Harry Truman actually said...

Since its establishment in 1789 the Department of State has performed certain routine secretarial and record-keeping functions for the Federal Government which are entirely extraneous to its basic mission with respect to the conduct of foreign relations.

Context

Special Message to the Congress Transmitting Reorganization Plan 20 of 1950.

03/12/1950

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...

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