Harry Truman
The Public Record
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, serving from April 12, 1945, to January 20, 1953. A member of the Democratic Party, he assumed the presidency after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Truman is known for his decisive leadership during the final months of World War II, including the controversial decision to use atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which contributed to Japan's surrender. He also played a significant role in the early stages of the Cold War, implementing the Truman Doctrine to contain communism and establishing NATO.
Jul 20, 1949
Mr. Wherry has a lot of ungrounded fears, in which I am not interested.
Jul 19, 1949
As provided by section 10 of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, from this date and for thirty days after the board has made its report to the President, no change, except by agreement shall be made by the Southern Pacific Company (Pacific…
Jul 18, 1949
All I have asked is that we take one-third--less than one-third--of the cost of cancellation of $60 billion worth of contracts, and revive Europe and Asia for peace.
Jul 18, 1949
It is necessary that we do assume that responsibility for the welfare of the world in generations to come.
Jul 18, 1949
On the 8th day of May--to be accurate the 7th day of May, because it was not announced until the 8th, a day which happened to be my birthday--the German dictatorship folded up.
Jul 18, 1949
And I am saying to you, which is better, to spend 3, or 4, or 5 billions a year for peace, or to spend a hundred billion dollars a year for another war?
Jul 18, 1949
On the 2d day of September, on the battleship Missouri--a battleship which was christened by my daughter Margaret--the Japanese Government signed an unconditional surrender.
Jul 18, 1949
Our organization is one of the great contributors to mutual understanding in this great country of ours.
Jul 18, 1949
The major decisions in our foreign policy since the war have been made on the basis of an informed public opinion and overwhelming public support.
Jul 18, 1949
We believe that the people of the world should have the facts, not only about ourselves, but about all the things that concern them most deeply.
Jul 18, 1949
I felt, when we had adopted that document, and when hostilities had ceased, that we would arrive at that peace for which we all had prayed since 1941.
Jul 18, 1949
Now it is absolutely necessary that we assume the leadership among the democracies of this world, so that there will be enough force in this world to maintain the peace.
Jul 18, 1949
Had we failed to assume that responsibility, the only thing left for us would be to crawl into our shells and prepare for the destruction of the world, and ourselves with it.
Jul 18, 1949
Public opinion in a country such as ours cannot be ignored or manipulated to suit the occasion.
Jul 18, 1949
In 1945, on the 12th day of April, we were in the midst of two of the most terrible wars that have ever been fought.
Jul 18, 1949
In this country, foreign policy is not made by the decisions of a few.
Jul 18, 1949
We are going to maintain the peace and make the United Nations a going and militant organization for the welfare of the world as a whole.
Politicians like Harry Truman
