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.
They will, however, provide a firm foundation for maintaining and furthering the efficient administrative relationships already established, and for assuring that we have provided permanent arrangements vitally necessary to the national…
I am convinced that this reorganization plan will contribute importantly to the more businesslike and efficient administration of the programs of the Maritime Commission.
I am also transmitting to the Congress recommendations for legislation which will implement other recommendations of the Commission and place the operations of the Post Office Department on a more businesslike basis.
It is imperative that the Labor Department be strengthened and restored to its original position as the central agency of the Government for dealing with labor problems.
Within their respective fields these agencies assist the President in developing plans and policies which extend beyond the responsibility of any single department of the Government.
The growth of the executive branch and the increasingly complex nature of the problems with which it must deal have greatly intensified the necessity of strong and well-coordinated staff facilities to enable the President to meet his…
I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1949, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949.
The primary result of this reorganization plan will be more effective administration.
The establishment of the Department of Welfare will effectuate the one recommendation of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government for the creation of a new executive department.
The primary function of the first of these agencies, as defined by statute, is 'to advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to the national security.'
In fact, many of the problems with which they deal require close collaboration with the agencies of the Executive Office.
Since the creation of the Executive Office of the President, however, the Congress has further recognized the need for more adequate central staff and created two new important staff agencies to assist the President--the National Security…
I have long been convinced that the Department of Labor is the agency which can contribute most to the development of sound and efficient employment service.
I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1949, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949.
Since then I have several times proposed that the Federal Security Agency be made an executive department.
In this they play a role similar in character to that of the various units of the Executive Office of the President.
The creation of a Department of Welfare represents a sound and much needed step in the improvement of Federal organization.
This plan, therefore, will bring their legal status into accord with existing administrative practice.
The plan gives the Postmaster General the necessary authority to organize and control his department by transferring to him the functions of all subordinate officers and agencies of the Post Office Department.
This plan is a major step in the rebuilding and strengthening of the Department of Labor which I am convinced is essential to the sound and efficient organization of the executive branch of the Government.
The wisdom of this step has been demonstrated by greatly improved staff assistance to the President, which has contributed importantly to the management of the Government during the trying years of war and of post-war adjustment.
Experience has demonstrated that unemployment insurance must be administered in close relationship with employment service and other employment programs.
The plan transfers the National Security Council and the National Security Resources Board to the Executive Office of the President.
In my judgment, this course has been fundamentally unsound and should be reversed.
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