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Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. He took office upon Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in April 1945 and faced the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan. He implemented the Marshall Plan, established the Truman Doctrine and NATO, and desegregated the military in 1948.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Harry S. Truman — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Harry S. Truman by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Harry S. Truman — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
On May 8, 1884, Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, to Martha Ellen Young Truman and John Anderson Truman. His family background included slaveholding ancestors and pro-Confederate sympathies, though he later pushed for civil rights.
His poor eyesight prevented him from attending West Point. He dropped out of both business and law schools and worked as a bank clerk and farmer before entering politics.
Truman served as a US Senator from Missouri from 1935 to 1945, earning a reputation for amiability. Franklin D. Roosevelt chose him as his running mate in 1944, and Truman became Vice President in January 1945. Roosevelt’s death on April 12, 1945, elevated Truman to the presidency.
In August 1945, Truman authorized the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a decision that remains controversial. He implemented the Marshall Plan in 1948 to rebuild Western Europe and established the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain communism. Domestically, he proposed the Fair Deal and in 1948 ordered the desegregation of the US military over Pentagon objections.
During the Korean War, Truman faced the challenge of containing communism and relieved General Douglas MacArthur of command in 1951. He chose not to seek a second full term and left office in 1953.
Truman married Bess Truman in 1919, and they had one daughter, Margaret. He affectionately called his wife The Boss. The family lived in Independence, Missouri, and after his presidency, they returned there with no pension, relying on his World War I military pension.
Truman loved poker and had a colorful vocabulary. He once owned a haberdashery in Kansas City. He kept a Purple Heart sent back by a soldier’s family on his desk as a reminder of his decisions. He hated air conditioning and used fans in the White House.
The atomic bombings, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and NATO define Truman’s legacy. In 1948, he became the first president to speak before the NAACP. He ordered the integration of the US armed forces, a major step for civil rights.
Truman entered the Hall of Famous Missourians in 1991. During his presidency, the term limit amendment was introduced, making him the last president eligible for a third term. His phrase The Buck Stops Here became a well-known slogan. He remains a central figure in the Cold War.
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Every award, honor, and recognition received by Harry S. Truman — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Harry S. Truman's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
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A wall of memorable lines from Harry S. Truman — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Never Did Give Anybody Hell. I Just Told the Truth, and They Thought It Was Hell.
A President Cannot Always Be Popular.
Always Be Sincere, Even If You Don’t Mean It.
I Don’t Want This Office, This Responsibility, Any Longer, Even If You Want Me. Find the Strongest and Most Able and God Bless You. Good Bye.
Richard Nixon Is a No Good Lying Bastard. He Can Lie Out of Both Sides of His Mouth at the Same Time, and If He Ever Caught Himself Telling the Truth, He’d Lie Just to Keep His Hand In.
Whenever a Fellow Tells Me He’s Bipartisan. I Know He’s Going to Vote Against Me.
It’s Interesting That a Single Thing, That Great Smile of Eisenhower’s, Gave Him the Worldwide and Lifelong Reputation of Being a Sunny and Amiable Man., When Most of Us Who Knew Him Well Were All Too Aware That He Was Essentially a Surly, Angry and Disagreeable Man.
Most Presidents Don’t Seem to Want to Talk to Former Presidents. and from My Experience, I Know That’s Pretty Natural Behavior. a New President Wants to Be President on His Own Hook, and Not Have a Former President Around, Trying to Give Him Advice. but the Really Terrible Thing Is When a President Sets Out to Actively Discredit the Politics of a Former President. and That’s What Happened When I Was Succeeded by Dwight Eisenhower.
My Choices in Life Were Either to Be a Piano Player in a Whore House or a Politician. and to Tell the Truth, There’s Hardly Any Difference.
I’m Proud That I’m a Politician. a Politician Is a Man Who Understands Government, and It Takes a Politician to Run a Government. a Statesman Is a Politician Who’s Been Dead Ten or Fifteen Years.
Don’t See How a Country Can Produce Such Men as Robert E. Lee, John J. Pershing, Eisenhower and Bradley and at the Same Time Produce Custers, Pattons and MacArthurs.
Little-known facts about Harry S. Truman — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
A soldier killed in the Korean War had his family send the Purple Heart back to Truman with a letter blaming him. Truman kept that Purple Heart on his desk as a reminder of difficult decisions.
The two most controversial decisions of his presidency were the atomic bombings in 1945 and relieving General Douglas MacArthur of command during the Korean War. MacArthur indirectly insulted Truman by making policy pronouncements, and Truman later claimed MacArthur ordered his plane to circle before the Wake Island Conference, though eyewitnesses said MacArthur arrived first.
In 1953 he made a well-remembered departing speech from the end platform of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s National Limited train on leaving Washington, DC, for his hometown of Independence, Missouri.
When he returned to Independence, Missouri, after choosing not to seek another term, there were no pensions for former presidents at the time. He and Mrs. Truman survived solely on his military pension from World War I.
On April 12, 1945, he automatically became US President upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Elected President of the US in 1948 and served until 1953.
Father of Margaret Truman, writer of popular murder mysteries set in Washington, DC.
Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in 1991.
Was the only US president of the modern era not to have a college education.
Vice President of the United States in 1945.
During his time in the US Senate, he was known as its most amiable member.
Hated air conditioning and used fans in his office.
His nickname for his wife Bess Truman was The Boss.
Following his term as President, he turned down all offers for speaking engagements or product endorsements because he refused to compromise the dignity of the office.
He loved to play poker and enjoyed introducing unorthodox versions of the game, such as numerous wild cards.
Term limits were introduced during his presidency, making him the last president who could have been elected a third time.
On October 5, 1947, he became the first US President to appear on television delivering an address from the White House.
His wife Bess Truman lived to be 97 years old, making her the longest-living First Lady.
His dislike of his successor Dwight D. Eisenhower was so great that he rarely referred to him by name in interviews, usually calling him that fellow.
In November 1948, when he scored his upset presidential re-election victory, Bob Hope sent him a one-word telegram: Unpack. He kept it in his desk in the Oval Office.
Member of the Democratic Party.
Served as 33rd President of the US, 1945-53.
Many of his family had owned slaves or held pro-slavery views, and Truman grew up in a racist environment. He was encouraged to join the Ku Klux Klan but declined. He pushed for civil rights and integrated the US armed forces in 1948.
In the 1948 presidential election, the Chicago Tribune published a well-known headline declaring Truman defeated by Thomas E. Dewey before final returns showed Truman winning.
Popularized the phrase The Buck Stops Here.
Served in World War I as a captain in the US Army artillery. He was the first and only combat veteran of that war to be elected President.
Pictured on an 8-cent US commemorative postage stamp issued on May 8, 1973.
Pictured on a 20-cent US definitive postage stamp in the Great Americans series, issued January 26, 1984.
Referred to the White House as the big white prison.
Pictured on a commemorative 4-cent postage label issued by the Independent Postal System of America in 1973.
US Senator from Missouri 1935-45.
Sharply criticized a music critic for caustic remarks about his daughter Margaret Truman’s piano recital.
Once owned a haberdashery where he sold men’s clothing and suits.
He was the first President to speak in front of the NAACP, declaring that the only limit to an American’s achievement should be his ability, industry, and character.
Had universities and villages named after him.
Great-grandfather of Wesley Truman Daniel.
He had an infamously foul mouth. While serving as an artillery commander in World War I, his troops tried to flee during an assault. He let loose with a stream of curses so loud and foul that they were stunned into holding their ground, enabling a successful counter-attack.
Had hoped to attend West Point but his poor eyesight kept him out.
Attended both law school and business school but dropped out of both.
Spent two years selling car club memberships after losing his seat as a County Court judge in 1924.
Mentioned in Billy Joel’s song We Didn’t Start the Fire.
His administration controversially used Nazi war criminals, such as Klaus Barbie, to further anti-Communist activities in Europe.
In 1906 came back home and combined farm work with the job of judge.
In his last will, executed in January 1959, he divided the bulk of his estate valued at $600,000 to his wife and daughter, and left land to his Masonic Lodge and $15,000 to relatives.
Considered creating the state of Israel within the United States in 1948 but was warned the backlash would be too severe.
The only US president to use the atomic bomb against a military target. He insisted the bombings ended the war, though many historians believe the Soviet entry into the war and the invasion of Manchuria were more important factors.
His first work was in a bank.
Elected Vice President in 1944 with Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Born at 4:17 pm CST.
His middle initial S did not stand for anything. It was a compromise between his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, who both wanted to name him after themselves.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Harry S. Truman.
Celebrities similar to Harry S. Truman — same craft, ranked by reach.
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