in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous Ark.
— Harry Truman, writing about the atomic bomb in his diary on July 25, 1945[140]
Truman journeyed to Berlin for the Potsdam Conference with Joseph Stalin and the British leader Winston Churchill. He was there when he learned the Trinity test—the first atomic bomb—on July 16 had been successful. He hinted to Stalin that he was about to use a new kind of weapon against the Japanese. Though this was the first time the Soviets had been officially given information about the atomic bomb, Stalin was already aware of the bomb project—having learned about it through atomic espionage long before Truman did.
In August, the Japanese government refused surrender demands as specifically outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. With the invasion of Japan imminent, Truman approved the schedule for dropping the two available bombs. Truman maintained the position that attacking Japan with atomic bombs saved many lives on both sides; a military estimate for the invasion of Japan submitted to Truman by Herbert Hoover indicated that an invasion could take at least a year and result in 500,000 to 1,000,000 Allied casualties.[144] A study done for the staff of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson by William Shockley estimated that invading Japan would cost 1.7–4 million American casualties, including 400,000–800,000 fatalities, and five to ten million Japanese fatalities if Japanese civilians participated in the defense of Japan.[145] The U.S. Army Service Forces estimated in their document "Redeployment of the United States Army after the Defeat of Germany," that between June 1945 and December 1946 the Army would be required to furnish replacements for 43,000 dead and evacuated wounded every month during this period.[146] From analysis of the replacement schedule and projected strengths in overseas theaters, it suggested that Army losses alone in those categories, excluding the Navy and Marine Corps, would be approximately 863,000 through the first part of 1947, of whom 267,000 would be killed or missing.[147]
Hiroshima was bombed on August 6, and Nagasaki three days later, leaving 105,000 dead.[148] The Soviet Union declared war on Japan on August 9 and invaded Manchuria. Japan agreed to surrender the following day.
Supporters[f] of Truman's decision argue that, given the tenacious Japanese defense of the outlying islands, the bombings saved hundreds of thousands of lives of Allied prisoners, Japanese civilians, and combatants on both sides that would have been lost in an invasion of Japan. Some modern criticism has argued that the use of nuclear weapons was unnecessary, given that conventional attacks or a demonstrative bombing of an uninhabited area might have forced Japan's surrender, and therefore assert that the attack constituted a crime of war.[151][152][153] In 1948 Truman defended his decision to use atomic bombs:
As President of the United States, I had the fateful responsibility of deciding whether or not to use this weapon for the first time. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. But the President cannot duck hard problems—he cannot pass the buck. I made the decision after discussions with the ablest men in our Government, and after long and prayerful consideration. I decided that the bomb should be used to end the war quickly and save countless lives—Japanese as well as American.[154]
Truman continued to strongly defend himself in his memoirs in 1955–1956, stating many lives could have been lost had the United States invaded mainland Japan without the atomic bombs. In 1963, he stood by his decision, telling a journalist "it was done to save 125,000 youngsters on the U.S. side and 125,000 on the Japanese side from getting killed and that is what it did. It probably also saved a half million youngsters on both sides from being maimed for life."[155]
Labor unions, strikes and economic issues
See also: Strike wave of 1946
The end of World War II was followed by an uneasy transition from war to a peacetime economy. The costs of the war effort had been enormous, and Truman was intent on diminishing military services as quickly as possible to curtail the government's military expenditures. The effect of demobilization on the economy was unknown, proposals were met with skepticism and resistance, and fears existed that the nation would slide back into depression. In Roosevelt's final years, Congress began to reassert legislative power and Truman faced a congressional body where Republicans and conservative southern Democrats formed a powerful "conservative coalition" voting bloc. The New Deal had greatly strengthened labor unions and they formed a major base of support for Truman's Democratic Party. The Republicans, working with big business, made it their highest priority to weaken those unions.[156] The unions had been promoted by the government during the war and tried to make their gains permanent through large-scale strikes in major industries. Meanwhile, price controls were slowly ending, and inflation was soaring. Truman's response to the widespread dissatisfaction was generally seen as ineffective.
When a national rail strike threatened in May 1946, Truman seized the railroads in an attempt to contain the issue, but two key railway unions struck anyway. The entire national railroad system was shut down, immobilizing 24,000 freight trains and 175,000 passenger trains a day.[158] For two days, public anger mounted. His staff prepared a speech that Truman read to Congress calling for a new law, whereby railroad strikers would be drafted into the army. As he concluded his address, he was handed a note that the strike had been settled on presidential terms; nevertheless, a few hours later, the House voted to draft the strikers. The bill died in the Senate.[160]
Approval rating falls; Republicans win Congress in 1946
The president's approval rating dropped from 82 percent in the polls in January 1946 to 52 percent by June. This dissatisfaction led to large Democratic losses in the 1946 midterm elections, and Republicans took control of Congress for the first time since 1930. When Truman dropped to 32 percent in the polls, Democratic Arkansas Senator William Fulbright suggested that Truman resign; the president said he did not care what Senator "Halfbright" said.
Truman cooperated closely with the Republican leaders on foreign policy but fought them bitterly on domestic issues. The power of the labor unions was significantly curtailed by the Taft–Hartley Act which was enacted over Truman's veto. Truman twice vetoed bills to lower income tax rates in 1947. Although the initial vetoes were sustained, Congress overrode his veto of a tax cut bill in 1948. In one notable instance of bipartisanship, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which replaced the secretary of state with the Speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate as successor to the president after the vice president.
Proposes "Fair Deal" liberalism
As he readied for the 1948 election, Truman made clear his identity as a Democrat in the New Deal tradition, advocating for national health insurance,[165] and repeal of the Taft–Hartley Act. He broke with the New Deal by initiating an aggressive civil rights program which he termed a moral priority. His economic and social vision constituted a broad legislative agenda that came to be called the "Fair Deal." Truman's proposals were not well received by Congress, even with renewed Democratic majorities in Congress after 1948. The Solid South rejected civil rights as those states still enforced segregation. Only one of the major Fair Deal bills, the Housing Act of 1949, was ever enacted.[168] Many of the New Deal programs that persisted during Truman's presidency have since received minor improvements and extensions.
Marshall Plan, Cold War, and China
As a Wilsonian internationalist, Truman supported Roosevelt's policy in favor of the creation of the United Nations and included Eleanor Roosevelt on the delegation to the first UN General Assembly. With the Soviet Union expanding its sphere of influence through Eastern Europe, Truman and his foreign policy advisors took a hard line against the USSR. In this, he matched U.S. public opinion which quickly came to believe the Soviets were intent upon world domination.
Although he had little personal expertise on foreign matters, Truman listened closely to his top advisors, especially George Marshall and Dean Acheson. The Republicans controlled Congress in 1947–1948, so he worked with their leaders, especially Senator Arthur H. Vandenburg, chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee.[173] He won bipartisan support for both the Truman Doctrine, which formalized a policy of Soviet containment, and the Marshall Plan, which aimed to help rebuild postwar Europe.
To get Congress to spend the vast sums necessary to restart the moribund European economy, Truman used an ideological argument, arguing that communism flourishes in economically deprived areas. As part of the U.S. Cold War strategy, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 and reorganized military forces by merging the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment (later the Department of Defense) and creating the U.S. Air Force. The act also created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Council. On November 4, 1952, Truman authorized the official, though at the time, confidential creation of the National Security Agency (NSA).[178][179]
Truman did not know what to do about China, where the Nationalists and Communists were fighting a large-scale civil war. The Nationalists had been major wartime allies and had large-scale popular support in the United States, along with a powerful lobby. General George Marshall spent most of 1946 in China trying to negotiate a compromise but failed. He convinced Truman the Nationalists would never win on their own and a very large-scale U.S. intervention to stop the Communists would significantly weaken U.S. opposition to the Soviets in Europe. By 1949, the Communists under Mao Zedong had won the civil war, the United States had a new enemy in Asia, and Truman came under fire from conservatives for "losing" China.[180]
Berlin airlift
Further information: Berlin Blockade
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. The Allies had not negotiated a deal to guarantee supply of the sectors deep within the Soviet-occupied zone. The commander of the U.S. occupation zone in Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, proposed sending a large armored column across the Soviet zone to West Berlin with instructions to defend itself if it were stopped or attacked. Truman believed this would entail an unacceptable risk of war. He approved Ernest Bevin's plan to supply the blockaded city by air.
On June 25, the Allies initiated the Berlin Airlift, a campaign to deliver food, coal and other supplies using military aircraft on a massive scale. Nothing like it had ever been attempted before, and no single nation had the capability, either logistically or materially, to accomplish it. The airlift worked; ground access was again granted on May 11, 1949. Nevertheless, the airlift continued for several months after that. The Berlin Airlift was one of Truman's great foreign policy successes; it significantly aided his election campaign in 1948.
Recognition of Israel
Truman had long taken an interest in the history of the Middle East and was sympathetic to Jews who sought to re-establish their ancient homeland in Mandatory Palestine. As a senator, he announced support for Zionism; in 1943 he called for a homeland for those Jews who survived the Nazi regime. However, State Department officials were reluctant to offend the Arabs, who were opposed to the establishment of a Jewish state in the large region long populated and dominated culturally by Arabs. Secretary of Defense James Forrestal warned Truman of the importance of Saudi Arabian oil in another war; Truman replied he would decide his policy on the basis of justice, not oil. U.S. diplomats with experience in the region were opposed, but Truman told them he had few Arabs among his constituents.
Palestine was secondary to the goal of protecting the "Northern Tier" of Greece, Turkey, and Iran from communism, as promised by the Truman Doctrine. Weary of both the convoluted politics of the Middle East and pressure by Jewish leaders, Truman was undecided on his policy and skeptical about how the Jewish "underdogs" would handle power.[185][186] He later cited as decisive in his recognition of the Jewish state the advice of his former business partner, Eddie Jacobson, a non-religious Jew whom Truman absolutely trusted.
Truman decided to recognize Israel over the objections of Secretary of State George Marshall, who feared it would hurt relations with the populous Arab states. Marshall believed the paramount threat to the United States was the Soviet Union and feared Arab oil would be lost to the United States in the event of war; he warned Truman the United States was "playing with fire with nothing to put it out". Truman recognized the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, eleven minutes after it declared itself a nation. Of his decision to recognize the Israeli state, Truman said in an interview years later: "Hitler had been murdering Jews right and left. I saw it, and I dream about it even to this day. The Jews needed some place where they could go. It is my attitude that the American government couldn't stand idly by while the victims [of] Hitler's madness are not allowed to build new lives."
Calls for Civil Rights
Under his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Fair Employment Practices Committee was created to address racial discrimination in employment,[191] and in 1946, Truman created the President's Committee on Civil Rights. On June 29, 1947, Truman became the first president to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The speech took place at the Lincoln Memorial during the NAACP convention and was carried nationally on radio. In that speech, Truman laid out the need to end discrimination, which would be advanced by the first comprehensive, presidentially proposed civil rights legislation. Truman on "civil rights and human freedom", declared:[192]
It is my deep conviction that we have reached a turning point in the long history of our country's efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens … it is more important today than ever before to ensure that all Americans enjoy these rights. … [And] When I say all Americans, I mean all Americans … Our immediate task is to remove the last remnants of the barriers which stand between millions of our citizens and their birthright. There is no justifiable reason for discrimination because of ancestry, or religion, or race, or color. We must not tolerate such limitations on the freedom of any of our people and on their enjoyment of basic rights which every citizen in a truly democratic society must possess. Every man should have the right to a decent home, the right to an education, the right to adequate medical care, the right to a worthwhile job, the right to an equal share in making the public decisions through the ballot, and the right to a fair trial in a fair court. We must ensure that these rights – on equal terms – are enjoyed by every citizen. To these principles I pledge my full and continued support. Many of our people still suffer the indignity of insult, the harrowing fear of intimidation, and, I regret to say, the threat of physical injury and mob violence. Prejudice and intolerance in which these evils are rooted still exist. The conscience of our nation, and the legal machinery which enforces it, have not yet secured to each citizen full freedom from fear.
In February 1948, Truman delivered a formal message to Congress requesting adoption of his 10-point program to secure civil rights, including anti-lynching, voter rights, and elimination of segregation. "No political act since the Compromise of 1877," argued biographer Taylor Branch, "so profoundly influenced race relations; in a sense it was a repeal of 1877."[193]
1948 election
The 1948 presidential election is remembered for Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory. In the spring of 1948, Truman's public approval rating stood at 36 percent, and the president was nearly universally regarded as incapable of winning the general election. At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Truman attempted to unify the party with a vague civil rights plank in the party platform. His intention was to assuage the internal conflicts between the northern and southern wings of his party. Events overtook his efforts. A sharp address given by Mayor Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis—as well as the local political interests of a number of urban bosses—convinced the convention to adopt a stronger civil rights plank, which Truman approved wholeheartedly.[196] Truman delivered an aggressive acceptance speech attacking the 80th Congress, which Truman called the "Do Nothing Congress," and promising to win the election and "make these Republicans like it."
Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home—but not for housing. They are strong for labor—but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage—the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all—but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine—for people who can afford them ... They think American standard of living is a fine thing—so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.
— Harry S. Truman, October 13, 1948, St. Paul, Minnesota, Radio Broadcast[198][199][200][201]
Within two weeks of the 1948 convention Truman issued Executive Order 9981, ending racial discrimination in the Armed Services, and Executive Order 9980 to end discrimination in federal agencies.[202][203] Truman took a considerable political risk in backing civil rights, and many seasoned Democrats were concerned the loss of Dixiecrat support might seriously weaken the party. South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond, a segregationist, declared his candidacy for the presidency on a Dixiecrat ticket and led a full-scale revolt of Southern "states' rights" proponents. This rebellion on the right was matched by one on the left, led by Wallace on the Progressive Party ticket. The Democratic Party was splitting three ways and victory in November seemed unlikely. For his running mate, Truman accepted Kentucky Senator Alben W. Barkley, though he really wanted Justice William O. Douglas, who turned down the nomination.
Truman's political advisors described the political scene as "one unholy, confusing cacophony." They told Truman to speak directly to the people, in a personal way.[206] Campaign manager William J. Bray said Truman took this advice, and spoke personally and passionately, sometimes even setting aside his notes to talk to Americans "of everything that is in my heart and soul."[207]
The campaign was a 21,928-mile (35,290 km) presidential odyssey. In a personal appeal to the nation, Truman crisscrossed the United States by train; his "whistle stop" speeches from the rear platform of the presidential car, Ferdinand Magellan, came to represent his campaign. His combative appearances captured the popular imagination and drew huge crowds. Six stops in Michigan drew a combined half-million people; a full million turned out for a New York City ticker-tape parade.
The large crowds at Truman's whistle-stop events were an important sign of a change in momentum in the campaign, but this shift went virtually unnoticed by the national press corps. It continued reporting Republican Thomas Dewey's apparent impending victory as a certainty. The three major polling organizations stopped polling well before the November 2 election date—Roper in September, and Crossley and Gallup in October—thus failing to measure the period when Truman appears to have surged past Dewey.
In the end, Truman held his progressive Midwestern base, won most of the Southern states despite the civil rights plank, and squeaked through with narrow victories in a few critical states, notably Ohio, California, and Illinois. The final tally showed the president had secured 303 electoral votes, Dewey 189, and Thurmond only 39. Henry Wallace got none. The defining image of the campaign came after Election Day, when an ecstatic Truman held aloft the erroneous front page of the Chicago Tribune with a huge headline proclaiming "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Full elected term (1949–1953)
Truman's second inauguration was the first ever televised nationally.
Hydrogen bomb decision
The Soviet Union's atomic bomb project progressed much faster than had been expected, and they detonated their first bomb on August 29, 1949. Over the next several months there was an intense debate that split the U.S. government, military, and scientific communities regarding whether to proceed with the development of the far more powerful hydrogen bomb. The debate touched on matters from technical feasibility to strategic value to the morality of creating a massively destructive weapon. On January 31, 1950, Truman made the decision to go forward on the grounds that if the Soviets could make an H-bomb, the United States must do so as well and stay ahead in the nuclear arms race. The development achieved fruition with the first U.S. H-bomb test on October 31, 1952, which was officially announced by Truman on January 7, 1953.
Korean War
Further information: Korean War
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army under Kim Il-sung invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War. In the early weeks of the war, the North Koreans easily pushed back their southern counterparts. Truman called for a naval blockade of Korea, only to learn that due to budget cutbacks, the U.S. Navy could not enforce such a measure.
Truman promptly urged the United Nations to intervene; it did, authorizing troops under the UN flag led by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. Truman decided he did not need formal authorization from Congress, believing that most legislators supported his position; this would come back to haunt him later when the stalemated conflict was dubbed "Mr. Truman's War" by legislators. Rockoff writes that "President Truman responded quickly to the June invasion by authorizing the use of U.S. troops and ordering air strikes and a naval blockade. He did not, however, seek a declaration of war, or call for full mobilization, in part because such actions might have been misinterpreted by Russia and China. Instead, on July 19 he called for partial mobilization and asked Congress for an appropriation of $10 billion for the war."[224] Cohen writes that: "All of Truman's advisers saw the events in Korea as a test of American will to resist Soviet attempts to expand their power, and their system. The United States ordered warships to the Taiwan Strait to prevent Mao's forces from invading Taiwan and mopping up the remnants of Chiang Kai-shek's army there."[225]
However, on July 3, 1950, Truman did give Senate Majority Leader Scott W. Lucas a draft resolution titled "Joint Resolution Expressing Approval of the Action Taken in Korea". Lucas stated Congress supported the use of force, the formal resolution would pass but was unnecessary, and the consensus in Congress was to acquiesce. Truman responded he did not want "to appear to be trying to get around Congress and use extra-Constitutional powers," and added that it was "up to Congress whether such a resolution should be introduced."[226]
By August 1950, U.S. troops pouring into South Korea under UN auspices were able to stabilize the situation. Responding to criticism over readiness, Truman fired his secretary of defense, Louis A. Johnson, replacing him with the retired General Marshall. With UN approval, Truman decided on a "rollback" policy—liberation of North Korea. UN forces led by General Douglas MacArthur led the counterattack, scoring a stunning surprise victory with an amphibious landing at the Battle of Inchon that nearly trapped the invaders. UN forces marched north, toward the Yalu River boundary with China, with the goal of reuniting Korea under UN auspices.
China surprised the UN forces with a large-scale invasion in November. The UN forces were forced back to below the 38th parallel, then recovered. By early 1951 the war became a fierce stalemate at about the 38th parallel where it had begun. Truman rejected MacArthur's request to attack Chinese supply bases north of Yalu, but MacArthur promoted his plan to Republican House leader Joseph Martin, who leaked it to the press. Truman was gravely concerned further escalation of the war might lead to open conflict with the Soviet Union, which was already supplying weapons and providing warplanes (with Korean markings and Soviet aircrew). Therefore, on April 11, 1951, Truman fired MacArthur from his commands.
The dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur was among the least politically popular decisions in presidential history. Truman's approval ratings plummeted, and he faced calls for his impeachment from, among others, Senator Robert A. Taft. Fierce criticism from virtually all quarters accused Truman of refusing to shoulder the blame for a war gone sour and blaming his generals instead. Others, including Eleanor Roosevelt and all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly supported Truman's decision. MacArthur meanwhile returned to the United States to a hero's welcome, and addressed a joint session of Congress, a speech the president called "a bunch of damn bullshit."
Truman and his generals considered the use of nuclear weapons against the Chinese army, but ultimately chose not to escalate the war to a nuclear level.[235] The war remained a frustrating stalemate for two years, with over 30,000 Americans killed, until an armistice ended the fighting in 1953. In February 1952, Truman's approval mark stood at 22 percent according to Gallup polls, which is the all-time lowest approval mark for a sitting U.S. president, though it was matched by Richard Nixon in 1974.[238]
Worldwide defense
The escalation of the Cold War was highlighted by Truman's approval of NSC 68, a secret statement of foreign policy. It called for tripling the defense budget, and the globalization and militarization of containment policy whereby the United States and its NATO allies would respond militarily to actual Soviet expansion. The document was drafted by Paul Nitze, who consulted State and Defense officials and was formally approved by President Truman as the official national strategy after the war began in Korea. It called for partial mobilization of the U.S. economy to build armaments faster than the Soviets. The plan called for strengthening Europe, weakening the Soviet Union, and building up the United States both militarily and economically.
Truman was a strong supporter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which established a formal peacetime military alliance with Canada and democratic European nations of the Western Bloc following World War II. The treaty establishing it was widely popular and easily passed the Senate in 1949; Truman appointed General Eisenhower as commander. NATO's goals were to contain Soviet expansion in Europe and to send a clear message to communist leaders that the world's democracies were willing and able to build new security structures in support of democratic ideals. The United States, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Iceland, and Canada were the original treaty signatories. The alliance resulted in the Soviets establishing a similar alliance, called the Warsaw Pact.
General Marshall was Truman's principal adviser on foreign policy matters, influencing such decisions as the U.S. choice against offering direct military aid to Chiang Kai-shek and his nationalist Chinese forces in the Chinese Civil War against their communist opponents. Marshall's opinion was contrary to the counsel of almost all of Truman's other advisers; Marshall thought propping up Chiang's forces would drain U.S. resources necessary for Europe to deter the Soviets. When the communists took control of the mainland, establishing the People's Republic of China and driving the nationalists to Taiwan, Truman would have been willing to maintain some relationship between the United States and the new government, but Mao was unwilling. Truman announced on January 5, 1950, that the United States would not engage in any dispute involving the Taiwan Strait, and that he would not intervene in the event of an attack by the PRC.[244]
On June 27, 1950, after the outbreak of fighting in Korea, Truman ordered the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent further conflict between the communist government on the China mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan.[246]
Truman usually worked well with his top staff – the exceptions were Israel in 1948 and Spain in 1945–1950. Truman was a very strong opponent of Francisco Franco, the right-wing dictator of Spain. He withdrew the American ambassador (but diplomatic relations were not formally broken), kept Spain out of the UN, and rejected any Marshall Plan financial aid to Spain. However, as the Cold War escalated, support for Spain was strong in Congress, the Pentagon, the business community and other influential elements especially Catholics and cotton growers.
Liberal opposition to Spain had faded after the Wallace element broke with the Democratic Party in 1948; the CIO became passive on the issue. As Secretary of State Acheson increased his pressure on Truman, the president stood alone in his administration as his own top appointees wanted to normalize relations. When China entered the Korean War and pushed American forces back, the argument for allies became irresistible. Admitting he was "overruled and worn down," Truman relented and sent an ambassador and made loans available.[247]
Soviet espionage and McCarthyism
In August 1948, Whittaker Chambers, a former spy for the Soviets and a senior editor at Time magazine, testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He said an underground communist network had worked inside the U.S. government during the 1930s, of which Chambers had been a member, along with Alger Hiss, until recently a senior State Department official. Chambers did not allege any spying during the Truman presidency. Although Hiss denied the allegations, he was convicted in January 1950 for perjury for denials under oath.
The Soviet Union's success in exploding an atomic weapon in 1949 and the fall of the nationalist Chinese the same year led many Americans to conclude subversion by Soviet spies was responsible and to demand that communists be rooted out from the government and other places of influence. Hoping to contain these fears, Truman began a "loyalty program" with Executive Order 9835 in 1947.[250] However, Truman got himself into deeper trouble when he called the Hiss trial a "red herring".[251] Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy accused the State Department of harboring communists and rode the controversy to political fame, leading to the Second Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism. McCarthy's stifling accusations made it difficult to speak out against him. This led Truman to call McCarthy "the greatest asset the Kremlin has" by "torpedo[ing] the bipartisan foreign policy of the United States."[255]
Charges that Soviet agents had infiltrated the government were believed by 78 percent of the people in 1946 and became a major campaign issue for Eisenhower in 1952. Truman was reluctant to take a more radical stance, because he felt it could threaten civil liberties and add to a potential hysteria. At the same time, he felt political pressure to indicate a strong national security. It is unclear to what extent President Truman was briefed of the Venona intercepts, which discovered widespread evidence of Soviet espionage on the atom bomb project and afterward.[258][259] Truman continued his own loyalty program for some time while believing the issue of communist espionage was overstated.[258] In 1949, Truman described American communist leaders, whom his administration was prosecuting, as "traitors". Truman would later state in private conversations with friends that his creation of a loyalty program had been a "terrible" mistake.
In 1950, Truman vetoed the McCarran Internal Security Act, which was passed by Congress just after the start of the Korean War and was aimed at controlling communists in America. Truman called the Act, "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press, and assembly since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798," a "mockery of the Bill of Rights" and a "long step toward totalitarianism".[262][263] His veto was immediately overridden by Congress and the Act became law. In the mid-1960s, parts of the Act were found to be unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court.[264][265]
Blair House and assassination attempt
In 1948, Truman ordered an addition to the exterior of the White House: a second-floor balcony in the south portico, which came to be known as the Truman Balcony. The addition was unpopular. Some said it spoiled the appearance of the south facade, but it gave the First Family more living space. Meanwhile, structural deterioration and a near-imminent collapse of the White House led to a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the building's interior from 1949 to 1952. Architectural and engineering investigations during 1948 deemed it unsafe for occupancy. Truman, his family, and the entire residence staff were relocated across the street into Blair House during the renovations. As the newer West Wing, including the Oval Office, remained open, Truman walked to and from his work across the street each morning and afternoon.
External videos Newsreel scenes in English of the assassination attempt on U.S. President Harry S. Truman
On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. On the street outside the residence, Torresola mortally wounded a White House policeman, Leslie Coffelt. Before he died, the officer shot and killed Torresola. Collazo was wounded and stopped before he entered the house. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in 1952. Truman commuted his sentence to life in prison. To try to settle the question of Puerto Rican independence, Truman allowed a plebiscite in Puerto Rico in 1952 to determine the status of its relationship to the United States. Nearly 82 percent of the people voted in favor of a new constitution for the Estado Libre Asociado, a continued 'associated free state.'[270]
Steel and coal strikes
Further information: 1952 steel strike
In response to a labor/management impasse arising from bitter disagreements over wage and price controls, Truman instructed his Secretary of Commerce, Charles W. Sawyer, to take control of a number of the nation's steel mills in April 1952. Truman cited his authority as commander in chief and the need to maintain an uninterrupted supply of steel for munitions for the war in Korea. The Supreme Court found Truman's actions unconstitutional, however, and reversed the order in a major separation-of-powers decision, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952). The 6–3 decision, which held that Truman's assertion of authority was too vague and was not rooted in any legislative action by Congress, was delivered by a court composed entirely of justices appointed by either Truman or Roosevelt. The high court's reversal of Truman's order was one of the notable defeats of his presidency.[271]
Scandals and controversies
In 1950, the Senate, led by Estes Kefauver, investigated numerous charges of corruption among senior administration officials, some of whom received fur coats and deep freezers in exchange for favors. A large number of employees of the Internal Revenue Bureau (today the IRS) were accepting bribes; 166 employees either resigned or were fired in 1950, with many soon facing indictment. When Attorney General J. Howard McGrath fired the special prosecutor in early 1952 for being too zealous, Truman fired McGrath. Truman submitted a reorganization plan to reform the IRB; Congress passed it, but corruption was a major issue in the 1952 presidential election.
On December 6, 1950, Washington Post music critic Paul Hume wrote a critical review of a concert by the president's daughter Margaret Truman:
Miss Truman is a unique American phenomenon with a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality ... [she] cannot sing very well ... is flat a good deal of the time—more last night than at any time we have heard her in past years ... has not improved in the years we have heard her ... [and] still cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish.
Truman wrote a scathing response:
I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an 'eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay.' It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively that you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work. Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below! Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry.
Truman was criticized by many for the letter. However, he pointed out that he wrote it as a loving father and not as the president.
In 1951, William M. Boyle, Truman's longtime friend and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was forced to resign after being charged with financial corruption.[280]
Civil rights
A 1947 report by the Truman administration titled To Secure These Rights presented a detailed ten-point agenda of civil rights reforms. Speaking about this report, international developments have to be taken into account, for with the UN Charter being passed in 1945, the question of whether international human rights law could be applicable also on an inner-land basis became crucial in the United States. Though the report acknowledged such a path was not free from controversy in the 1940s United States, it nevertheless raised the possibility for the UN-Charter to be used as a legal tool to combat racial discrimination in the United States.[281]
In February 1948, the president submitted a civil rights agenda to Congress that proposed creating several federal offices devoted to issues such as voting rights and fair employment practices. This provoked a storm of criticism from southern Democrats in the runup to the national nominating convention, but Truman refused to compromise, saying: "My forebears were Confederates ... but my very stomach turned over when I had learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of Army trucks in Mississippi and beaten."
Tales of the abuse, violence, and persecution suffered by many African American veterans upon their return from World War II infuriated Truman and were major factors in his decision to issue Executive Order 9981, in July 1948, requiring equal opportunity in the armed forces. In the early 1950s after several years of planning, recommendations and revisions between Truman, the Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity and the various branches of the military, the services became racially integrated. Truman later appointed people who aligned with civil rights agenda. He appointed fellow colonel and civil rights icon Blake R. Van Leer to the board of the United States Naval Academy and UNESCO who had a focus to work against racism through influential statements on race.[286][287]
Executive Order 9980, also in 1948, made it illegal to discriminate against persons applying for civil service positions based on race. A third, in 1951, established the Committee on Government Contract Compliance, which ensured defense contractors did not discriminate because of race.
Administration and cabinet
Foreign policy
From 1947 until 1989, world affairs were dominated by the Cold War, in which the U.S. and its allies faced the Soviet Union and its allies. There was no large-scale fighting but instead several local civil wars as well as the ever-present threat of a catastrophic nuclear war.[290][291]
Unlike Roosevelt, Truman distrusted Stalin and the Soviet Union, and did not have FDR's faith in the UN to soften major tensions. Nevertheless, he cooperated in terms of dividing control over Germany. Soviet efforts to use its army to control politics in Eastern Europe and Iran angered Washington. The final break came in 1947 when the Labour government in London could no longer afford to help Greece fight communism and asked Washington to assume responsibility for suppressing the Communist uprising there.[292][293] The result was the Truman Doctrine of 1947–48 which made it national policy to contain Communist expansion.[294]
Truman was supported by the great majority of Democrats, after he forced out the Henry Wallace faction that wanted good terms with Moscow.[295] Truman's policy had the strong support of most Republicans, who led by Senator Arthur Vandenberg overcame the isolationist Republicans led by Senator Robert A. Taft.[296]
In 1948, Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which supplied Western Europe—including Germany—with US$13 billion in reconstruction aid. Stalin vetoed any participation by East European nations. A similar program was operated by the United States to restore the Japanese economy. The U.S. actively sought allies, which it subsidized with military and economic "foreign aid", as well as diplomatic support. The main diplomatic initiative was the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, committing the United States to nuclear defense of Western Europe. The result was a peace in Europe, coupled with the fear of Soviet invasion and a reliance on American protection.[297] The United States operated a worldwide network of bases for its Army, Navy and Air Force, with large contingents stationed in Germany, Japan and South Korea.[298] Washington had a weak intelligence community before 1942, and the Soviets had a very effective network of spies. The solution was to create the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1947.[299] Economic and propaganda warfare against the communist world became part of the American toolbox.[300]
The containment policy was developed by State Department official George Kennan in 1947.[301] Kennan characterized the Soviet Union as an aggressive, anti-Western power that necessitated containment, a characterization which would shape US foreign policy for decades to come. The idea of containment was to match Soviet aggression with force wherever it occurred while not using nuclear weapons. The policy of containment created a bipolar, zero-sum world where the ideological conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States dominated geopolitics. Due to the antagonism on both sides and each countries' search for security, a tense worldwide contest developed between the two states as the two nations' governments vied for global supremacy militarily, culturally, and politically.[302]
The Cold War was characterized by a lack of global hot wars. Instead there were proxy wars, fought by client states and proxies of the United States and Soviet Union. The most important was Korean War (1950–1953), a stalemate that drained away Truman's base of support. Truman made five international trips during his presidency.[303]
1952 election
In 1951, the United States ratified the 22nd Amendment, making a president ineligible for election to a third term or for election to a second full term after serving more than two remaining years of a term of a previously elected president. The latter clause did not apply to Truman's situation in 1952 because of a grandfather clause exempting the incumbent president.
Therefore, he seriously considered running for another term in 1952 and left his name on the ballot in the New Hampshire primary. However, all his close advisors, pointing to his age, his failing abilities, and his poor showing in the polls, talked him out of it.[305] At the time of the 1952 New Hampshire primary, no candidate had won Truman's backing. His first choice, Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, had declined to run; Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson had also turned Truman down, Vice President Barkley was considered too old, and Truman distrusted and disliked Senator Kefauver, who had made a name for himself by his investigations of the Truman administration scandals.
Truman let his name be entered in the New Hampshire primary by supporters. The highly unpopular Truman was handily defeated by Kefauver; 18 days later the president formally announced he would not seek a second full term. Truman was eventually able to persuade Stevenson to run, and the governor gained the nomination at the 1952 Democratic National Convention.
Eisenhower gained the Republican nomination, with Senator Nixon as his running mate, and campaigned against what he denounced as Truman's failures: "Korea, communism and corruption". He pledged to clean up the "mess in Washington," and promised to "go to Korea." Eisenhower defeated Stevenson decisively in the general election, ending 20 years of Democratic presidents. While Truman and Eisenhower had previously been on good terms, Truman felt annoyed that Eisenhower did not denounce Joseph McCarthy during the campaign. Similarly, Eisenhower was outraged when Truman accused the former general of disregarding "sinister forces ... Anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, and anti-foreignism" within the Republican Party.
Post-presidency (1953–1972)
Financial situation
Before being elected as Jackson County judge, Truman had earned little money, and was in debt from the failure of his haberdashery. His election as senator in 1934 carried with it a salary of $10,000 (about $210,000 in 2022), high for the time, but the need to maintain two homes, with one in expensive Washington, Margaret Truman's college expenses, and contributions to the support of needy relatives, left the Trumans little extra money. He likely had around $7,500 in cash and government bonds when nominated for vice president.[311]
His finances were transformed by his accession to the presidency, which carried with it a salary of $75,000 ($1.24 million in 2022), which was increased to $100,000 in 1949 (about $1.25 million in 2022). This was more than any Major League Baseball star except Joe DiMaggio, who also earned $100,000 in his final two seasons (1950 and 1951). Beginning in 1949, the president was also granted a $50,000 expense allowance ($589,000 in 2022), which was initially tax-free, and did not have to be accounted for. Although the allowance became taxable later in his presidency, Truman never reported it on his tax return, and converted some of the funds to cash he kept in the White House safe and later in a safe deposit box in Kansas City.[311]
Upon leaving the presidency, Truman returned to Independence, Missouri, to live at the Wallace home he and Bess had shared for years with her mother. In a biography that contributed greatly to the myth that Truman was near penury after departing the White House,[311] David McCullough stated that the Trumans had little alternative than to return to Independence, for his only income was his army pension of $112.56 per month (equivalent to $1,282 in 2023), and he had only been able to save a modest amount from his salary as president. In February 1953, Truman signed a book deal for his memoirs, and in a draft will dated December of that year listed land worth $250,000, savings bonds of the same amount, and cash of $150,000.[311] He wrote, "Bonds, land, and cash all come from savings of presidential salary and free expense account. It should keep you and Margaret comfortably."[311]
The writing of the memoirs was a struggle for Truman, and he went through a dozen collaborators during the project, not all of whom served him well, but he remained heavily involved in the result. For the memoirs, Truman received a payment of $670,000 (equivalent to $7,620,522 in 2023). The memoirs were a commercial and critical success.[319] They were published in two volumes: Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions (1955) and Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Years of Trial and Hope (1956).
Former members of Congress and the federal courts received a federal retirement package; President Truman himself ensured that former servants of the executive branch of government received similar support. In 1953, however, there was no such benefit package for former presidents, and Congressional pensions were not approved until 1946, after Truman had left the Senate, so he received no pension for his Senate service. Truman, behind the scenes, lobbied for a pension, writing to congressional leaders that he had been near penury but for the sale of family farmlands, and in February 1958, in the first televised interview of a former US president that aired on CBS, Truman claimed that "If I hadn't inherited some property that finally paid things through, I'd be on relief right now."[311] That year, Congress passed the Former Presidents Act, offering a $25,000 (equivalent to $264,014 in 2023) yearly pension to each former president, and it is likely that Truman's claim to be in difficult financial straits played a role in the law's enactment. The only other living former president at the time, Herbert Hoover, also took the pension, even though he did not need the money; reportedly, he did so to avoid embarrassing Truman.
Truman's net worth improved further in 1958 when he and his siblings sold most of the family farm to a Kansas City real estate developer. When he was serving as a county judge, Truman borrowed $31,000 (equivalent to $353,030 in 2023) by mortgaging the farm to the county school fund, which was legal at the time. When Republicans controlled the court in 1940, they foreclosed in an effort to embarrass Truman politically, and his mother and sister Mary Jane had to vacate the home. In 1945, Truman organized a syndicate of supporters who purchased the farm with the understanding that they would sell it back to the Trumans. Harry and Vivian Truman purchased 87 acres in 1945, and Truman purchased another portion in 1946. In January 1959, Truman calculated his net worth as $1,046,788.86 ($10.71 million in 2022), including a share in the Los Angeles Rams football team. Nevertheless, the Trumans always lived modestly in Independence, and when Bess Truman died in 1982, almost a decade after her husband, the house was found to be in poor condition due to deferred maintenance.[311]
Bess Truman's personal papers were made public in 2009,[326] including financial records and tax returns. The myth that Truman had been in straitened circumstances after his presidency was slow to dissipate; Paul Campos wrote in 2021, "The current, 20,000-plus-word Wikipedia biography of Truman goes so far as to assert that, because his earlier business ventures had failed, Truman left the White House with 'no personal savings.' Every aspect of this narrative is false."[311][g]
Truman Library and academic positions
Truman's predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had organized his own presidential library, but legislation to enable future presidents to do something similar had not been enacted. Truman worked to garner private donations to build a presidential library, which he donated to the federal government to maintain and operate—a practice adopted by his successors.
He testified before Congress to have money appropriated to have presidential papers copied and organized. He was proud of the bill's passage in 1957. Max Skidmore, in his book on the life of former presidents, wrote that Truman was a well-read man, especially in history. Skidmore added that the presidential papers legislation and the founding of his library "was the culmination of his interest in history. Together they constitute an enormous contribution to the United States—one of the greatest of any former president."
Truman taught occasional courses at universities, including Yale, where he was a Chubb Fellow visiting lecturer in 1958.[329] In 1962, Truman was a visiting lecturer at Canisius College.[330]
Politics
Truman supported Adlai Stevenson's second bid for the White House in 1956, although he had initially favored Democratic governor W. Averell Harriman of New York. He continued to campaign for Democratic senatorial candidates for many years.
In 1960 Truman gave a public statement announcing he would not attend the Democratic Convention that year, citing concerns about the way that the supporters of John F. Kennedy had gained control of the nominating process, and called on Kennedy to forgo the nomination for that year.[333] Kennedy responded with a press conference where he bluntly rebuffed Truman's advice.[334]
Despite his supportive stance on civil rights during his presidency, Truman expressed criticism of the civil rights movement during the 1960s. In 1960, he stated that he believed the sit-in movement to be part of a Soviet plot.[335] Truman's statement garnered a response from Martin Luther King Jr., who wrote a letter to the former president stating that he was "baffled" by the accusation, and demanded a public apology.[336] Truman would later criticize King following the Selma march in 1965, believing the protest to be "silly" and claiming that it "can't accomplish a darn thing except to attract attention."[337] In 1963, Truman voiced his opposition to interracial marriage, believing that daughters of white people would never love someone of an opposite color.[338][339]
Upon turning 80 in 1964, Truman was feted in Washington, and addressed the Senate, availing himself of a new rule that allowed former presidents to be granted privilege of the floor.
Medicare
After a fall in his home in late 1964, Truman's physical condition declined. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and gave the first two Medicare cards to Truman and his wife Bess to honor the former president's fight for government health care while in office.
Death
On December 5, 1972, Truman was admitted to Kansas City's Research Hospital and Medical Center with pneumonia. He developed multiple organ failure, fell into a coma, and died at 7:50 a.m. on December 26, at the age of 88.[341]
Bess Truman opted for a simple private service at the library rather than a state funeral in Washington. A week after the funeral, foreign dignitaries and Washington officials attended a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral.[342]
Bess Truman died in 1982 and was buried next to her husband at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.
Tributes and legacy
Legacy
When he left office in 1953, Truman was one of the most unpopular chief executives in history. His job approval rating of 22% in the Gallup Poll of February 1952 was lower than Richard Nixon's 24% in August 1974, the month that Nixon resigned. American public feeling towards Truman grew steadily warmer with the passing years; as early as 1962, a poll of 75 historians conducted by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. ranked Truman among the "near great" presidents. The period following his death consolidated a partial rehabilitation of his legacy among both historians and members of the public. Truman died when the nation was consumed with crises in Vietnam and Watergate, and his death brought a new wave of attention to his political career. In the early and mid-1970s, Truman captured the popular imagination much as he had in 1948, this time emerging as a kind of political folk hero, a president who was thought to exemplify an integrity and accountability many observers felt was lacking in the Nixon White House. This public reassessment of Truman was aided by the popularity of a book of reminiscences which Truman had told to journalist Merle Miller beginning in 1961, with the agreement that they would not be published until after Truman's death.
Truman had his latter-day critics as well. After a review of information available to Truman about the presence of espionage activities in the U.S. government, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan concluded that Truman was "almost willfully obtuse" concerning the danger of American communism. In 2010, historian Alonzo Hamby concluded that "Harry Truman remains a controversial president." However, Truman has fared well in polls ranking the presidents, consistently being listed in the top ten; this includes a 2022 poll by the Siena College Research Institute, which placed him in seventh.
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 caused Truman advocates to claim vindication for Truman's decisions in the postwar period. According to Truman biographer Robert Dallek, "His contribution to victory in the cold war without a devastating nuclear conflict elevated him to the stature of a great or near-great president." The 1992 publication of David McCollough's favorable biography of Truman further cemented the view of Truman as a highly regarded chief executive. According to historian Daniel R. McCoy in his book on the Truman presidency:
Harry Truman himself gave a strong and far-from-incorrect impression of being a tough, concerned and direct leader. He was occasionally vulgar, often partisan, and usually nationalistic ... On his own terms, Truman can be seen as having prevented the coming of a third world war and having preserved from Communist oppression much of what he called the free world. Yet clearly he largely failed to achieve his Wilsonian aim of securing perpetual peace, making the world safe for democracy, and advancing opportunities for individual development internationally.
Sites and honors
In 1956, Truman traveled to Europe with his wife. In Britain, he received an honorary degree in Civic Law from Oxford University and met with Winston Churchill. In 1959, he was given a 50-year award by the Masons, recognizing his longstanding involvement: he was initiated on February 9, 1909, into the Belton Freemasonry Lodge in Missouri. In 1911, he helped establish the Grandview Lodge, and he served as its first Worshipful Master. In September 1940, during his Senate re-election campaign, Truman was elected Grand Master of the Missouri Grand Lodge of Freemasonry; Truman said later that the Masonic election assured his victory in the general election. In 1945, he was made a 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General and an Honorary Member of the supreme council at the Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Southern Jurisdiction Headquarters in Washington D.C. Truman was also a member of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and a card-carrying member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Two of his relatives were Confederate soldiers.
In 1975, the Truman Scholarship was created as a federal program to honor U.S. college students who exemplified dedication to public service and leadership in public policy.
In 1983 the Harry S. Truman State Office Building in Jefferson City was completed.[360]
In 2004, the President Harry S. Truman Fellowship in National Security Science and Engineering was created as a distinguished postdoctoral three-year appointment at Sandia National Laboratories. In 2001, the University of Missouri established the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs to advance the study and practice of governance. The University of Missouri's Missouri Tigers athletic programs have an official mascot named Truman the Tiger. On July 1, 1996, Northeast Missouri State University became Truman State University—to mark its transformation from a teachers' college to a highly selective liberal arts university and to honor the only Missourian to become president. A member institution of the City Colleges of Chicago, Harry S. Truman College in Chicago, Illinois, is named in his honor for his dedication to public colleges and universities. In 2000, the headquarters for the State Department, built in the 1930s but never officially named, was dedicated as the Harry S. Truman Building.
Despite Truman's attempt to curtail the naval carrier arm, which led to the 1949 Revolt of the Admirals, an aircraft carrier is named after him. The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was christened on September 7, 1996. The 129th Field Artillery Regiment is designated "Truman's Own" in recognition of Truman's service as commander of its D Battery during World War I.
In 1991, Truman was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, and a bronze bust depicting him is on permanent display in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. In 2006, Thomas Daniel, grandson of the Trumans, accepted a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame to honor his late grandfather. In 2007, John Truman, a nephew, accepted a star for Bess Truman. The Walk of Fame is in Marshfield, Missouri, a city Truman visited in 1948.
In 2004, international relations scholar Rachel Kleinfeld and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy Matthew Spence founded the Truman National Security Project. In 2013, they launched the Truman Center for National Policy. Both organizations were named after Truman.[368]
A statue of Harry S. Truman was installed in the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on September 29, 2022, as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection.[369]
On the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in 2023, South Korea erected a statue of Truman in Dabu-dong, Gyeongsangbuk-do to commemorate him sending US troops to defend the country.[370]
Other sites associated with Truman include:
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site includes the Wallace House at 219 N. Delaware in Independence and the family farmhouse at Grandview, Missouri (Truman sold most of the farm for Kansas City suburban development including the Truman Corners Shopping Center).
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site is the house where Truman was born and spent 11 months in Lamar, Missouri.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum – The Presidential library in Independence
Harry S. Truman Little White House – Truman's winter getaway at Key West, Florida
See also
Electoral history of Harry S. Truman
"Harry Truman", a 1975 hit song by the band Chicago
List of members of the American Legion
List of presidents of the United States
Truman (film)
Truman Day
Truman National Security Project
Notes
References
Bibliography
Biographies of Truman
Burnes, Brian (2003). Harry S. Truman: His Life and Times. Kansas City, MO: Kansas City Star Books. ISBN 978-0-9740009-3-0.
Dallek, Robert (2008). Harry S. Truman. New York: Times Books. ISBN 978-0-8050-6938-9.
Daniels, Jonathan (1998). The Man of Independence. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1190-9.
Donovan, Robert J. (1983). Tumultuous Years: 1949–1953. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-01619-2.
Ferrell, Robert H. (1994). Harry S. Truman: A Life. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-1050-0.
Hamby, Alonzo L., ed. (1974). Harry S. Truman and the Fair Deal. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath & Co. ISBN 978-0-669-87080-0.
Hamby, Alonzo L. (1995). Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-504546-8.
Judis, John B. (2014). Genesis: Truman, American Jews, and the Origins of the Arab/Israeli Conflict. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-16109-5.
Freeland, Richard M. (1970). The Truman Doctrine and the Origins of McCarthyism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-8147-2576-4.
Giglio, James N. (2001). Truman in Cartoon and Caricature. Kirksville, Missouri: Truman State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8138-1806-1.
Kirkendall, Richard S. (1989). Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia. Boston: G. K. Hall Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8161-8915-1.
McCoy, Donald R. (1984). The Presidency of Harry S. Truman. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-0252-0.
McCullough, David (1992). Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-86920-5.
Margolies, Daniel S. ed. A Companion to Harry S. Truman (2012); 614pp; emphasis on historiography; see Sean J. Savage, "Truman in Historical, Popular, and Political Memory," pp. 9–25. excerpt
Miller, Merle (1974). Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman. New York: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 978-0-399-11261-4.
Mitchell, Franklin D. (1998). Harry S. Truman and the News Media: Contentious Relations, Belated Respect. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1180-1.
Oshinsky, David M. (2004). "Harry Truman". In Brinkley, Alan; Dyer, Davis (eds.). The American Presidency. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-618-38273-6.
Pietrusza, David (2011). 1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year That Transformed America. New York: Union Square Press. ISBN 978-1-4027-6748-7.
Scarborough, Joe (2020). Saving Freedom. New York: Harper Collins.
Books
Ambrose, Stephen E. (1983). Eisenhower: 1890–1952. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-44069-5.
Binning, William C.; Esterly, Larry E.; Sracic, Paul A. (1999). Encyclopedia of American Parties, Campaigns, and Elections. Westport, CT: Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-8131-1755-3.
Chambers II, John W. (1999). The Oxford Companion to American Military History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507198-0.
Cohen, Eliot A.; Gooch, John (2006). Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War. New York: Free Press. ISBN 978-0-7432-8082-2.
Current, Richard Nelson; Freidel, Frank Burt; Williams, Thomas Harry (1971). American History: A Survey. Vol. II. New York: Knopf.
Eakin, Joanne C.; Hale, Donald R., eds. (1995). Branded as Rebels. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. ASIN B003GWL8J6.
Eisler, Kim Isaac (1993). A Justice for All: William J. Brennan, Jr., and the Decisions that Transformed America. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-76787-7.
Evans, M. Stanton (2007). Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies. New York: Crown Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-307-23866-5.
Goodwin, Doris Kearns (1994). No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-64240-2.
Haas, Lawrence J. Harry & Arthur: Truman, Vandenberg, and the Partnership That Created the Free World (2016)
Hamilton, Lee H. (2009). "Relations between the President and Congress in Wartime". In James A. Thurber (ed.). Rivals for Power: Presidential–Congressional Relations. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-6142-7.
Holsti, Ole (1996). Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-06619-3.
Kloetzel, James E.; Charles, Steve, eds. (April 2012). Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog. Vol. 1. Sidney, OH: Scott Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-89487-460-4.
Lenczowski, George (1990). American Presidents and the Middle East. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-0972-7.
MacGregor, Morris J. Jr. (1981). Integration of the Armed Services 1940–1965. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History. ISBN 978-0-16-001925-8.
Savage, Sean J. (1991). Roosevelt: The Party Leader, 1932–1945. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-1755-3.
Skidmore, Max J. (2004). After the White House: Former Presidents as Private Citizens (rev ed.). New York: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-29559-2.
Stohl, Michael (1988). "National Interest and State Terrorism". The Politics of Terrorism. New York: CRC Press.
Stokesbury, James L. (1990). A Short History of the Korean War. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-688-09513-0.
Troy, Gil (2008). Leading from the Center: Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-00293-1.
Weinstein, Allen (1997). Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case (revised ed.). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-77338-X.
Young, Ken; Schilling, Warner R. (2019). Super Bomb: Organizational Conflict and the Development of the Hydrogen Bomb. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-4516-4.
Primary sources
Truman, Harry S. (1955). Memoirs: Year of Decisions. Vol. 1. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. online
——— (1956). Memoirs: Years of Trial and Hope. Vol. 2. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. online v 2
——— (1960). Mr. Citizen. Independence, MO: Independence Press.
Truman, Harry S. (2002). Ferrell, Robert H. (ed.). The Autobiography of Harry S. Truman. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1445-2.
Truman, Margaret (1973). Harry S. Truman. New York:
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 35
|
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/people/president/harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Harry S Truman
|
[
"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/pictures/uc_santa_barbara_wordmark_black_rgb.svg",
"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/people/harry-s-truman_1.jpg",
"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/people/signatures/harry-s-truman.jpg",
"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/pictures/uc-santa-barbara-wordmark-white1x.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/people/president/harry-s-truman
| ||||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 17
|
https://www.springfieldmo.org/listing/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/838/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,q_75,w_949/v1/clients/springfield/Enews_footer_113caa35-5996-4387-803b-36b703a9f089.jpg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/enewsletter-title-white.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,q_75,w_949/v1/clients/springfield/right_bg_b91118bc-b948-44ef-84e9-a02470a999d7.jpg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/springfield-guide-title-white.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/greencountyLogo_Rev_47f24915-4dd6-46a9-ab77-887806887405.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Spfld_Sports_Comm_Logo_reverse_f546151f-ab01-4fc1-a982-e472a5b12837.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Springfield_Chamber_logo_cmyk_Vertical_Rev_a07b303a-1149-4082-83b5-c13b226f1819.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/VisitMologo_white_f848aca2-e2fb-432b-9159-9a98633ab746.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Brand_USA_Logo_Rev_e4ab77d6-57f7-4e7c-b472-df04df0bf45d.png",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_pad,h_80,q_75,w_170/v1/clients/springfield/Springfield_City_Logo_Rev_26a76f5b-f4e1-4305-a1f8-09f5cc874612.png",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/ta-logo.svg",
"https://www.springfieldmo.org/includes/public/assets/shared/sv-logo.svg",
"https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/f_jpg,q_75,w_150/v1/clients/springfield/default_image_63cf57a3-d7ca-47ce-b385-5725d179044e.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Harry S. Truman, the only Missourian ever elected U.S. President, was born here on May 8, 1884. Truman's family stayed in the six room home until he was almost one year old. Furnishings from the period fill the house. Guided tours are free.
|
en
|
https://www.springfieldmo.org/listing/harry-s-truman-birthplace-state-historic-site/838/
|
Your browser is not supported for this experience.
We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 15
|
https://guides.loc.gov/harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman: A Resource Guide
|
https://guides.loc.gov/ld.php?screenshot=bdhdgab.png&size=facebook&cb=1721927303
|
https://guides.loc.gov/ld.php?screenshot=bdhdgab.png&size=facebook&cb=1721927303
|
[
"https://cdn.loc.gov/libguide/images/logo-loc-padded.svg",
"https://cdn.loc.gov/libguide/images/logo-research-guides.svg",
"https://cdn.loc.gov/libguide/images/ask-a-librarian-logo.svg",
"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c17000/3c17100/3c17122r.jpg",
"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cph/3b00000/3b04000/3b04400/3b04477r.jpg",
"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cph/3b10000/3b17000/3b17400/3b17497r.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Ken Drexler"
] | null |
Harry S. Truman served as the thirty-third President of the United States (1945-53), assuming the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. This guide provides access to digital materials, external websites, and a selected print bibliography.
|
en
|
https://www.loc.gov/favicon.ico
|
https://guides.loc.gov/harry-s-truman/introduction
|
The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a variety of material associated with Harry S. Truman. Born in Lamar, Missouri, in 1884, Truman served as a judge in the Jackson County (Missouri) Court (1922-24, 1926-34) before being elected to the U.S. Senate (1935-45). In 1944, he was elected Vice President of the United States on the ticket with Franklin D. Roosevelt. On April 12, 1945, Truman assumed the presidency upon the death of Roosevelt. He was re-elected president in 1948.
This resource guide compiles links to digital materials related to Truman such as manuscripts, government documents, newspaper articles, films, and images that are available throughout the Library of Congress website. In addition, it provides links to external websites focusing on Truman and a bibliography containing selected works for both a general audience and younger readers.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 54
|
https://theclio.com/entry/33964
|
en
|
Harry Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
|
[
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/app-bar-logo-85bcdf195c567dbecc94e4b99e78e9a5.png",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80049.jpg",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80050.jpg",
"https://storage.googleapis.com/clio-images/medium_33964.80051.jpg",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/twitter-d6525199f36e4e7cb451233398cee7e0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/fb-05c6c74da3ed97647d396039e976f44e.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/fb-05c6c74da3ed97647d396039e976f44e.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/twitter-d6525199f36e4e7cb451233398cee7e0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/instagram-f90d7f573b3958d8e34d3045f571fec0.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/tumblr-ea0854cdd01cf0751b15cf07f1491ade.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/neh-30b8993268c0df506f84e9e1723481a5.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/knight-0c26ecb2d54ca356efea474eed7ae0ed.png",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/WTKF_logo_2020-ceada665713f26ff8f228696d2e51107.jpg",
"https://theclio.com/_next/static/images/umkc-logo-a4711c4a99a86938c78fba657a6f2796.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
There have been countless examples of powerful and influential beings coming from humble beginnings. Harry Truman is one such example. A baby born in a minuscule house rose to become the most recognizable political figure on Earth. President Harry Truman was born on May 8th, 1884 in the small rural town of Lamar, Missouri. A small six room house and barn diagonally across the street were all that the Truman family could call theirs. The property accounts for a mere two and a half acres signaling Truman as a man who came from very little and rose to be the most powerful man on planet Earth. It was in this house located in this small town that a boy was born who would make a decision sixty-one years later that would completely change the direction and landscape of human history.
|
en
|
/_next/static/images/clio-logo-background-small-451d24efda1e099e31bcf2230362805a.jpg
|
Clio
|
https://theclio.com/entry/33964
|
Mattie Young grew up on a farm in the Kansas City Region. The land that the Young household owned was approximately 600 acres and well off. Mattie enjoyed the frequent gatherings and dances that would take place in her family’s parlor rooms or on neighboring farms. It is believed that at one such social event Mattie met John Truman who was freshly back from serving in the Civil War. The two participated in a hypothesized lengthy courtship until they decided to marry in 1881. John was thirty and Mattie was twenty-nine.
The Wedding was small but traditional. John suffered from “little man’s syndrome” standing at five foot four while his new wife clocked in at five foot six. For this reason, John decided the wedding portrait should feature his likeness seated. The two bought a newly constructed house in Lamar, Missouri for $685 and for an additional $200 John purchased a small barn on the same block and used it to sell mules and open his business. Mattie’s family is reported to have found the Truman residence an abysmal and soul-sucking place but Mattie herself remained positive all the same.
During their time in Lamar, Mattie gave birth to two babies. The first baby died in childbirth but the second was a boy and was born on May 8th, 1884. The Truman couple didn’t give him a name right away and he went approximately a month before his birth was registered with the county. John and Mattie deliberated for weeks over the child’s middle name trying to decide to name him after John’s family or Mattie’s. With Solomon and Shipp on the table and no viable way to break a tie, they decided to make his middle name simply S. It would stand for nothing which was common for their Scotch-Irish heritage. In honor of his Uncle Harrison, the baby was named Harry- Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States. He would never have any memories of his first home in Lamar. That small baby boy born in the southernmost room, barely big enough for a bed, would be the direct successor to a president who saved a nation from a Great Depression and pushed through a world war, he himself would be the man who first utilized an atomic bomb, and his doctrine would shape American foreign policy for 30 years following his own presidency. This small minuscule house in rural Missouri is where a boy was born who would change the world.
|
||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 36
|
https://historicmissouri.org/files/show/793
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home Lamar Missouri
|
[
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/theme_uploads/3d68dd11bb094a945ba3310c7ca9430b.png",
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/fullsize/512290fb8360819c80c7dffa1cd12022.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Shrine Memorial at the Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home in Lamar, Missouri is a State Historic Site. The engravings mark the dates of his birth and death, a famous Harry S. Truman quote, and the significance of the different political roles in his career.
|
en
|
Historic Missouri
| null |
Lamar Missouri Tour
This one and a half story house was the site of Harry S. Truman’s birth. As 33rd president of the United States, this home shows his humble beginnings. Although he did not grow up in this house, Harry Truman’s experienced his first moments on earth…
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 6
|
https://historicmissouri.org/files/show/793
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home Lamar Missouri
|
[
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/theme_uploads/3d68dd11bb094a945ba3310c7ca9430b.png",
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/fullsize/512290fb8360819c80c7dffa1cd12022.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Shrine Memorial at the Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home in Lamar, Missouri is a State Historic Site. The engravings mark the dates of his birth and death, a famous Harry S. Truman quote, and the significance of the different political roles in his career.
|
en
|
Historic Missouri
| null |
Lamar Missouri Tour
This one and a half story house was the site of Harry S. Truman’s birth. As 33rd president of the United States, this home shows his humble beginnings. Although he did not grow up in this house, Harry Truman’s experienced his first moments on earth…
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
0
| 95
|
https://potus.com/harry-s-truman/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"http://potus.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/potus_logo_new2-300x92.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_2_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_7_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_4_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_9_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_10_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_8_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_11_gallery.jpg",
"http://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_signature.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/gallery-page-loader.gif",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/gallery-page-loader.gif"
] |
[
"about:blank"
] |
[] |
[
"harry s. truman",
"harry truman",
"president of the united states",
"president",
"potus",
"world war ii",
"buck stops here"
] | null |
[
"Harry S. Truman"
] |
2018-09-16T18:26:49-07:00
|
Comprehensive information about Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States
|
en
|
https://potus.com/harry-s-truman/
|
33rd President of the United States
(April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953)
Full Name: Harry S. Truman
Nickname: "Give 'Em Hell Harry"
Born: May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri
Died: December 26, 1972, in Kansas City, Missouri
Father: John Anderson Truman (1851-1914)
Mother: Martha Ellen Young Truman (1852-1947)
Married: Elizabeth "Bess" Virginia Wallace (1885-1982), on June 28, 1919
Children: Mary Margaret Truman (1924-2008)
Religion: Baptist
Education: Attended the University of Kansas City Law School
Occupation: Farmer, public official
Political Party: Democrat
Other Government Positions:
Judge on Jackson County Court, 1922-24
Presiding Judge of Jackson County Court, 1926-34
United States Senator, 1935-45
Vice President, 1945 (under F.D. Roosevelt)
Presidential Salary: $75,000/year (increased to $100,000 + $50,000 expense account in 1949)
Vice President: Alben W. Barkley (1949-53)
Cabinet:
Secretary of State
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. (1945)
James F. Byrnes (1945-47)
George C. Marshall (1947-49)
Dean G. Acheson (1949-53)
Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Morgenthau, Jr. (1945)
Frederick M. Vinson (1945-46)
John W. Snyder (1946-53)
Secretary of War
Henry L. Stimson (1945)
Robert P. Patterson (1945-47)
Kenneth C. Royall (1947)
Secretary of Defense
James V. Forrestal (1947-49)
Louis A. Johnson (1949-50)
George C. Marshall (1950-51)
Robert A. Lovett (1951-53)
Attorney General
Francis B. Biddle (1945)
Thomas C. Clark (1945-49)
J. Howard McGrath (1949-52)
Postmaster General
Frank C. Walker (1945)
Robert E. Hannegan (1945-47)
Jesse M. Donaldson (1947-53)
Secretary of the Navy
James V. Forrestal (1945-47)
Secretary of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes (1945-46)
Julius A. Krug (1946-49)
Oscar L. Chapman (1950-53)
Secretary of Agriculture
Claude R. Wickard (1945)
Clinton P. Anderson (1945-48)
Charles F. Brannan (1948-53)
Secretary of Commerce
Henry A. Wallace (1945-46)
W. Averell Harriman (1946-48)
Charles Sawyer (1948-53)
Secretary of Labor
Frances Perkins (1945)
Lewis B. Schwellenbach (1945-48)
Maurice J. Tobin (1949-53)
Supreme Court Justices:
Harold Hitz Burton (1945-1958)
Fred M. Vinson, Chief (1946-1953)
Tom C. Clark (1949-1967)
Sherman Minton (1949-1956)
Notable Events:
1945
On May 8, Germany surrendered, ending World War II in Europe.
On July 17, Truman attended the Potsdam Conference with leaders from Great Britain and the Soviet Union.
On August 6, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
On August 9, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
On August 14, Japan surrendered, ending World War II in Asia.
1947
On March 12, Truman delivered his Truman Doctrine speech to Congress.
On June 5, the Marshall Plan announced.
On July 26, the National Security Act passed Congress creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
1948
On May 14, the U.S. recognized the state of Israel.
On June 24, the Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade.
On July 26, Truman signed Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the Armed Forces.
1949
On January 5, Truman announced the Fair Deal program in this State of the Union Address.
On April 4, the North Atlantic Treaty signed.
On May 12, the Soviet Union ended the Berlin Blockade.
On December 13, renovation began on the White House. The Trumans moved to Blair House across the street.
1950
On January 31, Truman announced that the U.S. will develop a hydrogen bomb.
On June 25, North Korea invaded South Korea starting the Korean War. Truman sent troops to the region five days later.
On November 1, two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. White House Police officer Leslie Coffelt died in the gunfight - the only Secret Service member to die protecting the president.
1951
On April 11, Truman dismissed General Douglas MacArthur of his command of both U.S. and U.N. forces in Korea.
1952
On November 1, the U.S. detonated the first hydrogen bomb.
Internet Biographies:
Harry S. Truman -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
Compiled by the White House.
Harry Truman -- from The American President
From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
Harry S. Truman -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts about Truman and his presidency.
Harry S. Truman -- from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
A complete biography with a list of books for further reading.
Harry S. Truman -- from Character Above All
From a PBS broadcast by the same name, this essay excerpt by David McCullough discusses some of the issues and events that molded Truman.
Videos:
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
Harry Truman - The Only 20th Century President Without a College Degree | Mini Bio | BIO
Truman’s Middle Name Controversy - a Presidential Story Ep. 20
America's Presidents - Harry Truman
American Presidents: Life Portraits - Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman | 60-Second Presidents | PBS
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
Historical Documents:
Inaugural Address (1949)
Truman Doctrine (1947)
Farewell Address (1953)
Harry S. Truman Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress
Other Internet Resources:
The Best Biographies of Harry S. Truman
In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
The small house where Truman was born.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
The house where Truman lived from 1919 to his death is located in Independence, Missouri. The Truman Farm House, where Harry grew up, is located in Grandview, Missouri. Both are located in the Kansas City metropolitan area and both are part of the Truman NHS. Maintained by the National Park Service.
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Located in Independence, Missouri, this site contains an exhibit hall, press room, educational resources, and of course the papers of the former president.
Health and Medical History of Harry Truman
Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
Points of Interest:
1009 Truman St, Lamar, MO 64759
500 W US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050
219 N Delaware St, Independence, MO 64050
Additional Facts:
Truman was the first president assigned a Secret Service code name - General.
Truman was the first president to have a television set installed in the White House.
Truman's 1949 inauguration was the first televised.
Truman was the first president to address the nation on television.
In 1965, Truman was the first person issued a Medicare card.
There has been considerable controversy regarding the use of a period after the S in Truman's name since it does not stand for anything. The Harry S. Truman Library website explains the controversy and the reason to use the period.
Truman's motto was "The buck stops here."
Quotes:
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
— Harry S. Truman
“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“You can not stop the spread of an idea by passing a law against it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“We need not fear the expression of ideas—we do need to fear their suppression.”
— Harry S. Truman
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.”
— Harry S. Truman
“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”
— Harry S. Truman
“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”
— Harry S. Truman
“I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”
— Harry S. Truman
“The reward of suffering is experience.”
— Harry S. Truman
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
— Harry S. Truman
“Always be sincere, even if you don’t mean it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.”
— Harry S. Truman
Previous President: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Next President: Dwight D. Eisenhower
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 61
|
https://www.monationalparks.com/park/harry-s-truman-national-historic-site/
|
en
|
Missouri National Parks Passport Challenge
|
[
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/logo.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/menu-button-mobile.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/arrow-down.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/header-truman.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/header-truman-small.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/map-independence-mo.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/three-stars-blue.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/icon-harry-s-truman-national-historic-site.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/three-stars-blue.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/harry-s-truman-2.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/truman-content-small.jpg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-facebook-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-twitter-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-instagram-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-youtube-green.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/logo-footer.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/2016-national-park-service-centennial.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/find-your-park.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-twitter.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-facebook.svg",
"https://www.monationalparks.com/wp-content/themes/Passport%20Challenge/images/icon-instagram.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
en
|
/wp-content/themes/Passport Challenge/images/favicons/apple-icon-57x57.png
|
https://www.monationalparks.com/park/harry-s-truman-national-historic-site/
|
Throughout a career that took him from farmer to bank clerk, judge to senator, Vice President to President of the United States, Harry S Truman was always a Missourian at heart. At Harry S Truman National Historic Site, you can experience many of the places he held most dear.
Harry’s legacy is forever linked with his hometown of Independence, MO, just east of Kansas City. There in Sunday school, six-year old Harry met five-year old Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace, the pretty, athletic girl who would become his First Lady over 50 years later. As a young man, he lived on the family farm in Grandview, MO. But he would often visit his cousins, the Nolands, who conveniently lived across the street from Bess’ family home. During their courtship year, which began in 1910, Harry and Bess often triple dated with Bess’s brothers and their future wives, who eventually built small homes behind their larger family home. You can see all of these locations when visiting the Historic Site.
After Harry graduated high school in 1901, his father’s bad investments forced Harry to abandon his dreams of a college education. Instead, he became a bank clerk in Kansas City and joined the National Guard. At age 22, his father called him to help on the family farm. And the avid reader and pianist learned the hard realities of 14-hour days of backbreaking labor. You can see where Harry learned his characteristic perseverance and common sense with a self-guided grounds tour of the Truman family farm in Grandview, a 20-minute drive from the Visitor Center. His farming years were a disappointment for Harry. Although he and Bess became secretly engaged in 1913, Harry wished for a secure income before marriage. He spent another four years engaging in failed attempts to strike it rich.
In 1917, Harry joined the military. In World War I, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, leading the 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division’s operations in France. After, he returned to Independence in 1919 and, despite his lack of wealth, he and Bess married. The couple moved into Harry’s home at the farm, but returned to Bess’ family home, the large white Victorian at 219 N Delaware, to care for Bess’s ailing mother. Their daughter Margaret was born there in 1924. Ten years later, the family moved to Washington D.C. when Harry was elected to the Senate. In 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt selected Harry to serve as Vice President for his unprecedented fourth term. But Roosevelt died within three months of the inauguration, thrusting Harry into world leadership during a tumultuous time that saw the use of atomic bombs against Japan, the end of World War II, the Korean War, and start of the Cold War.
Yet his presidency was not marked solely by conflict. Drawing on his Midwestern values of hard work, honesty, and fairness, Harry ordered the desegregation of the military and ushered in a domestic policy called the Fair Deal. After nearly eight years in office, “the People’s President” returned home to Independence, where he and Bess lived out their days. Visitors can tour the all-original Truman Home, follow in Truman’s footsteps with a walking tour of his neighborhood, visit the family farm in Grandview, explore exhibits about his private life in his cousins’ Noland house, and review the oral histories from his colleagues and family.
|
||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 97
|
https://www.pinterest.com/ahamadn/harry-s-truman-was-the-33rd-president-of-the-unite/
|
en
|
[] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2016-03-14T17:07:41+00:00
|
Mar 14, 2016 - President (Truman was born in Missouri May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) ((34th Vice President of the United States In office January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945)) 33rd President of the United States In office
April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953
. See more ideas about truman, united states of america, presidents.
|
en
|
Pinterest
|
https://www.pinterest.com/ahamadn/harry-s-truman-was-the-33rd-president-of-the-unite/
| |||||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
3
| 81
|
https://historicmissouri.org/files/show/732
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home Lamar Missouri
|
[
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/theme_uploads/3d68dd11bb094a945ba3310c7ca9430b.png",
"https://historicmissouri.org/files/fullsize/3efeab4402aec2df02717e986042bb1d.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home is a State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri, and was built in 1881. This photo shows the southeast corner of the Truman family house with an Austrian tree once planted to celebrate the birth of Harry S. Truman. The tree was removed in 2012 and a piece of it is on display.
|
en
|
Historic Missouri
| null |
The Harry S. Truman Birthplace Home is a State Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri, and was built in 1881. This photo shows the southeast corner of the Truman family house with an Austrian tree once planted to celebrate the birth of Harry S. Truman. The tree was removed in 2012 and a piece of it is on display.
|
|||||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
2
| 22
|
https://guides.loc.gov/harry-s-truman
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman: A Resource Guide
|
https://guides.loc.gov/ld.php?screenshot=bdhdgab.png&size=facebook&cb=1721927264
|
https://guides.loc.gov/ld.php?screenshot=bdhdgab.png&size=facebook&cb=1721927264
|
[
"https://cdn.loc.gov/libguide/images/logo-loc-padded.svg",
"https://cdn.loc.gov/libguide/images/logo-research-guides.svg",
"https://cdn.loc.gov/libguide/images/ask-a-librarian-logo.svg",
"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c17000/3c17100/3c17122r.jpg",
"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cph/3b00000/3b04000/3b04400/3b04477r.jpg",
"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cph/3b10000/3b17000/3b17400/3b17497r.jpg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Ken Drexler"
] | null |
Harry S. Truman served as the thirty-third President of the United States (1945-53), assuming the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. This guide provides access to digital materials, external websites, and a selected print bibliography.
|
en
|
https://www.loc.gov/favicon.ico
|
https://guides.loc.gov/harry-s-truman/introduction
|
The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a variety of material associated with Harry S. Truman. Born in Lamar, Missouri, in 1884, Truman served as a judge in the Jackson County (Missouri) Court (1922-24, 1926-34) before being elected to the U.S. Senate (1935-45). In 1944, he was elected Vice President of the United States on the ticket with Franklin D. Roosevelt. On April 12, 1945, Truman assumed the presidency upon the death of Roosevelt. He was re-elected president in 1948.
This resource guide compiles links to digital materials related to Truman such as manuscripts, government documents, newspaper articles, films, and images that are available throughout the Library of Congress website. In addition, it provides links to external websites focusing on Truman and a bibliography containing selected works for both a general audience and younger readers.
|
|||
correct_birth_00015
|
FactBench
|
1
| 20
|
https://potus.com/harry-s-truman/
|
en
|
Harry S. Truman
|
[
"http://potus.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/potus_logo_new2-300x92.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_2_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_7_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_4_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_9_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_10_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_8_gallery.jpg",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_11_gallery.jpg",
"http://potus.com/wp-content/uploads/33_harry_s_truman_signature.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/gallery-page-loader.gif",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/playhover.png",
"https://potus.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed-plus/images/gallery-page-loader.gif"
] |
[
"about:blank"
] |
[] |
[
"harry s. truman",
"harry truman",
"president of the united states",
"president",
"potus",
"world war ii",
"buck stops here"
] | null |
[
"Harry S. Truman"
] |
2018-09-16T18:26:49-07:00
|
Comprehensive information about Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States
|
en
|
https://potus.com/harry-s-truman/
|
33rd President of the United States
(April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953)
Full Name: Harry S. Truman
Nickname: "Give 'Em Hell Harry"
Born: May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri
Died: December 26, 1972, in Kansas City, Missouri
Father: John Anderson Truman (1851-1914)
Mother: Martha Ellen Young Truman (1852-1947)
Married: Elizabeth "Bess" Virginia Wallace (1885-1982), on June 28, 1919
Children: Mary Margaret Truman (1924-2008)
Religion: Baptist
Education: Attended the University of Kansas City Law School
Occupation: Farmer, public official
Political Party: Democrat
Other Government Positions:
Judge on Jackson County Court, 1922-24
Presiding Judge of Jackson County Court, 1926-34
United States Senator, 1935-45
Vice President, 1945 (under F.D. Roosevelt)
Presidential Salary: $75,000/year (increased to $100,000 + $50,000 expense account in 1949)
Vice President: Alben W. Barkley (1949-53)
Cabinet:
Secretary of State
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. (1945)
James F. Byrnes (1945-47)
George C. Marshall (1947-49)
Dean G. Acheson (1949-53)
Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Morgenthau, Jr. (1945)
Frederick M. Vinson (1945-46)
John W. Snyder (1946-53)
Secretary of War
Henry L. Stimson (1945)
Robert P. Patterson (1945-47)
Kenneth C. Royall (1947)
Secretary of Defense
James V. Forrestal (1947-49)
Louis A. Johnson (1949-50)
George C. Marshall (1950-51)
Robert A. Lovett (1951-53)
Attorney General
Francis B. Biddle (1945)
Thomas C. Clark (1945-49)
J. Howard McGrath (1949-52)
Postmaster General
Frank C. Walker (1945)
Robert E. Hannegan (1945-47)
Jesse M. Donaldson (1947-53)
Secretary of the Navy
James V. Forrestal (1945-47)
Secretary of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes (1945-46)
Julius A. Krug (1946-49)
Oscar L. Chapman (1950-53)
Secretary of Agriculture
Claude R. Wickard (1945)
Clinton P. Anderson (1945-48)
Charles F. Brannan (1948-53)
Secretary of Commerce
Henry A. Wallace (1945-46)
W. Averell Harriman (1946-48)
Charles Sawyer (1948-53)
Secretary of Labor
Frances Perkins (1945)
Lewis B. Schwellenbach (1945-48)
Maurice J. Tobin (1949-53)
Supreme Court Justices:
Harold Hitz Burton (1945-1958)
Fred M. Vinson, Chief (1946-1953)
Tom C. Clark (1949-1967)
Sherman Minton (1949-1956)
Notable Events:
1945
On May 8, Germany surrendered, ending World War II in Europe.
On July 17, Truman attended the Potsdam Conference with leaders from Great Britain and the Soviet Union.
On August 6, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
On August 9, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
On August 14, Japan surrendered, ending World War II in Asia.
1947
On March 12, Truman delivered his Truman Doctrine speech to Congress.
On June 5, the Marshall Plan announced.
On July 26, the National Security Act passed Congress creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
1948
On May 14, the U.S. recognized the state of Israel.
On June 24, the Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade.
On July 26, Truman signed Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the Armed Forces.
1949
On January 5, Truman announced the Fair Deal program in this State of the Union Address.
On April 4, the North Atlantic Treaty signed.
On May 12, the Soviet Union ended the Berlin Blockade.
On December 13, renovation began on the White House. The Trumans moved to Blair House across the street.
1950
On January 31, Truman announced that the U.S. will develop a hydrogen bomb.
On June 25, North Korea invaded South Korea starting the Korean War. Truman sent troops to the region five days later.
On November 1, two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists attempted to assassinate Truman at Blair House. White House Police officer Leslie Coffelt died in the gunfight - the only Secret Service member to die protecting the president.
1951
On April 11, Truman dismissed General Douglas MacArthur of his command of both U.S. and U.N. forces in Korea.
1952
On November 1, the U.S. detonated the first hydrogen bomb.
Internet Biographies:
Harry S. Truman -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
Compiled by the White House.
Harry Truman -- from The American President
From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
Harry S. Truman -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts about Truman and his presidency.
Harry S. Truman -- from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
A complete biography with a list of books for further reading.
Harry S. Truman -- from Character Above All
From a PBS broadcast by the same name, this essay excerpt by David McCullough discusses some of the issues and events that molded Truman.
Videos:
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
Harry Truman - The Only 20th Century President Without a College Degree | Mini Bio | BIO
Truman’s Middle Name Controversy - a Presidential Story Ep. 20
America's Presidents - Harry Truman
American Presidents: Life Portraits - Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman | 60-Second Presidents | PBS
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
Historical Documents:
Inaugural Address (1949)
Truman Doctrine (1947)
Farewell Address (1953)
Harry S. Truman Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress
Other Internet Resources:
The Best Biographies of Harry S. Truman
In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
The small house where Truman was born.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
The house where Truman lived from 1919 to his death is located in Independence, Missouri. The Truman Farm House, where Harry grew up, is located in Grandview, Missouri. Both are located in the Kansas City metropolitan area and both are part of the Truman NHS. Maintained by the National Park Service.
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Located in Independence, Missouri, this site contains an exhibit hall, press room, educational resources, and of course the papers of the former president.
Health and Medical History of Harry Truman
Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
Points of Interest:
1009 Truman St, Lamar, MO 64759
500 W US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050
219 N Delaware St, Independence, MO 64050
Additional Facts:
Truman was the first president assigned a Secret Service code name - General.
Truman was the first president to have a television set installed in the White House.
Truman's 1949 inauguration was the first televised.
Truman was the first president to address the nation on television.
In 1965, Truman was the first person issued a Medicare card.
There has been considerable controversy regarding the use of a period after the S in Truman's name since it does not stand for anything. The Harry S. Truman Library website explains the controversy and the reason to use the period.
Truman's motto was "The buck stops here."
Quotes:
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
— Harry S. Truman
“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“You can not stop the spread of an idea by passing a law against it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“We need not fear the expression of ideas—we do need to fear their suppression.”
— Harry S. Truman
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.”
— Harry S. Truman
“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”
— Harry S. Truman
“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”
— Harry S. Truman
“I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”
— Harry S. Truman
“The reward of suffering is experience.”
— Harry S. Truman
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
— Harry S. Truman
“Always be sincere, even if you don’t mean it.”
— Harry S. Truman
“The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.”
— Harry S. Truman
Previous President: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Next President: Dwight D. Eisenhower
|
||||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
2
| 7
|
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/ru/ru_money.html
|
en
|
Commanding Heights : Russia Money
|
[
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/ru/images/co_report_lo_flagru.jpg",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_lo_logo.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_rule80B4B6.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_rule80B4B6.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_rule80B4B6.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_rule80B4B6.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_rule80B4B6.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/singpix.gif",
"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/countries/images/co_report_rule80B4B6.gif"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null | null |
Since 1897, the ruble has been on the international gold standard, and stable. Russia's industrialization requires substantial foreign investment. Ruthless tax levies and high tariffs on imports of industrial products aim to protect Russia's infant industries and help balance the budget. Foreign investment soars, and by 1913 an estimated one-third of all capital in Russia is foreign owned.
Russia's state debt has increased so dramatically prior to WWI, the country has become the greatest international debtor in the world. During the war, taxes are hard to collect, and the government is forced to print more paper money and float its loans domestically and abroad. The cornerstone of Russian financial policy, the gold standard, is abandoned, and the ruble is undermined by inflation.
With the October 1917 revolution, the Marxist concept of the moneyless economy becomes a desired goal, but not yet a practical one. The Bolsheviks nationalize the banks, but make no attempt to restrict inflation. With the destruction of the market economy, inflation soars, and money becomes virtually valueless. A black market based on barter develops to fill the vacuum.
In order to make the market elements of the New Economic Policy (NEP) work, a stable currency is needed. The State Bank reopens and is empowered to issue a new ruble, the chervonets, backed by gold reserves and a balanced state budget. A money market and stock exchange revive alongside the new money.
The banking system is owned and managed by the government. Gosbank is the USSR's Central Bank and its only commercial bank. The ruble is an almost entirely internal currency unit, with the government fixing its rate of exchange with foreign currencies somewhat arbitrarily. Without a market economy, prices are set by the State Committee on Prices, and the real value of the ruble is difficult to determine.
A currency reform that makes 10 old rubles equivalent to one new ruble in 1947 attempts to replace the inflated money of the war years with a firmer currency. As was its intention, it deals a severe blow to the flourishing black market, but also sharply reduces the value of people's savings not kept in a bank.
Following the oil crisis, from 1973 to 1985 energy exports account for 80 percent of the USSR's expanding hard-currency earnings. By the late '70s up to 40 percent of hard currency in foreign trade is being spent on increasing agricultural imports to maintain the informal social contract with the people: low pay in return for cheap food.
World oil prices plummet by 69 percent, and the dollar, the currency of the oil trade, drops like a stone. Almost overnight, the windfall oil and dollar profits the USSR has enjoyed for more than a decade are wiped out.
Gorbachev's reforms force state enterprises to rely to a greater extent on their own financial resources rather than on the central budget. Several new banks are set up to finance industrial undertakings, ending the monopoly of Gosbank. By 1989 inflation begins to make a major impact as goods grow ever more scarce. In 1987 checking accounts begin for personal savings accounts.
The budget deficit exceeds 20 percent of estimated GDP. Soviet foreign debt balloons to $56.5bn at a time when the ruble is undergoing steep devaluation. Capital continues to flee the USSR, and Soviet gold reserves and foreign currency accounts disappear never to be found.
The Soviet state bank is replaced by 15 republic central banks. The ruble is retained in the belief that a single-ruble zone will promote economic reintegration. By 1993 many CIS states create their own currencies. Russia ends Soviet price controls, but monetary stabilization proves elusive. To prevent enterprises going bankrupt, the state prints money. In 1992 inflation reaches 2,323 percent.
Despite having sold off much of its industry, the Russian government finds itself virtually bankrupt. High rates of taxation serve only to drive businesses into systematic tax evasion. To cover its persistent deficits, the Treasury issues bonds (GKOs) at very high rates of interest. They help keep the government temporarily afloat and allow it to persuade the IMF it is solvent and deserves loans.
The aftershock of the Asian economic crisis hits Russia. With commodity prices tumbling, Russia, a major commodity export earner, sees its revenues plummet. Unable to fund its soaring GKO obligations despite a large IMF loan, the government defaults on its debts. Overnight most of Moscow's large banks go bust. The ruble declines to less than a third of its previous exchange rate.
Helped by rising commodity prices and the 1998 ruble devaluation, Russia's foreign exchange reserves rise, and the ruble strengthens. A major reform that cuts tax from a progressive rate up to 30 percent to a flat rate of 13 percent aims to simplify and boost tax collection and stimulate consumer spending. Russians begin to buy and use euros alongside dollars as a safe foreign currency.
|
||||||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
1
| 58
|
https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/bank-of-russias-ruble-rescue.html
|
en
|
Bank of Russia's ruble rescue
|
[
"https://www.spglobal.com/_media/images/logo-spglobal.svg",
"https://www.spglobal.com/_assets/images/logos/marketplace.png",
"https://www.spglobal.com/_assets/images/icons/login.register.png 1x, /_assets/images/icons/login.register.-2x.png 2x",
"https://www.spglobal.com/_media/images/logo-spglobal.svg",
"https://www.spglobal.com/_assets/images/marketintelligence/logo-mi.png",
"https://cdn.ihsmarkit.com/www/images/Expert-Lilit-Gevorgyan-400x400_275379110914132432.jpg",
"https://cdn.ihsmarkit.com/www/images/0823/rubleplunge083123.png",
"https://cdn.ihsmarkit.com/www/images/0823/rubleexchangerate083123.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2023-08-30T00:00:00
|
The ruble's exchange rate is likely to remain volatile, and the central bank's monetary policy is unlikely to shield the currency fully.
|
IHS Markit
|
https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/bank-of-russias-ruble-rescue.html
|
After the Russian ruble crossed its psychologically important mark of 100 per US dollar, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) called an emergency meeting to stem the currency's further decline — contrary to earlier assurances that bank would not take an extra-term rate-setting decision until Sept. 15.
We projected that an emergency rate-setting meeting would be called in August to raise the key rate from 9.5% to 11%. The CBR opted for an even larger rate increase on Aug. 15, pushing the key lending rate to 12%. The move follows a 100-basis-point rate hike in July.
The CBR's rapid reaction came after the ruble/USD pair hit 101.4 on Aug. 14. The ruble has since firmed at 96.0 at the time of writing this article, although the depreciation risks remain high.
In a short press note following the extra-term meeting, the CBR's Board of Directors cited increased inflationary pressures of the past three months as the main reason behind its latest steps to "limit price stability risks." According to the bank, as of Aug. 7, the headline year-over-year inflation rose to 4.4%. The average inflation rate on annualized and seasonally adjusted bases during June-August reached 7.6%, while core inflation stood at 7.1%.
These pressures stem from strong domestic demand, coupled with production capacity constraints. Specifically, The recovery in household spending and manufacturing output has expanded the demand for imports of goods and inputs, putting pressure on the ruble.
At the same time, the import price inflation is once again elevating overall consumer and business inflation expectations. The CBR noted that the risks are tilting towards pro-inflationary developments, therefore the annual average inflation in 2024 is likely to be significantly higher than the bank's target of 4%. Under our current projections, consumer price inflation is to average 4.6% in 2023 and 4.5% in 2024.
The rate-setting process in the coming months would consider both actual and expected inflationary dynamics, as well as the reaction of financial markets, the CBR said.
The ruble's exchange rate is likely to remain volatile, and the central bank's monetary policy is unlikely to shield the Russian currency fully due to the mixed nature of these downside risks.
The exchange rate has come under pressure due to declining revenues generated from energy export. Even with the market's crude oil price gains, the ruble has been weakening, thus breaking the previous positive correlation, and showing the impact of the Western sanctions on Russian energy exports.
The ruble also saw a setback in late June in reaction to unprecedented domestic political stability risks due to the short-lived mutiny by the Wagner military company. The ruble/US$ pair stood at a monthly average rate of 87 for a time, the lowest rate since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Adjusting to the sanctions regime, Russia has quickly re-routed its supply lines away from the Western markets. This has helped imports to rebound, increasing the demand particularly for the Chinese yuan. The latter has emerged as a most favored currency for cross-border payment settlements. As part of Russia's de-dollarization drive, the yuan is also used for trade settlements in Latin America and Asia.
Lastly, the administration of the fiscal rule that restricts the use of the oil and gas windfall has also undermined the ruble's external value. The Finance Ministry has been carrying out regular currency market operations to reinforce the National Wealth Fund, which as of August 1, contains the equivalent of US$146 billion. In the wake of the ruble's fall, on Aug. 9, the CBR decided to stop buying foreign currency in the domestic market from Aug. 10-Dec. 31, 2023.
The CBR is likely to bring more tightening in September, before considering easing its monetary policy in the first half of 2024.
Learn more about our economic data and insights
This article was published by S&P Global Market Intelligence and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.
|
||||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
0
| 43
|
https://soviethistory.msu.edu/1924-2/chervontsy/
|
en
|
Chervontsy
|
[
"https://soviethistory.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/17moments-e1434568476617.png",
"https://i0.wp.com/i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png?w=800&ssl=1",
"https://soviethistory.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/matrix_small.png",
"https://soviethistory.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Macalester-College-e1485455033822.png",
"https://soviethistory.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/neh_logo_horizontal_reverse-1.png",
"https://soviethistory.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/MSU-Wordmark-White.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] |
2015-06-17T21:22:48+00:00
|
Images Visual Essays Video Other Resources Subject essay: Lewis Siegelbaum During the civil war, the Soviet state operated for the most part without a monetarized unit of account…
|
en
|
Seventeen Moments in Soviet History
|
https://soviethistory.msu.edu/1924-2/chervontsy/
|
Images Visual Essays Video Other Resources
Subject essay: Lewis Siegelbaum
During the civil war, the Soviet state operated for the most part without a monetarized unit of account, which spawned wild inflation and fantasies of a moneyless economy. But the logic of the New Economic Policy, introduced in 1921, required a stable currency. In July 1922, the Sovnarkom announced the introduction of a new unit of currency, the chervonets, to be backed by gold. It was to replace the “Soviet token,” or sovznak, the Soviet government’s not-so-inventive name for its version of the ruble. Throughout the remainder of 1922 and all of 1923, while the chervonets was issued in limited amounts and used only for certain restricted financial transactions, the sovznak remained as legal, albeit rapidly depreciating, tender. Already in October 1922, the value of the sovznak had fallen to one-millionth of the pre-war ruble.
In February 1924, the chervonets, valued at the equivalent of 50,000 sovznaki of 1923 issue, became the sole unit of currency. By this time, some 809 quadrillion sovznaki were in circulation. On the basis of the less volatile currency, the state moved to convert the tax in kind which had been introduced with great fanfare in 1921 as the cornerstone of NEP, to monetary payments. It is a measure of how far the Soviet Union had traveled from the chiliastic visions of the first years of the revolution and civil war that the name of the new unit of currency soon reverted from chervonets to the (Soviet) ruble in popular if not official discourse.
|
|||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
1
| 19
|
https://www.economicsobservatory.com/russias-1998-currency-crisis-what-lessons-for-today
|
en
|
Russia's 1998 currency crisis: what lessons for today?
|
[
"https://www.economicsobservatory.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/logo-1-1.png",
"https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Christopher Coyle"
] |
2022-05-16T00:00:00+00:00
|
In 1998, Russia experienced sovereign debt default, a massive devaluation of the rouble and a banking crisis. Triggered by the invasion of Ukraine, the currency’s value has again tumbled – and this crisis may be longer lasting and more severe without a move towards peace.
|
en
|
Economics Observatory
|
https://www.economicsobservatory.com/russias-1998-currency-crisis-what-lessons-for-today
|
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the value of the Russian rouble relative to the US dollar fell by over 40% in just two weeks. A depreciation of such scale would be extraordinary for most countries, but this is not the first significant currency devaluation that Russia has faced in its recent history.
In 1998, Russia experienced a major currency crisis when the rouble lost over two-thirds of its value in three weeks, as well as a default on its sovereign debt and a banking crisis. Are there any lessons from that crisis that are relevant today?
Figure 1: USD/RUB exchange rate, January 1995-April 2022
Source: Bloomberg
Background and causes of the 1998 rouble crisis
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 preceded several years of economic reform, privatisation and macroeconomic stabilisation policies in Russia. A central element of this was the adoption of a currency peg – a type of exchange rate regime in which a currency's value is fixed against the value of another currency.
This meant that the value of the rouble relative to the dollar was constant and only allowed to fluctuate within a narrow band. The Bank of Russia would intervene by buying and selling the rouble as necessary to maintain the exchange rate.
The Russian economy was also supported by financial aid from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while negotiations to repay foreign debt inherited from the Soviet Union improved investor confidence (Chiodo and Owyang, 2002).
In the first quarter of 1997, foreign investment in Russia rose sharply with the relaxation of restrictions on foreign portfolio investment. But investor expectations soon changed following the Asian financial crisis, which began with the collapse of the Thai baht in July 1997. This crisis quickly spread to other Asian currencies and by November, the rouble also came under attack by speculators (Chiodo and Owyang, 2002).
Despite the reforms introduced since 1991, fundamental institutional weaknesses remained in Russia (Sutela, 1999; Chiodo and Owyang, 2002). These weaknesses were highlighted and exacerbated by the financial crisis in Asia.
A global recession and a fall in commodity prices compounded weak tax enforcement in Russia and an expensive war in Chechnya. This led to fiscal imbalances and raised questions about the government’s ability to pay its sovereign debts and maintain a fixed exchange rate (Desai, 2000; Kharas et al, 2010). This increase in default and exchange rate risk made capital flight from Russia and a devaluation of the rouble more likely.
In an attempt to encourage investors to hold rouble-denominated assets and support the fixed exchange rate, the Bank of Russia increased interest rates to 150%.But this meant that by July 1998, interest payments on Russia’s debt were 40% higher than the country’s tax collection. This had the effect of further eroding investor confidence and creating downward pressure on the currency.
In early August 1998, driven by fears of a default on domestic debt and a rouble devaluation, the Russian stock, bond and currency markets all came under severe pressure. Trading on the stock market was suspended for 35 minutes due to sharp falls in prices.
Then on 17 August, the government announced a devaluation of the rouble’s pegged exchange rate, a default on its domestic debt and a 90-day suspension on payments by commercial banks to foreign creditors.
Two weeks later, on 2 September, the Bank of Russia abandoned its efforts to maintain a fixed exchange rate and allowed the rouble to float freely. In three weeks, the currency had lost about two-thirds of its value (Kharas et al, 2010).
Consequences and recovery
There were significant domestic and international consequences of these events. The currency crisis and associated financial market turmoil contributed to a recession and contraction of the Russian economy by 5.3% in 1998, with GDP per capita reaching its lowest level since the formation of the Russian Federation in 1991.
Inflation in 1998 was 84% because of rouble depreciation, contributing to a dramatic fall in real wages and social unrest. Workers staged strikes and large scale protests, including demonstrations in front of the Russian White House.
Increased political instability followed: both the prime minister and central bank governor were replaced; the new prime minister’s first budget was rejected; and the president’s popularity collapsed (Desai, 2000). In August 1999, within a year of the crisis, Vladimir Putin became the fifth prime minister in 12 months.
The crisis also had a significant effect on financial markets globally. Russia’s sovereign default was the largest in history at the time and contributed to the collapse of the LTCM (Long Term Capital Management) hedge fund in the United States, which required a $3.6 billion bailout. This led to substantial spillover effects in international markets (Dungey et al, 2002).
The Russian economy recovered relatively quickly from the 1998 crisis, growing by 6.4% in 1999 and 10% in 2000. The sharp depreciation of the rouble made Russian exports attractive internationally and, combined with an increase in oil income, helped to stimulate the economic recovery. Sovereign debt restructuring and an IMF loan of $4.8 billion helped Russia to regain access to international financial markets.
Lessons for today
It is important to note that the forces driving the 1998 crisis and today’s crisis are very different, both politically and economically. Yet there may be fundamental lessons about how crises evolve and their implications.
First, currency crises can be triggered by events that increase a country’s risk, reduce investor confidence and change expectations of a country’s economic outlook, causing capital flight.
As in 1998, the devaluation of the rouble in 2022 was fundamentally triggered by a large increase in Russia-related risk, although the source of this was very different in each case.
Second, currency crises often go hand-in-hand with other financial crises, such as sovereign debt defaults, stock market crashes and banking crises, and can lead to higher inflation and interest rates. These have important implications and in 1998, they culminated in a sharp increase in the cost of living, recession, social unrest and political instability in Russia.
The full extent of financial market difficulties in Russia today has, so far, been moderated by extensive government restrictions. Nevertheless, interest rates have already increased from 9.5% to 20%, before being reduced to 14%, and inflation had accelerated to 16.7% by March.
Further economic difficulties may still unfold in Russia, particularly as there is currently no sign of political risk abating as the war continues and sanctions increase. But a default on Russian foreign debt seems increasingly likely and a deep recession appears certain.
As in 1998, this may have implications for social and political stability. It has been shown that approval ratings of political leaders in Russia have tracked citizens’ perceptions of the state of the economy since 1991 (Treisman, 2011).
The 1998 crisis illustrates that economic shocks can reverberate throughout global financial markets. Today, many countries are experiencing rising inflation and weaker growth as a direct result of the war in Ukraine, with rising interest rates likely to follow. Numerous international companies have written down investments in Russia.
In contrast to 1998, Russia has adopted a floating exchange rate in recent years, which means that capital flight from the country should immediately be reflected in the exchange rate. Despite this and in contrast to 1998, the rouble exchange rate has recovered rapidly from its initial fall in early March 2022.
Rather than a reflection of reduced risk or increased investor confidence in the Russian economy, this recovery highlights Russia’s success at supporting the rouble with government interventions. These include trading restrictions, capital controls, increased interest rates and government requirements for business to hold 80% of overseas revenue in roubles.
This means that the rouble is no longer freely convertible and its value now tells us little about the reality of the Russian economy.
Notably, Russia was able to recover quickly from the 1998 crisis thanks to the stimulatory effect of the weaker rouble, increased oil revenue and help from the West in the shape of IMF loans. The rapid recovery of the rouble exchange rate in March 2022 combined with increasing international sanctions means that the expansionary forces that enabled a quick recovery from the 1998 crisis seem extremely unlikely today.
These lessons suggest that the full economic effects of recent events in Russia are yet to unfold, and without a move towards peace and geopolitical normalisation, the impact will be longer and more severe than in 1998.
Where can I find out more?
Currency crises in emerging markets: Council on Foreign Relations explainer on currency crises.
Has financial collapse saved Russia?: Anders Åslund on Russia’s 1998 crisis and recovery.
The price of war: Macroeconomic effects of the 2022 sanctions on Russia: Anna Pestova, Mikhail Mamonov and Steven Ongena on the economic effects on the Russian economy.
Economic spillovers from the war in Ukraine: The proximity penalty: Jonathan Federle, André Meier, Gernot Müller and Victor Sehn on stock market reactions to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russian consumers are already feeling the cost of war: The Economist compares current Russian inflation with the 1998 crisis.
The economic consequences of the war in Ukraine: The Economist on the geopolitical risk and economic consequences.
Who are experts on this question?
Paul Krugman
Maurice Obstfeld
Sergei Guriev
Daniel Triesman
Anders Åslund
Author: Christopher Coyle
Photo by ArtemSam from iStock
|
|||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
0
| 55
|
https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/book-reviews/review-of-the-ruble-a-political-history-by-ekaterina-pravilova/
|
en
|
Review of The Ruble: A Political History by Ekaterina Pravilova
|
[
"https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/plugins/martech-chupacabra/includes/images/wharton-logo.svg",
"https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/plugins/martech-chupacabra/includes/images/Wharton-Logo-RGB.png",
"https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/plugins/martech-chupacabra/includes/images/kw-logo.svg",
"https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/9780197663714.jpg",
"https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/plugins/martech-chupacabra/includes/images/penn-logo-white.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"Max Harris"
] |
2023-06-27T14:04:58+00:00
|
By Alex Royt On March 8, 2022, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) decided to stop exchanging rubles for foreign currencies. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the previous month led to sanctions—including the freezing of a majority of CBR reserves— that had made the defense of the ruble’s exchange rate impossible,…Read More
|
en
|
https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/plugins/martech-chupacabra/includes/images/favicon.ico
|
Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation
|
https://wifpr.wharton.upenn.edu/book-reviews/review-of-the-ruble-a-political-history-by-ekaterina-pravilova/
|
By Alex Royt
On March 8, 2022, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) decided to stop exchanging rubles for foreign currencies. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the previous month led to sanctions—including the freezing of a majority of CBR reserves— that had made the defense of the ruble’s exchange rate impossible, with the value of the ruble dropping 30% vis-à-vis the dollar. Under the leadership of Elvira Nabiullina, the CBR introduced capital controls, including a ban on sending foreign currency abroad. These measures stabilized the domestic value of the ruble, but the war has transformed the ruble into an inconvertible currency. Inconvertibility has allowed Putin to treat the central bank as his own political tool. By directly supplying the Defense Ministry with cash, the CBR undercuts its reputation as a technocratic institution.
Yet in the context of global history, Russia has never been a bastion for central bank independence, not least because of the frequent demands of war. In fact, the formation of Russia’s first credit bank was followed by the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774. Then came the Napoleonic Wars under Alexander I, the Crimean War and Russo-Turkish War under Alexander II, and the Russo-Japanese War and First World War under Nicholas II. Wars have often forced Russia’s Ministry of Finance to impose (either overtly or covertly) capital controls to defend the silver or gold pegs which stabilized the ruble exchange rate in foreign and domestic markets.
Why are Russia’s autocrats able to manipulate money for their personal whims? Ekaterina Pravilova’s timely new book The Ruble: A Political History tells the story of the creation of the ruble by the Tsarist state. In a four-part work covering the period between 1750 and 1924, Pravilova argues that Tsars have always considered money a representation of their own political and economic power. The Ruble: A Political History examines how Tsars and their reformers treated Russia’s currency as a political construct. By examining the meaning of money in various reformist texts, Pravilova shows how the ruble became a material embodiment of the ever-changing Russian idea.
The author continues to forge new paths in the history of the Tsarist economy. Her pathbreaking histories, which include the untranslated yet essential Finances of Empire on the creation of the imperial budget and the prize-winning A Public Empire on the reforms governing Russia’s public property, have cemented her reputation as the leading scholar of Imperial Russian history. The Ruble constitutes another successful entry that situates Russia’s development within broader trends of European history. Pravilova contextualizes reforms so that “without implying some inherent specificity (or pathology) of the Russian state and its society, The Ruble shows how they evolved in the context of Russia’s political, financial, and intellectual relationship with the West and the East” (3).
In a careful reading of Russian archival sources, the first section of the book examines how the modernizing project of the Tsarist state came to focus on the ruble. As early as the late 18th century, liberal reformers such as Mikhail Speransky pushed for a constitution to restrict the power of the autocrat and guarantee the independence of the state bank from the treasury. Yet, from the creation of the Assignat Bank in 1768 to the Great Reforms of 1861, imperial expansion wedded the success of reforms to the whims of the autocrat. By following Russia’s Ministers of Finance, we see how wars resulted in inflation while military expenditure consumed net revenue. Secrecy was instituted regarding the emission of the paper ruble, undermining confidence in the currency’s value. This secrecy worked both ways, as the autocrat was falsely informed that the fluctuating rate of discount for Russia’s bill of exchange was caused by foreign speculators.
While liberal reformers sought to make the ruble a vehicle to constitutional reforms, nationalists consistently kept the ruble inconvertible to stifle reform. The second section alone makes the book worth the price of admission, relating how conservative nationalists saw the ruble as the embodiment of Russia’s uniqueness. This nationalist conception of money came in the form of the “imperial ruble” that, through colonial annexations, reconstituted the Russian empire into a full-fledged ruble zone. Pravilova’s regional case studies reveal how much influence the nationalists had on monetary and foreign policy, such as when monetary authorities in St. Petersburg tried to replace local currencies in Kokand and Bukhara following their annexation in 1868.
The third and fourth sections cover the collapse and resurrection of the ruble zone in the Russian Revolution. While the Minister of Finance Sergei Witte put the Russian Empire on the gold standard in 1897, he was a nationalist with little concern for the political modernization of Russia. As Pravilova notes, his incompetence in financial matters was matched by his conservative distaste for any constitutionalist agendas. Despite this, his careful manipulation of the press made him appear as a modernizer of Russian finance who shored up the State Bank’s gold reserves. The Bolsheviks were, in many ways, similar to Witte. They did not annihilate money but used it to serve their political ends of creating a socialist society. By reconstituting the Soviet Union along the lines of the Russian empire, the Bolsheviks realized the dream of conservative Russian nationalists—recreating the Soviet ruble as an imperial ruble. They even brought back the gold standard, although as a closed economy this return was quite different from the original.
Pravilova’s new book serves as a magisterial example of how political, cultural, and economic history can inform one another. It also serves as a much-needed crash course for understanding the imperial ambitions of the Russian state. Of late, the ruble’s domestic recovery has garnered praise for its chief central banker Nabiullina. While Nabiullina has succeeded in retaining her reputation, many central bankers before her have failed. They have failed precisely during Russia’s many wars.
Alex Royt is a PhD candidate in history at Penn and graduate fellow of the Business, Economic, and Financial History Project.
|
||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
1
| 35
|
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-ruble-currency-russian-economy-sanctioms-2022/
|
en
|
Russia's ruble is the strongest currency in the world this year
|
[
"https://www.cbsnews.com/assets/show/moneywatch/logo-square-32.svg",
"https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/06/19/c7f06b69-a1f6-4dfb-a3dc-c88f2e42a5b5/thumbnail/1200x630/9556e70af874782f9ae15d6b04ba8ae2/gettyimages-2155633077.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9",
"https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/18/4a4188a2-c7e7-417b-8468-42a4f50948de/thumbnail/1200x630/b9921f206160eb2597d6f5e4ca182b5c/ap24230404297131.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9",
"https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/19/c3f35057-7386-42a8-9347-9d1bacd4d2da/thumbnail/1200x630/75d11b3bf3145af44179c03861ce43ce/gettyimages-1484252718.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9",
"https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2015/04/29/340c23e5-e5a3-40ef-bf68-dcc84ef47c4b/thumbnail/1200x630/6e2e666786e7a06c8786e0cd609401f5/restrictedimagesub.jpg?v=fd6e213336f58b575c9e836e95546d26",
"https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/19/b2cd2ec2-b8b5-4833-91b3-8ff96a7b66b8/thumbnail/1200x630/721adf0e04abe748433d8aca255b7c61/cbsn-fusion-kamala-harris-to-accept-dnc-nomination-in-radical-change-since-biden-drops-out-thumbnail.jpg?v=fd6e213336f58b575c9e836e95546d26",
"https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/06/19/c7f06b69-a1f6-4dfb-a3dc-c88f2e42a5b5/thumbnail/1200x630/9556e70af874782f9ae15d6b04ba8ae2/gettyimages-2155633077.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9",
"https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/18/4a4188a2-c7e7-417b-8468-42a4f50948de/thumbnail/1200x630/b9921f206160eb2597d6f5e4ca182b5c/ap24230404297131.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9",
"https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/19/c3f35057-7386-42a8-9347-9d1bacd4d2da/thumbnail/1200x630/75d11b3bf3145af44179c03861ce43ce/gettyimages-1484252718.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9",
"https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2015/04/29/340c23e5-e5a3-40ef-bf68-dcc84ef47c4b/thumbnail/1200x630/6e2e666786e7a06c8786e0cd609401f5/restrictedimagesub.jpg?v=fd6e213336f58b575c9e836e95546d26"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Russia"
] | null |
[
"Irina Ivanova"
] |
2022-06-28T11:16:00-04:00
|
After its value plunged to less than a U.S. penny, the ruble is now trading 40% higher than before Russia attacked Ukraine. Why?
|
en
|
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-ruble-currency-russian-economy-sanctioms-2022/
|
Even as Russia marks a historic default on its debt, the nation's currency is gaining strength. The ruble hit a new high against the dollar this week, continuing its streak as the best-performing currency in the world this year.
Three months after the ruble's value fell to less than a U.S. penny amid the toughest economic sanctions imposed on a country in modern history, Russia's currency has mounted a stunning turnaround. The ruble has jumped 45% against the dollar since January, with one dollar worth 53.45 rubles as of Tuesday.
"It's an unusual situation," said Jeffrey Frankel, professor of capital formation and growth at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Normally, a country facing international sanctions and a major military conflict would see investors fleeing and a steady outflow of capital, causing its currency to drop. But Russia's unusually aggressive measures to keep money from leaving the country, in combination with a dramatic rise in fossil-fuel prices, are working to create demand for the ruble and pushing up its value.
The ruble's resiliency means that Russia is partly insulated from the punishing economic penalties imposed by Western nations after its invasion of Ukraine, although how long that protection will last is uncertain.
At the same time, Russia appears to have defaulted on its international debts for the first time in over a century. After a key payment deadline passed on Sunday, bondholders said they had not been paid, according to Bloomberg and Reuters.
Why the ruble recovered
The main reason for the ruble's recovery is soaring commodity prices. After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, already high oil and natural gas prices rose even further.
"Commodity prices are currently sky-high, and even though there is a drop in the volume of Russian exports due to embargoes and sanctioning, the increase in commodity prices more than compensates for these drops," Tatiana Orlova, lead emerging markets economist at Oxford Economics, told CBS MoneyWatch recently.
Russia is pulling in nearly $20 billion a month from energy exports. Since the end of March, many foreign buyers have complied with a demand to pay for energy in rubles, pushing up the currency's value.
At the same time, Western sanctions and a wave of businesses leaving the country have led to a drop in imports. In the first four months of the year, Russia's account surplus — the difference between exports and imports — rose to a record $96 billion.
"We have this coincidence that, as imports have collapsed, exports are soaring," Orlova said.
Closing the floodgates
Russia's central bank has also propped up the ruble with strict capital controls that make it harder to convert it to other currencies. That includes a ban on foreign holders of Russian stock and bonds taking dividend payments out of the country.
"That used to be quite a significant source of outflows for currency from Russia — now that channel is closed," Orlova said.
Meanwhile, Russian exporters are required to convert half of their excess revenues into rubles, creating demand for the currency. (The conversion requirement was 80% until the end of May, when it dropped to 50%.) On top of that, Orlova noted, it's extremely difficult for foreign companies to sell their Russian investments, another obstacle to capital flight.
"Although we are seeing these announcements that Western companies are leaving Russia, quite often they simply have to hand over their stakes to their local partners. It doesn't actually mean they are being paid a fair price for their stakes, so they are not moving large amounts of cash from the country," she said.
All these factors are creating demand for rubles, boosting the currency's value.
"While this is not a free market-determined exchange rate, ruble stability is at the same time 'real,' in the sense that it's driven by Russia's all-time high current account inflows," Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist at the Institute of International Finance (IIF), said via email.
Russia still feeling the pain
The ruble's rally has created some problems for Russia's central bank, which has taken steps to bring its currency closer to historic levels, including loosening capital controls and lowering interest rates.
A strong currency doesn't mean Russia is immune to economic pain, however. Although the ruble's bounceback and the strength of Russia's oil exports have temporarily cushioned its economy from sanctions, the effect is likely to be short-term, experts say.
Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James, noted that Russian oil is selling for $35 per barrel less than Brent crude, the international benchmark, reflecting the discount buyers demand for doing business with the nation.
"Nobody today would buy Russian oil at $120 a barrel. And in fact there are plenty of energy buyers who will not buy Russian oil at any price today, whether because of sanctions or because of reputational risk," he said. "The Russian economy is losing approximately $200 million dollars a day — or $70 billion on an annual basis — as a direct result of the war."
What's more, European nations have vowed to cut their imports of Russian gas by two-thirds this year — a potentially crippling blow given Russia's dependence on energy exports.
One sign the Russian economy remains under severe pressure is that inflation in Russia is more than double the rate in the U.S. That's creating pressure for Russians to move their money out of the country, said Frankel of the Harvard Kennedy School.
"The temptation to get assets out of Russia, for Russian citizens to find a way around the controls ... will grow, especially with the inflation rate now as high as it has shot up," he said.
Likewise, Russia's default on more than $100 million in interest payments to foreign bondholders over the weekend is another sign of its growing international isolation. Russia had the funds to make the scheduled payments, but the U.S. Treasury Department has blocked the country's ability to service its debt through American banks.
"Russia's not short of money — it has billions in oil and energy revenues — but it was the sanctions on Russia which prevented it from transmitting the payment," Karin Strohecker, emerging markets correspondent at Thompson Reuters, told CBS News.
Another concern for Russia is that the cutoff of imports could lead to industrial shortages, while a drop in foreign investment is expected to drag down the country's economic growth for years, the Institute of International Finance predicted. The IIF expects Russia's economy to shrink 15% this year, wiping out more than a decade of economic development.
"Export controls, the 'brain drain' of talent out of the country; a European shift away from Russian energy dependence and an exceptionally unfriendly business climate will all weigh on Russia's growth in the years to come," Ribakova said.
|
||||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
0
| 96
|
https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/soviet-ruble
|
en
|
iStock
|
[
"https://www.istockphoto.com/sign-in/assets/static/istock_global-4918a622f02f75589638.svg#istock-logo"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
iStock. Die offizielle iStock-Website bietet Millionen exklusive, lizenzfreie Dateien. Um die perfekte Foto, Video oder Vektor finden, nach unserer Sammlung jetzt.
|
de
| null | |||||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
0
| 79
|
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/the-second-currency-the-soviet-union-the-use-checks-valuta-rubles-1978
|
en
|
The Second Currency in the Soviet Union: On the Use of Checks in "Valuta-Rubles" (1978)
|
[
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/themes/custom/wilson/assets/images/wilson-quarterly.svg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/themes/custom/wilson/logo.svg?v=20210609",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/images/K50_NoText_red.png",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/images/K50_NoText_red.png",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/Kaifu%20%26%20Li%20Peng.png",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/Leonid_Brezhnev_and_Richard_Nixon_talks_in_1973_cropped.jpeg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/RIAN_archive_660671_Pullout_of_Soviet_troops_contingent_from_Afghanistan.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/2560px-%D0%A7%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BB_%D0%A6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B8._1938_0.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/439136602_847160530776547_7434637694339924400_n.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/shutterstock_634594754_2.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/Kemeny-Blog-Image.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/shutterstock_161787275.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/media/uploads/images/Document%20no_1_Press%20clipping.jpg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/themes/custom/wilson/assets/images/footer-logo.svg",
"https://www.wilsoncenter.org/themes/custom/wilson/assets/images/wilson-quarterly.svg"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Kennan Institute Occasional Paper Series #32, 1978. PDF 18 pages.
|
en
|
/core/misc/favicon.ico
|
Wilson Center
|
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/the-second-currency-the-soviet-union-the-use-checks-valuta-rubles-1978
|
“A Vivid Representative of the New Thinking in China after the Death of Mao”: Aleksandar Novačić Recalls a Meeting With Hu Yaobang
Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange. Read more
|
||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
2
| 21
|
https://www.hobbyofking.com/collections/soviet-union-currency
|
en
|
Currency of the Soviet Union
|
http://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/collections/Hobbyofkings_Soviet.png?v=1641325495
|
http://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/collections/Hobbyofkings_Soviet.png?v=1641325495
|
[
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Hobby_of_Kings_brand_logo_70x@2x.png?v=1623670409",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Volgograd-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y142_1-1975-1988.jpg?v=1722578953&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Volgograd-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y142_1-1975-1988-2.jpg?v=1722578960&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Spaceflight-Yuri-Gagarin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y188-1981-1988.jpg?v=1722563739&width=700",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Spaceflight-Yuri-Gagarin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y188-1981-1988-2.jpg?v=1722563745&width=700",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Russian-Soviet-Union-10-Coins-Hammer-and-Sickle-Moscow-Kremlin-Kopeks-and-Rubles-1961-1991.jpg?v=1714064964&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Russian-Soviet-Union-10-Coins-Hammer-and-Sickle-Moscow-Kremlin-Kopeks-and-Rubles-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1714064970&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Full-Soviet-Union-Money-Collection-Coins-and-Banknotes-Rubles-and-Kopeks.jpg?v=1657039534&width=1140",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Full-Soviet-Union-Money-Collection-Coins-and-Banknotes-Rubles-and-Kopeks-2.jpg?v=1657039540&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Vladimir-Lenin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y141-1970.jpg?v=1722563763&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Vladimir-Lenin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y141-1970-2.jpg?v=1722563770&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Sputnik-and-Soyuz-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y165-1979.jpg?v=1722579020&width=734",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Sputnik-and-Soyuz-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y165-1979-2.jpg?v=1722579025&width=734",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Moscow-Kremlin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y153_1-1978.jpg?v=1722578872&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Moscow-Kremlin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y153_1-1978-2.jpg?v=1722578879&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopek-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y109-1937-1946.jpg?v=1722482528&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopek-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y109-1937-1946-2.jpg?v=1722482535&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Colletibles-from-The-Soviet-Union-USSR-Coins-Pins-Banknotes-Russian-Kopeks-and-Rubles.jpg?v=1692292089&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/22-Popular-Soviet-Collectibles-USSR-Coin-Pin-Banknote-Postage-Stamp-Kopeks-and-Rubles.jpg?v=1692292122&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Games-Moscow-University-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y164-1979.jpg?v=1722579243&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Games-Moscow-University-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y164-1979-2.jpg?v=1722579248&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Sergej-Prokofiev-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y263_1-1991.jpg?v=1722579202&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Sergej-Prokofiev-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y263_1-1991-2.jpg?v=1722579209&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-October-Revolution-Anniversary-Hammer-and-Sickle-Vladimir-Lenin-Y143_1-1977-1988.jpg?v=1722579191&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-October-Revolution-Anniversary-Hammer-and-Sickle-Vladimir-Lenin-Y143_1-1977-1988-2.jpg?v=1722579197&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Yury-Dolgoruky-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y177-1980.jpg?v=1722578942&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Yury-Dolgoruky-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y177-1980-2.jpg?v=1722578947&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y144-1977.jpg?v=1722575487&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y144-1977-2.jpg?v=1722575494&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Treptow-Park-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y135_1-1965.jpg?v=1722570196&width=729",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Treptow-Park-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y135_1-1965-2.jpg?v=1722570204&width=1744",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Mixed-Soviet-Union-Medals-Military-Awards-Army-Badges-USSR-Orders.jpg?v=1657056450&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Mixed-Coins-Soviet-Union-Kopeks-USSR-Currency-Communist-Hammer-and-Sickle-1961-1991.jpg?v=1664902761&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Mixed-Coins-Soviet-Union-Kopeks-USSR-Currency-Communist-Hammer-and-Sickle-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1664902765&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russia-Mixed-Kopek-Coins-Lot-of-4-Pounds-4-Lbs-1_8-Kg-USSR-CCCP-1961-1991.jpg?v=1695834635&width=1200",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russia-Mixed-Kopek-Coins-Lot-of-4-Pounds-4-Lbs-1_8-Kg-USSR-CCCP-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1695834640&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Rubles-Coin-USSR-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y295-1991-1992.jpg?v=1722593045&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Rubles-Coin-USSR-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y295-1991-1992-2.jpg?v=1722593053&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-1-Ruble-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y293-1991.jpg?v=1722592955&width=1631",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-1-Ruble-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y293-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592964&width=1628",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y294-1991.jpg?v=1722592412&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y294-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592418&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Peter-the-Great-Bronze-Horseman-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y217-1988.jpg?v=1722570141&width=1700",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Peter-the-Great-Bronze-Horseman-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y217-1988-2.jpg?v=1722570148&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Union-Army-Navy-Badges-Gold-and-Silver-Anchor-Cap-Cockades-Hat-Insignias-Ship-Engineer-Service-Officer-of-The-USSR.jpg?v=1657043832&width=1140",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Union-Army-Navy-Badges-Gold-and-Silver-Anchor-Cap-Cockades-Hat-Insignias-Ship-Engineer-Service-Officer-of-The-USSR-2.jpg?v=1657043835&width=1140",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP.jpg?v=1721149728&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP-2.jpg?v=1721149733&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Former-Countries-Blistercard-5-Coin-Set-USSR-East-Indies-Czechoslovakia-GDR-Yugoslavia.jpg?v=1721149650&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Former-Countries-Blistercard-5-Coin-Set-USSR-East-Indies-Czechoslovakia-GDR-Yugoslavia-2.jpg?v=1721149656&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Pyotr-Lebedev-Y261-1990-1991.jpg?v=1722645172&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Pyotr-Lebedev-Y261-1990-1991-2.jpg?v=1722645178&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Kopeck-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y98-1935-1936.jpg?v=1722639984&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Kopeck-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y98-1935-1936-2.jpg?v=1722639991&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-4-Coin-Set-1-3-10-20-Kopeks-6-Postage-Stamps-USSR-Symbols-1961-1991.jpg?v=1715706778&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-4-Coin-Set-1-3-10-20-Kopeks-6-Postage-Stamps-USSR-Symbols-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1715706784&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y296-1991.jpg?v=1722592896&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y296-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592901&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-50-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y292-1991.jpg?v=1722592639&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-50-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y292-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592646&width=1625",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-St_-Sophia-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y219-1988.jpg?v=1722579291&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-St_-Sophia-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y219-1988-2.jpg?v=1722579300&width=1650",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Novgorod-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y218-1988.jpg?v=1722579256&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Novgorod-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y218-1988-2.jpg?v=1722579264&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-World-War-II-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y198_1-1985.jpg?v=1722579151&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-World-War-II-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y198_1-1985-2.jpg?v=1722579159&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Uspenski-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y246-1990.jpg?v=1722579089&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Uspenski-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y246-1990-2.jpg?v=1722579097&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Grand-Peterhof-Palace-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y241-1990.jpg?v=1722579032&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Grand-Peterhof-Palace-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y241-1990-2.jpg?v=1722579039&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Konstantin-Ivanov-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y282-1991.jpg?v=1722579009&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Konstantin-Ivanov-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y282-1991-2.jpg?v=1722579014&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y123-1957.jpg?v=1722484624&width=1611",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y123-1957-2.jpg?v=1722484631&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-Buttons-Soviet-Union-Used-in-USSR-Army-Hammer-and-Sickle-14-mm-22-mm.jpg?v=1659381623&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-Buttons-Soviet-Union-Used-in-USSR-Army-Hammer-and-Sickle-14-mm-22-mm-2.jpg?v=1659381627&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-100-Soviet-Union-Marine-Buttons-Gold-Anchor-USSR-Army-22-mm.jpg?v=1659381614&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-100-Soviet-Union-Marine-Buttons-Gold-Anchor-USSR-Army-22-mm-2.jpg?v=1659381619&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/5-Banknote-Set-Former-Countries-USSR-East-Germany-Czechoslovakia-Yugoslavia-Vietnam.jpg?v=1696354526&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/5-Banknote-Set-Former-Countries-USSR-East-Germany-Czechoslovakia-Yugoslavia-Vietnam-2.jpg?v=1696354534&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/USSR-Soviet-Russian-Medal-Pin-Badge-50-Years-Liberation-of-Ukraine-in-WWII.jpg?v=1657056454&width=934",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/USSR-Soviet-Russian-Medal-Pin-Badge-50-Years-Liberation-of-Ukraine-in-WWII-2.jpg?v=1657056457&width=1330",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Zhukov-USSR-Veteran-of-The-Great-Patriotic-War-Award.jpg?v=1657055811&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Zhukov-USSR-Veteran-of-The-Great-Patriotic-War-Award-2.jpg?v=1657055815&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP.jpg?v=1657074267&width=485",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP-2.jpg?v=1657055806&width=534",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-70-Years-of-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Award-WW2.jpg?v=1657055717&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-70-Years-of-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Award-WW2-2.jpg?v=1657055721&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-50-Years-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Veteran-Award.jpg?v=1657055690&width=892",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-50-Years-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Veteran-Award-2.jpg?v=1657055694&width=839",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-USSR-Medal-30-Years-Victory-In-The-Great-Patriotic-War-of-1941-1945.jpg?v=1657055638&width=500",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-USSR-Medal-30-Years-Victory-In-The-Great-Patriotic-War-of-1941-1945-2.jpg?v=1657055641&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russia-Anniversary-Medal-60-Years-of-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-CCCP.jpg?v=1657074184&width=650",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/collections/Hobbyofkings_Soviet.png?v=1641325495&width=1200",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Volgograd-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y142_1-1975-1988.jpg?v=1722578953&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Volgograd-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y142_1-1975-1988-2.jpg?v=1722578960&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Spaceflight-Yuri-Gagarin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y188-1981-1988.jpg?v=1722563739&width=700",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Spaceflight-Yuri-Gagarin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y188-1981-1988-2.jpg?v=1722563745&width=700",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Russian-Soviet-Union-10-Coins-Hammer-and-Sickle-Moscow-Kremlin-Kopeks-and-Rubles-1961-1991.jpg?v=1714064964&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Russian-Soviet-Union-10-Coins-Hammer-and-Sickle-Moscow-Kremlin-Kopeks-and-Rubles-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1714064970&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Full-Soviet-Union-Money-Collection-Coins-and-Banknotes-Rubles-and-Kopeks.jpg?v=1657039534&width=1140",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Full-Soviet-Union-Money-Collection-Coins-and-Banknotes-Rubles-and-Kopeks-2.jpg?v=1657039540&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Vladimir-Lenin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y141-1970.jpg?v=1722563763&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Vladimir-Lenin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y141-1970-2.jpg?v=1722563770&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Sputnik-and-Soyuz-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y165-1979.jpg?v=1722579020&width=734",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Sputnik-and-Soyuz-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y165-1979-2.jpg?v=1722579025&width=734",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Moscow-Kremlin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y153_1-1978.jpg?v=1722578872&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Moscow-Kremlin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y153_1-1978-2.jpg?v=1722578879&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopek-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y109-1937-1946.jpg?v=1722482528&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopek-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y109-1937-1946-2.jpg?v=1722482535&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Colletibles-from-The-Soviet-Union-USSR-Coins-Pins-Banknotes-Russian-Kopeks-and-Rubles.jpg?v=1692292089&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/22-Popular-Soviet-Collectibles-USSR-Coin-Pin-Banknote-Postage-Stamp-Kopeks-and-Rubles.jpg?v=1692292122&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Games-Moscow-University-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y164-1979.jpg?v=1722579243&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympic-Games-Moscow-University-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y164-1979-2.jpg?v=1722579248&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Sergej-Prokofiev-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y263_1-1991.jpg?v=1722579202&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Sergej-Prokofiev-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y263_1-1991-2.jpg?v=1722579209&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-October-Revolution-Anniversary-Hammer-and-Sickle-Vladimir-Lenin-Y143_1-1977-1988.jpg?v=1722579191&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-October-Revolution-Anniversary-Hammer-and-Sickle-Vladimir-Lenin-Y143_1-1977-1988-2.jpg?v=1722579197&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Yury-Dolgoruky-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y177-1980.jpg?v=1722578942&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Yury-Dolgoruky-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y177-1980-2.jpg?v=1722578947&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y144-1977.jpg?v=1722575487&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Olympics-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y144-1977-2.jpg?v=1722575494&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Treptow-Park-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y135_1-1965.jpg?v=1722570196&width=729",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Great-Patriotic-War-Treptow-Park-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y135_1-1965-2.jpg?v=1722570204&width=1744",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Mixed-Soviet-Union-Medals-Military-Awards-Army-Badges-USSR-Orders.jpg?v=1657056450&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Mixed-Coins-Soviet-Union-Kopeks-USSR-Currency-Communist-Hammer-and-Sickle-1961-1991.jpg?v=1664902761&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Mixed-Coins-Soviet-Union-Kopeks-USSR-Currency-Communist-Hammer-and-Sickle-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1664902765&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russia-Mixed-Kopek-Coins-Lot-of-4-Pounds-4-Lbs-1_8-Kg-USSR-CCCP-1961-1991.jpg?v=1695834635&width=1200",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russia-Mixed-Kopek-Coins-Lot-of-4-Pounds-4-Lbs-1_8-Kg-USSR-CCCP-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1695834640&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Rubles-Coin-USSR-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y295-1991-1992.jpg?v=1722593045&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Rubles-Coin-USSR-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y295-1991-1992-2.jpg?v=1722593053&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-1-Ruble-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y293-1991.jpg?v=1722592955&width=1631",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-1-Ruble-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y293-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592964&width=1628",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y294-1991.jpg?v=1722592412&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y294-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592418&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Peter-the-Great-Bronze-Horseman-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y217-1988.jpg?v=1722570141&width=1700",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Peter-the-Great-Bronze-Horseman-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y217-1988-2.jpg?v=1722570148&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Union-Army-Navy-Badges-Gold-and-Silver-Anchor-Cap-Cockades-Hat-Insignias-Ship-Engineer-Service-Officer-of-The-USSR.jpg?v=1657043832&width=1140",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Union-Army-Navy-Badges-Gold-and-Silver-Anchor-Cap-Cockades-Hat-Insignias-Ship-Engineer-Service-Officer-of-The-USSR-2.jpg?v=1657043835&width=1140",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP.jpg?v=1721149728&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP-2.jpg?v=1721149733&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Former-Countries-Blistercard-5-Coin-Set-USSR-East-Indies-Czechoslovakia-GDR-Yugoslavia.jpg?v=1721149650&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Former-Countries-Blistercard-5-Coin-Set-USSR-East-Indies-Czechoslovakia-GDR-Yugoslavia-2.jpg?v=1721149656&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Pyotr-Lebedev-Y261-1990-1991.jpg?v=1722645172&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Pyotr-Lebedev-Y261-1990-1991-2.jpg?v=1722645178&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Kopeck-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y98-1935-1936.jpg?v=1722639984&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Kopeck-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y98-1935-1936-2.jpg?v=1722639991&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-4-Coin-Set-1-3-10-20-Kopeks-6-Postage-Stamps-USSR-Symbols-1961-1991.jpg?v=1715706778&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-4-Coin-Set-1-3-10-20-Kopeks-6-Postage-Stamps-USSR-Symbols-1961-1991-2.jpg?v=1715706784&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y296-1991.jpg?v=1722592896&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y296-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592901&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-50-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y292-1991.jpg?v=1722592639&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-50-Kopeks-Coin-USSR-Hammer-and-Sickle-Kremlin-Tower-Dome-Y292-1991-2.jpg?v=1722592646&width=1625",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-St_-Sophia-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y219-1988.jpg?v=1722579291&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-St_-Sophia-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y219-1988-2.jpg?v=1722579300&width=1650",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Novgorod-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y218-1988.jpg?v=1722579256&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Novgorod-Monument-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y218-1988-2.jpg?v=1722579264&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-World-War-II-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y198_1-1985.jpg?v=1722579151&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-World-War-II-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y198_1-1985-2.jpg?v=1722579159&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Uspenski-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y246-1990.jpg?v=1722579089&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Uspenski-Cathedral-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y246-1990-2.jpg?v=1722579097&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Grand-Peterhof-Palace-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y241-1990.jpg?v=1722579032&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-5-Rubles-Coin-Grand-Peterhof-Palace-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y241-1990-2.jpg?v=1722579039&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Konstantin-Ivanov-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y282-1991.jpg?v=1722579009&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-USSR-1-Ruble-Coin-Konstantin-Ivanov-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y282-1991-2.jpg?v=1722579014&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y123-1957.jpg?v=1722484624&width=1611",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/Soviet-Union-10-Kopeks-Coin-Hammer-and-Sickle-Y123-1957-2.jpg?v=1722484631&width=1024",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-Buttons-Soviet-Union-Used-in-USSR-Army-Hammer-and-Sickle-14-mm-22-mm.jpg?v=1659381623&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-Buttons-Soviet-Union-Used-in-USSR-Army-Hammer-and-Sickle-14-mm-22-mm-2.jpg?v=1659381627&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-100-Soviet-Union-Marine-Buttons-Gold-Anchor-USSR-Army-22-mm.jpg?v=1659381614&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/10-100-Soviet-Union-Marine-Buttons-Gold-Anchor-USSR-Army-22-mm-2.jpg?v=1659381619&width=1600",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/5-Banknote-Set-Former-Countries-USSR-East-Germany-Czechoslovakia-Yugoslavia-Vietnam.jpg?v=1696354526&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/5-Banknote-Set-Former-Countries-USSR-East-Germany-Czechoslovakia-Yugoslavia-Vietnam-2.jpg?v=1696354534&width=1800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/USSR-Soviet-Russian-Medal-Pin-Badge-50-Years-Liberation-of-Ukraine-in-WWII.jpg?v=1657056454&width=934",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/USSR-Soviet-Russian-Medal-Pin-Badge-50-Years-Liberation-of-Ukraine-in-WWII-2.jpg?v=1657056457&width=1330",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Zhukov-USSR-Veteran-of-The-Great-Patriotic-War-Award.jpg?v=1657055811&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Zhukov-USSR-Veteran-of-The-Great-Patriotic-War-Award-2.jpg?v=1657055815&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP.jpg?v=1657074267&width=485",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-Veteran-of-Labour-USSR-Award-To-Honor-Workers-CCCP-2.jpg?v=1657055806&width=534",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-70-Years-of-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Award-WW2.jpg?v=1657055717&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-70-Years-of-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Award-WW2-2.jpg?v=1657055721&width=1066",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-50-Years-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Veteran-Award.jpg?v=1657055690&width=892",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russian-Medal-50-Years-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-Veteran-Award-2.jpg?v=1657055694&width=839",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-USSR-Medal-30-Years-Victory-In-The-Great-Patriotic-War-of-1941-1945.jpg?v=1657055638&width=500",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-USSR-Medal-30-Years-Victory-In-The-Great-Patriotic-War-of-1941-1945-2.jpg?v=1657055641&width=800",
"https://www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/products/Soviet-Russia-Anniversary-Medal-60-Years-of-The-Armed-Forces-of-The-USSR-CCCP.jpg?v=1657074184&width=650"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[] | null |
The Soviet ruble and kopeks circulated from 1917 to 1991 and it was the only currency in 15 countries: Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. After the break up of the USSR, the Soviet ruble was used in the post-Soviet states (ruble zone) until 1993 in these countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Armenia, and Georgia. USSR Commemorative coins were released in the USSR between 1965 and 1991. Almost every coin was minted using the proof coinage technology. The famous symbols on the communist coins are the hammer and sickle. The coins were minted in Moscow and Leningrad. In 1961 one ruble (1 SUR) was worth 0.987412 grams of gold, but this exchange for gold was never available to the general public. In the '80s the average worker wage was less than 100 rubles per month. The lower class got 60 rubles per month. A cleaner received 70 rubles, locksmith 80 rubles, and a good bricklayer could earn 150 rubles working without holidays. There was nowhere to spend the money at local stores. Without capitalism stores were empty, choice of goods was poor. Private businesses did not exist, and speculation was punished by imprisonment. Sometimes deficit goods were available in local stores, like clothes made in other communist countries like Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, or East Germany. The car "Zhiguli" cost approx. 5000 rubles and had to wait in line for decades. People paid 3000 - 7500 Rubles for any used car to get it faster. Lucky people could sell a new car 3 times more, for example for 15000 rubles. If you wish to get Wrangler jeans in 1986 they cost 180 - 200 rubles. Japanese radios cost 2000 - 4000 rubles. It was extremely expensive to get imported goods with low wages. Soviet citizens could not legally own foreign currency. If they legally received payment in foreign currency, they were forced to convert it to Vneshposyltorg cheques. For example, sailors sold them for 10 - 25 rubles on the street. These cheques could be spent at a Beryozka shop where imported goods like radios, jeans, shoes, and other good quality products including imported beverages and food. In 1988 ruble lost purchasing power until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Pavlov reform was the last monetary reform that removed 50 and 100 ruble banknotes from circulation and people could exchange these bills for a new currency for 3 days. Many did not make it due to restrictions, so they used them as wallpaper for the walls of the outdoor toilet.
|
en
|
//www.hobbyofking.com/cdn/shop/files/hobby-of-kings-favicon_e66261d9-ea41-410a-9b5b-f4d9c8492c59_96x96.png?v=1676720480
|
Hobby of Kings
|
https://www.hobbyofking.com/collections/soviet-union-currency
|
The Soviet coins (ruble and kopeks) circulated from 1917 to 1991 and it was the only currency in 15 countries: Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. After the break up of the USSR, the Soviet ruble was used in the post-Soviet states (ruble zone) until 1993 in these countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Armenia, and Georgia.
USSR Commemorative coins were released in the USSR between 1965 and 1991. Almost every coin was minted using the proof coinage technology.
The famous symbols on the communist coins are the hammer and sickle. The coins were minted in Moscow and Leningrad. In 1961 one ruble (1 SUR) was worth 0.987412 grams of gold, but this exchange for gold was never available to the general public.
In the '80s the average worker wage was less than 100 rubles per month. The lower class got 60 rubles per month. A cleaner received 70 rubles, locksmith 80 rubles, and a good bricklayer could earn 150 rubles working without holidays.
There was nowhere to spend the money at local stores. Without capitalism stores were empty, choice of goods was poor. Private businesses did not exist, and speculation was punished by imprisonment. Sometimes deficit goods were available in local stores, like clothes made in other communist countries like Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, or East Germany.
The car "Zhiguli" cost approx. 5000 rubles and had to wait in line for decades. People paid 3000 - 7500 Rubles for any used car to get it faster. Lucky persons could sell a new car 3 times more, for example for 15000 rubles. If you wish to get Wrangler jeans in 1986 they cost 180 - 200 rubles. Japanese radios cost 2000 - 4000 rubles. It's was extremely expensive to get imported goods with low wages.
Soviet citizens could not legally own foreign currency. If they legally received payment in foreign currency, they were forced to convert it to Vneshposyltorg cheques. For example, sailors sold them for 10 - 25 rubles on the street. These cheques could be spent at a Beryozka shop where was imported goods like radios, jeans, shoes, and other good quality products including imported beverages and food.
In 1988 ruble lost purchasing power until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Pavlov reform, was the last monetary reform that removed 50 and 100 ruble banknotes from circulation and people could exchange these bills for a new currency for 3 days. Many did not make it due to restrictions, so they used them as wallpaper for the walls of the outdoor toilet.
|
||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
1
| 23
|
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/countries-using-russian-ruble-know-everything-about-russian-ruble/
|
en
|
Know Everything About Russian Ruble
|
[
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/gfg-gg-logo.svg",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/Google-news.svg",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth/profile/8aipgh7tzxpb0knmzy7q",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/Google-news.svg",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/new-premium-rbanner-us.png",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/gfgFooterLogo.png",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/googleplay.png",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/appstore.png",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/suggestChangeIcon.png",
"https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/auth-dashboard-uploads/createImprovementIcon.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"Data Structures",
"Algorithms",
"Python",
"Java",
"C",
"C++",
"JavaScript",
"Android Development",
"SQL",
"Data Science",
"Machine Learning",
"PHP",
"Web Development",
"System Design",
"Tutorial",
"Technical Blogs",
"Interview Experience",
"Interview Preparation",
"Programming",
"Competitive Programming",
"Jobs",
"Coding Contests",
"GATE CSE",
"HTML",
"CSS",
"React",
"NodeJS",
"Placement",
"Aptitude",
"Quiz",
"Computer Science",
"Programming Examples",
"GeeksforGeeks Courses",
"Puzzles",
"SSC",
"Banking",
"UPSC",
"Commerce",
"Finance",
"CBSE",
"School",
"k12",
"General Knowledge",
"News",
"Mathematics",
"Exams"
] | null |
[
"GeeksforGeeks"
] |
2023-09-22T04:04:56
|
A Computer Science portal for geeks. It contains well written, well thought and well explained computer science and programming articles, quizzes and practice/competitive programming/company interview Questions.
|
en
|
GeeksforGeeks
|
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/countries-using-russian-ruble-know-everything-about-russian-ruble/
|
In this article, we are going to see the countries that use Russian Ruble, along with some other important information. The Russian Ruble, also spelled rouble, is the currency of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Belarus.
The notes on the Russian ruble are printed in Moscow’s state factory and the Russian coins are stamped in both countries Moscow and the st. Petersburg. Its currency is one of the strong currencies in the world, and Russia is one of the largest oil exporters in the world because of its powerful currency.
Russian Ruble Symbol:
The Ruble sign “₽” is a currency sign used to represent the Ruble in Russia. It is a “P” with a horizontal stroke.
Russian Ruble – Exchange Rate:
US Dollar
1.00 Russian Rubel = 0.015 US Dollar
Indian Rupee
1.00 Russian Ruble = 1.33 Indian Rupee
The Russian Ruble is 105% more expensive than Indian Rupee.
Euro
1.00 Russian Ruble = 0.016 Euro
Nigerian Naira
1.00 Russian Ruble = 6.91 Nigerian Naira
Bangladeshi Taka
1.00 Russian Ruble = 1.57 Taka
Pound
1.00 Russian Ruble = 0.014 Pound Sterling
Peso
1.00 Russian Ruble = 0.93 Phillippine peso
Russian Ruble: History
The Russian Ruble is the authorized currency of the Russian Federation and was introduced in the 13th century. The first biggest currency in the world is the pound sterling on the other hand the ruble is the second oldest currency in the world, which has been used since the 14th century. In 1992, the Belarusian ruble currency substituted the Russian ruble as the country’s authorized currency. The ruble was reintroduced as the Belarusian currency after signing an agreement in 1994. The ruble is one of the most effective currencies in the world, and it is also the currency of Belarus.
How Did the Ruble Get its Name?
Ruble’s name comes from the word Rubit. Rubit is a small piece cut from Grivna which is the too costly metal of that time. The layout of the Russian currency changed in 1991.
What Was the Old Russian Currency?
The oldest currency used in Russia was the Soviet ruble. The Soviet ruble was first introduced in 1922 as the currency of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, popularly called the USSR. At that time banknotes in sects of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 Russian rubles were in circulation in 1897, a gold ruble was substituted for the silver one. After World War First, gold coins disappeared from spreading countries and notes became inconvertible. During the term of the Russian revolt, inflation of astronomical proportions pushed the ruble value valueless. During the post world war second reform of 1947, the chervonets were deserted as the financial measure and the ruble was repaired.
How Old is the Russian Ruble?
The rouble was the currency of Russia for 500 years and it is subdivided into 100 kopeks.
In the current year 2022, the three variants of rubles:
The Russian ruble (RUB, ₽) in Russia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia,
The Belarusian ruble (BYN, Br) in Belarus
TheTransnistrian ruble in Transnistria.
Summary:
The Ruble is the official currency of Russia and the most powerful currency in the world. The ruble also circulates in the Belarus market. Russia officially declared its currency ruble in 1991 and after that Russian trade proceeded with the currency ruble. Russia is one of the most powerful countries in the world and the area of Russia is also an enormous area. Russia is the motherland of literature and has 12 active volcanos.
|
|||||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
0
| 80
|
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-26-mn-855-story.html
|
en
|
Kremlin Plans to Sharply Devalue Its Currency : Soviet Union: The ruble will lose 90% of its value in some transactions. Officials hope to curb the black market in money.
|
https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/64e287b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2400x1260+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdf%2F45%2F57d858144a2a88575fa2b03080bb%2Flatlogo-ss.jpg
|
https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/64e287b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2400x1260+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdf%2F45%2F57d858144a2a88575fa2b03080bb%2Flatlogo-ss.jpg
|
[
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0a3c731/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5567x3723+8+0/resize/320x214!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F75%2F5c2f97bd4e2ab0fa1149ad6ed2b9%2Fsupreme-court-36043.jpg 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c23d2ec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5567x3723+8+0/resize/568x380!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F75%2F5c2f97bd4e2ab0fa1149ad6ed2b9%2Fsupreme-court-36043.jpg 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/422b6d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5567x3723+8+0/resize/768x514!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F75%2F5c2f97bd4e2ab0fa1149ad6ed2b9%2Fsupreme-court-36043.jpg 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d30fc0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5567x3723+8+0/resize/1024x685!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F75%2F5c2f97bd4e2ab0fa1149ad6ed2b9%2Fsupreme-court-36043.jpg 1024w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/26fd47a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5484x3667+0+41/resize/320x214!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F13%2F12a2dc1d4753af1aa3dce5680b1b%2Fmexico-cartel-scandal-77085.jpg 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a1c7ef2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5484x3667+0+41/resize/568x380!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F13%2F12a2dc1d4753af1aa3dce5680b1b%2Fmexico-cartel-scandal-77085.jpg 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/15f2cee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5484x3667+0+41/resize/768x514!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F13%2F12a2dc1d4753af1aa3dce5680b1b%2Fmexico-cartel-scandal-77085.jpg 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98e53a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5484x3667+0+41/resize/1024x685!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F13%2F12a2dc1d4753af1aa3dce5680b1b%2Fmexico-cartel-scandal-77085.jpg 1024w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dab6161/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2992x2001+4+0/resize/320x214!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F20%2F8d3becb7b20f6efaeae1d6c148e7%2Fbc9f1aad8d7a4daf99471ff015a5ef76 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e92a84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2992x2001+4+0/resize/568x380!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F20%2F8d3becb7b20f6efaeae1d6c148e7%2Fbc9f1aad8d7a4daf99471ff015a5ef76 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1624909/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2992x2001+4+0/resize/768x514!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F20%2F8d3becb7b20f6efaeae1d6c148e7%2Fbc9f1aad8d7a4daf99471ff015a5ef76 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a57e321/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2992x2001+4+0/resize/1024x685!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F20%2F8d3becb7b20f6efaeae1d6c148e7%2Fbc9f1aad8d7a4daf99471ff015a5ef76 1024w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1be821a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3168x2112+0+0/resize/110x73!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F2a%2F1f1bb5464f11bd43d00241c7af0e%2Felection-2024-dnc-88236.jpg 110w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4135812/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3168x2112+0+0/resize/180x120!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F2a%2F1f1bb5464f11bd43d00241c7af0e%2Felection-2024-dnc-88236.jpg 180w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3412b94/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3168x2112+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F2a%2F1f1bb5464f11bd43d00241c7af0e%2Felection-2024-dnc-88236.jpg 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cab8a5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3168x2112+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F2a%2F1f1bb5464f11bd43d00241c7af0e%2Felection-2024-dnc-88236.jpg 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f38b720/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3168x2112+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F2a%2F1f1bb5464f11bd43d00241c7af0e%2Felection-2024-dnc-88236.jpg 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/78e7897/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3168x2112+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F2a%2F1f1bb5464f11bd43d00241c7af0e%2Felection-2024-dnc-88236.jpg 840w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/63b13eb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5371x3581+0+1/resize/110x73!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F32%2F5f7aea0a36dad1456d6e63cf2bf0%2Fe0e032722a7747678a7a90f4e3052da8 110w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d13d3a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5371x3581+0+1/resize/180x120!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F32%2F5f7aea0a36dad1456d6e63cf2bf0%2Fe0e032722a7747678a7a90f4e3052da8 180w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5cba105/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5371x3581+0+1/resize/320x213!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F32%2F5f7aea0a36dad1456d6e63cf2bf0%2Fe0e032722a7747678a7a90f4e3052da8 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/da76e6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5371x3581+0+1/resize/568x379!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F32%2F5f7aea0a36dad1456d6e63cf2bf0%2Fe0e032722a7747678a7a90f4e3052da8 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/93b6549/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5371x3581+0+1/resize/768x512!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F32%2F5f7aea0a36dad1456d6e63cf2bf0%2Fe0e032722a7747678a7a90f4e3052da8 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/734403e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5371x3581+0+1/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F32%2F5f7aea0a36dad1456d6e63cf2bf0%2Fe0e032722a7747678a7a90f4e3052da8 840w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/faf5a28/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/110x73!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Fe4%2F3cc10998cc951a34da6cca0b8767%2F014cc915cf6c4c2399789331d00b9aac 110w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bff972/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/180x120!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Fe4%2F3cc10998cc951a34da6cca0b8767%2F014cc915cf6c4c2399789331d00b9aac 180w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5798932/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Fe4%2F3cc10998cc951a34da6cca0b8767%2F014cc915cf6c4c2399789331d00b9aac 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5f9045b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Fe4%2F3cc10998cc951a34da6cca0b8767%2F014cc915cf6c4c2399789331d00b9aac 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0b127e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Fe4%2F3cc10998cc951a34da6cca0b8767%2F014cc915cf6c4c2399789331d00b9aac 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f10ee95/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Fe4%2F3cc10998cc951a34da6cca0b8767%2F014cc915cf6c4c2399789331d00b9aac 840w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2985279/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/110x73!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ff1%2F821e24af7ed5d28d2ff55d334324%2Fdb33eff2318c4328a5c644607ba08c2b 110w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8df1379/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/180x120!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ff1%2F821e24af7ed5d28d2ff55d334324%2Fdb33eff2318c4328a5c644607ba08c2b 180w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/42cf5d5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ff1%2F821e24af7ed5d28d2ff55d334324%2Fdb33eff2318c4328a5c644607ba08c2b 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a1bb9dd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ff1%2F821e24af7ed5d28d2ff55d334324%2Fdb33eff2318c4328a5c644607ba08c2b 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4065542/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ff1%2F821e24af7ed5d28d2ff55d334324%2Fdb33eff2318c4328a5c644607ba08c2b 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/94de1c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ff1%2F821e24af7ed5d28d2ff55d334324%2Fdb33eff2318c4328a5c644607ba08c2b 840w",
"https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/a6/d6/eea0f1094fb281dbea09e0aa79cd/art-caltimes-trademark-3x.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
""
] | null |
[
"MICHAEL PARKS"
] |
1989-10-26T00:00:00
|
The Soviet Union said Wednesday that it will shortly devalue its currency by 90% for some transactions in a bid to curtail the widespread black market speculation in hard currencies such as the U.S. dollar.
|
en
|
/apple-touch-icon.png
|
Los Angeles Times
|
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-26-mn-855-story.html
|
The Soviet Union said Wednesday that it will shortly devalue its currency by 90% for some transactions in a bid to curtail the widespread black market speculation in hard currencies such as the U.S. dollar.
The new rate of 6.26 rubles to the dollar is a fraction of the present official rate of 0.63 rubles per dollar, reflecting the ruble’s limited buying power both at home and abroad. But it still does not match the current street rate of 10, 12 or often 15 rubles to the dollar.
Although the move will have a limited economic impact, it is probably the first of a series of “hard, unpopular measures” that President Mikhail S. Gorbachev warned earlier this week would be taken soon in order to pull the Soviet economy out of its deepening crisis.
The government newspaper Izvestia bluntly characterized the move as “a jolt,” and officials at the State Bank of the Soviet Union and the Ministry of Finance were so surprised by the government decision that they could not explain precisely how the new system would work.
The measure, however limited, is clearly a first step toward a broader devaluation of the ruble, fundamental price reforms and the eventual transformation of the ruble into a currency that could be bought and sold freely on the world’s currency exchanges.
The official Tass news agency said the devaluation would not solve all the country’s economic problems but added that the government viewed the move as “an important part of the economic reform, another step towards making the ruble convertible.” Tass also said the government hoped that “a more realistic rate of exchange” would attract more tourists and encourage businessmen to spend more here.
Described by the State Bank as simply a “special rate,” the new exchange rate will be used starting Nov. 1 for the hard currency sold to Soviet citizens going abroad, and for hard currency purchased from foreigners, presumably tourists and businessmen.
The official exchange rate would continue to be used for other transactions, according to an announcement by the State Bank. Most of Moscow’s foreign trade, however, is conducted in U.S. dollars, Swiss francs, German deutsche marks, British sterling or Japanese yen, and more than 3,000 different exchange rates are used to make Soviet prices comparable to those on the world market.
The official exchange rate has long been “an absurdity,” Izvestia said, commenting on the change, for it only tempted visiting tourists and businessmen to use the black market, which operates in virtually every tourist hotel and in free markets in almost every city.
“A more decisive measure had to be taken against this black market, which has sucked up a considerable amount of the hard currency brought into this country,” Mikhail L. Berger, Izvestia’s respected economic observer, said.
Speculators were taking “colossal advantage” of the disparity between the ruble’s artificially high value and the real buying power of foreign currencies, Berger said. The speculators usually buy hard currency at perhaps 10 times the official rate; use that money to buy prized consumer goods from special stores; sell the goods in rubles for upwards of 20 times their cost at the official rate, and then start the cycle over, taking a profit at each step.
“It’s the black market,” a Soviet banker said. “Too much hard currency is being lost there. We are going to try to choke off the flow of dollars and capture it ourselves.”
An economic commentator for Tass noted that “the Soviet currency has been weakened by difficulties arising during the restructuring of the Soviet economy, by the growing demand for almost all kinds of goods, the striving to get rid of rubles combined with the reduction in hard currency receipts from exports.”
“It is no secret that many Soviet citizens, and not only those who travel abroad on business, are striving to exchange their rubles for dollars, francs and yen,” Andrei Orlov wrote. “They use the services of the black market, and the exchange is certainly not made at the official rate. The state sustains considerable material losses at moral inconvenience to its citizens. The . . . government’s decision is aimed at correcting this situation.”
In the context of the overall Soviet economy, the immediate goal is to ensure that the state gathers as much foreign currency as it can from tourists and other visitors and retains as much as it can to finance imports.
Valery Ovcharenko, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, which made the decision, described the change as an effort to attract more tourists by giving them more value for their money and encouraging Soviet citizens to exchange hard currency for rubles.
But the main focus, Ovcharenko said, was on the black market. The high prices paid for scarce consumer goods there have added to the country’s inflation. The recent growth of speculation has also undercut the first steps toward economic reform and angered many people who see political and moral degeneracy resulting from the economic liberalization.
Those likely to be hit hardest, at least initially, by the new system will be Soviet citizens who travel abroad, Berger said. At present, they are permitted to change 200 rubles into dollars at the official rate, bringing them about $320; after Nov. 1, the same 200 rubles will bring only $32.
The underlying difficulty remains the Soviet Union’s huge shortage of consumer goods and the $480 billion worth of savings held in state banks ready to buy anything of value or quality, often regardless of the price.
The new system is also a step toward making the ruble a freely convertible currency, a goal set for the year 2000.
“Although this exchange rate is being instituted only for non-commercial operations, it will undoubtedly influence the exchange rate for foreign trade as well,” Berger commented.
The auction will be closely watched for indications of the ruble’s real value, which may be as low as 5 cents, 3 cents or even 2 cents when measured in terms of the massive demand here for scarce consumer products such as audio and video equipment or gems and jewelry.
Last December, the Council of Ministers approved a plan for partial convertibility of the ruble, starting with a devaluation of 50% on most exports in January, 1990. That was tied to price reform and other domestic economic decisions, and little has been said about how that decision will be implemented.
A series of visiting American economists have urged Moscow recently to convert to a gold standard, using its massive holdings of gold to make the ruble convertible as a way of stabilizing the economy.
|
||
9245
|
dbpedia
|
1
| 54
|
https://www.barrons.com/news/russian-central-bank-to-resume-currency-trades-in-2024-33622b0f
|
en
|
Russian Central Bank To Resume Currency Trades In 2024
|
[
"https://www.barrons.com/asset/barrons/images/barrons-logo.png"
] |
[] |
[] |
[
"russia",
"economy",
"currency",
"forex",
"Russia",
"SYND"
] | null |
[
"Agence France Presse"
] |
2023-11-27T12:57:00+00:00
|
Russia's central bank said Monday it will resume buying and selling foreign currency through its sovereign wealth fund next year as the ruble continues to recover from a dramatic summer slide.
|
en
|
//www.barrons.com/favicon.ico
|
https://www.barrons.com/news/russian-central-bank-to-resume-currency-trades-in-2024-33622b0f
|
Russia's central bank said Monday it will resume buying and selling foreign currency through its sovereign wealth fund next year as the ruble continues to recover from a dramatic summer slide.
The Russian currency has been extremely volatile since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale military offensive on Ukraine and the West hit Moscow with an unprecedented package of sanctions.
|