Harry Truman: “The gravity of the situation which confronts the world today necessitates my appearance before a joint session of the…”

It was suggested, and I decided that it wouldn't serve any good purpose, it would be just a piece of demagoguery; and that is what it turned out to be.

It would have involved us in all-out war in the Far East, and we have been strenuously trying to avoid that all the time.

The people of the United States have a very great asset in this force.

I have great faith and confidence in our civil servants.