Truman

Harry S. Truman** was the president of the United States from April 12, 1945, to January 20 1953. He was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri, United States. He grew up a farmer. After transitioning from a farmer, he got into politics. He started off in the banking business. This only lasted for three years though. He worked at National Bank of Commerce and the Union National Bank. After only three years though, he left to serve in the Army. He served in the Kansas City field artillery battery of the Missouri National Guard from 1905 to 1911 "HARRY S. TRUMAN of Independence, Missouri, once remarked that three experiences prepared a man for high political office—farming, banking, and the army. By the time he entered politics he possessed all three." His presidential career started after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Truman was the vice president at the time of Roosevelt's death and was thrown into presidency immediately. Truman had never dealt with foreign affairs before his presidency. Unfortunately, when Roosevelt died, he was left with the job of ending a world war.
 * Background



"As President, Truman made some of the most crucial decisions in history. Soon after V-E Day, the war against Japan had reached its final stage. An urgent plea to Japan to surrender was rejected. Truman, after consultations with his advisers, ordered atomic bombs dropped on cities devoted to war work. Two were Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japanese surrender quickly followed." Truman helped to end the war and bring the troops back home. He also wrote the Truman Doctrine. In this speech, Truman stated that he supported any nation fighting communism. He began the war on containing communism and believed that it was a dang er to the U.S. along with ending WWII, he was involved in another huge struggle. He was president at the start of the Korean war. This was a controversial issue because he was not able to pull the troops out and was eventually threatened by Congress to be impeached. He did not run for president again.
 * Significance**

[|Truman Doctrine Speech]

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 * Fun Fact:** Roosevelt's illness was kept incredibly secret. When he died, Truman didn't even know he was really that sick.

"Truman, Harry S.."//Americans at War//. John P. Resch, ed. 4 vols. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. [|http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC/]

"Truman, Harry S.."//Presidents: A Reference History//. Henry F. Graff, ed. 3rd ed. 1 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. [|http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC/]

Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. [|http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC/]