Harry Truman: “I am firmly convinced of the importance of such a fleet for reasons of national defense and our international commerce.”

I can't see any good purpose to be served by that.

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.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 140 I64 Stat. 107, 145); and as Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Defense the…

The course of action you recommend has my approval.