Harry
S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8th, 1884. His father,
John Anderson Truman, was a farmer and mule trader. John and his wife,
Martha Ellen Truman, had three children, of which Harry was the first.
His first name was intended to honor his maternal uncle, and,
interestingly, he wasn't given a full middle name. His parents only gave
him the middle initial "S", which was intended to honor both his
grandfathers.
Truman was an outstanding student and a voracious reader. By the time he was 18, he had read every book in the Independence Library. However, lack of personal funds meant that he was unable to pursue higher education. Truman was the only president of the 20th century to not have a college degree. In spite of this, he was considered a well-educated man and an especially knowledgeable student of history. He once said, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." Truman used history to his advantage by studying the biographies of great men and women, and using what he learned from their experiences to deal with challenges in his own life.
Truman's recommended reading list for success:
At the start of World War II, Truman volunteered, even though he was, at age 33, above the draft age limit. He was well-respected and was soon promoted to captain. While serving as captain in the army, he utilized methods that he had read about in Ulysses S. Grant's biography in order to effectively manage and lead his men.
Within a month of his homecoming from the war in May 1919, Truman was married to his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth "Bess" Wallace. That same year he and an associate went into business, opening a haberdashery in Kansas City. But, within three years, the business had failed and the Great Depression had begun. This left him owing $20,000 -- a debt that he would spend the next 15 years working to repay. Bess gave birth to their only child, Mary Margaret, in 1924.
Truman was an outstanding student and a voracious reader. By the time he was 18, he had read every book in the Independence Library. However, lack of personal funds meant that he was unable to pursue higher education. Truman was the only president of the 20th century to not have a college degree. In spite of this, he was considered a well-educated man and an especially knowledgeable student of history. He once said, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." Truman used history to his advantage by studying the biographies of great men and women, and using what he learned from their experiences to deal with challenges in his own life.
- Plutarch’s Lives
- Caesar’s Commentaries
- Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography
- Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
- Bunker Bean
- Missouri’s Struggle for Statehood
- The Bible
- Plato’s Republic
- Shakespeare’s works, including the Sonnets
- The complete works of Robert Burns
- Childe Harold
- Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World
- Charles Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution
At the start of World War II, Truman volunteered, even though he was, at age 33, above the draft age limit. He was well-respected and was soon promoted to captain. While serving as captain in the army, he utilized methods that he had read about in Ulysses S. Grant's biography in order to effectively manage and lead his men.
Within a month of his homecoming from the war in May 1919, Truman was married to his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth "Bess" Wallace. That same year he and an associate went into business, opening a haberdashery in Kansas City. But, within three years, the business had failed and the Great Depression had begun. This left him owing $20,000 -- a debt that he would spend the next 15 years working to repay. Bess gave birth to their only child, Mary Margaret, in 1924.
Over the years, Truman wrote more than
1400 handwritten letters that Truman to his wife, daughter,
mother, and sister.
The first of letters to Bess were sent while both were living in Missouri, later he continued to write Bess while at military training camp and while stationed in France during WWI. The second section within the family correspondence file holds letters that Truman wrote to his wife while they were married. Truman had to travel frequently for work, both before and during his presidency, and during these times he usually wrote to Bess daily, and sometimes even more than once a day. The next section holds letters that Truman wrote to his daughter, Margaret Truman. There are over 100 letters from Truman to his daughter in the collection, some of which were written before she was even able to read. The final section of the family correspondence file contains letters addressed to his mother and sister, written between 1945 and 1948. The mass of personal correspondence shows how extremely devoted Truman was to his family.
An excerpt from a letter Harry Truman wrote to Bess Wallace during their courtship:
"...Bess are you ever going to give me that picture of you? If you knew how very badly I wanted it you surely would hurry it up some. I can't see why anyone who is as little likely to smash the Kodak as you should hesitate so long about getting in front of one. If I owned one I'd want you to get in front of it every time it went off.
Now since I've told you that you are the nicest looking mortal in creation and the superlative in every other descriptive way you ought to at least give me your photograph..."
In 1922, Truman was elected as a judge of the Jackson County Court. He was defeated when he ran for a second term, but was then elected as presiding judge in 1926.
He stayed at this position until 1934, when he was elected to the United States Senate. There, he earned a reputation as a man of honesty and integrity.
Truman was also known for always having a neat, put-together appearance. During his time as Senator, he was listed as one of the ten best-dressed men in the Senate.
Though FDR’s preference was for his running mate in 1944 was Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, party bosses wanted Harry Truman to keep the support of conservatives. Truman is said to have responded through intermediaries “Tell him to go to hell.” But, under the advice of the party bosses, President Roosevelt decided on Truman, who was then pressured to accept the nomination.
The first of letters to Bess were sent while both were living in Missouri, later he continued to write Bess while at military training camp and while stationed in France during WWI. The second section within the family correspondence file holds letters that Truman wrote to his wife while they were married. Truman had to travel frequently for work, both before and during his presidency, and during these times he usually wrote to Bess daily, and sometimes even more than once a day. The next section holds letters that Truman wrote to his daughter, Margaret Truman. There are over 100 letters from Truman to his daughter in the collection, some of which were written before she was even able to read. The final section of the family correspondence file contains letters addressed to his mother and sister, written between 1945 and 1948. The mass of personal correspondence shows how extremely devoted Truman was to his family.
An excerpt from a letter Harry Truman wrote to Bess Wallace during their courtship:
"...Bess are you ever going to give me that picture of you? If you knew how very badly I wanted it you surely would hurry it up some. I can't see why anyone who is as little likely to smash the Kodak as you should hesitate so long about getting in front of one. If I owned one I'd want you to get in front of it every time it went off.
Now since I've told you that you are the nicest looking mortal in creation and the superlative in every other descriptive way you ought to at least give me your photograph..."
In 1922, Truman was elected as a judge of the Jackson County Court. He was defeated when he ran for a second term, but was then elected as presiding judge in 1926.
He stayed at this position until 1934, when he was elected to the United States Senate. There, he earned a reputation as a man of honesty and integrity.
Truman was also known for always having a neat, put-together appearance. During his time as Senator, he was listed as one of the ten best-dressed men in the Senate.
Though FDR’s preference was for his running mate in 1944 was Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, party bosses wanted Harry Truman to keep the support of conservatives. Truman is said to have responded through intermediaries “Tell him to go to hell.” But, under the advice of the party bosses, President Roosevelt decided on Truman, who was then pressured to accept the nomination.
Roosevelt and Truman did not communicate much during the campaign or even after they were sworn in. After one meeting with the President, Truman said “He does all the talking and he talks about what he wants to talk about, and he never talks about anything you want to talk about, so there isn’t much you can do.” Truman is said to have disliked Roosevelt, believing him to be dishonest.
Truman's 1945 State of the Union Address
Truman addressed a joint session of congress on April 16th, 1945, the day after Franklin Delano Roosevelt was buried. While the tradition of epitaphios logos tells us that such a speech, though sad, is good and right, Truman's speech is unique, in that he says "the most eloquent tribute would be a reverent silence" but he gives the speech because he believes it necessary to show that America was still strong and still ready to fight. So this speech was, in part, for the benefit of the enemies of the man being eulogized. Truman also didn't choose to use general articles in his speech, but rather referred to "the fight" and even specifically named the countries being fought against. I think this difference can also be attributed to his desire to show strength during this troublesome time, so that the world would be assured that America would not back down. While he was specific in his reference to what they were fighting for, he did use bracing as he placed the passing of FDR within the larger context of the fight for freedom, and the greater sorrow of all the men who gave their lives fighting for right.
FDR funeral procession
In other ways, however, Truman closely follows the Greek tradition. He perpetuates the memory of FDR as a hero, calling him a "heroic champion of justice and freedom". But the protreptikon element of the epitaphios logos is probably the one most prominently featured in this speech. Truman says "I appeal to every American...to support our efforts..." telling them that though their task may be difficult, it is of fundamental importance that they do whatever they have to in order to achieve enduring peace. What is unique about Truman's speech in this aspect is that when he asks the country to uphold the ideals that FDR represented, he also takes the time to assure the people that he will do the same; "I will support and defend those ideals with all my strength and all my heart. That is my duty and I shall not shirk it."
Truman taking oath of office
Such words seem appropriate in this case, as Truman was taking FDR's place as leader of the nation. Between himself and the rest of the nation, he says that they will achieve success, no matter how hard it is. The progonoi element is also present, as he refers to "our glorious heritage", indicating that all Americans have a noble or admirable ancestry. Also following in the Greek tradition, he portrays the country itself as heroic, calling the US "one of the most powerful forces for good on earth."
President
Truman asked Mr. Roosevelt’s cabinet to stay at their posts. He said he
would “carry on as he believed the President would have done.” In time,
however, he began to replace many of Roosevelt’s cabinet with his own
appointees.
Following
in Roosevelt’s footsteps was a difficult task, as Roosevelt had the
charisma and public-speaking skills that had won him the election four
times in a row. Truman didn’t have these skills, but he was easy for
people to relate to. He came from a humble background and the people
felt he was both honest and hard-working.
Roosevelt’s
plans for the US post-WWI included significant cooperation with the
Soviet Union, Great Britain, and China. During his presidency he put a
great deal of effort into building a relationship with the Soviet
leader, Joseph Stalin.
These plans and expectations would affect the course of Truman’s policy making decisions. Taking office at the end of the war, Truman was left to deal with big foreign policy decisions. The most significant of these was the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan. Under his leadership, the US undertook a great deal of commitments and became significantly more engaged in global issues. While he likely did not intend to transform US foreign policy so drastically, the circumstances at the time demanded that policy adapt.
1948 Presidential Election
Truman's 1948 Democratic Convention Acceptance Speech
After winning the democratic nomination, Truman gave this acceptance speech, in which he demonstrates why the Democratic success over the Republicans is necessary for the good of the nation. Putting it plainly, he says "they are wrong and we are right". This speech follows the tradition of the epitaphios logos in that he is calling upon his audience to act, to do what is best for the country. What is different is that in this case he is not talking about the great deeds accomplished by a person, but by the Democratic Party. He reminds listeners of all the good the party did for farmers and labor, as well as international accomplishments such as the removal of trade barriers and the establishment of a foreign aid program. He even uses progonoi, describing the Democratic party as one that has always been good - "the Democratic party is the people's party...it always has been and always will be." He refers to predecessors of the Democratic party, such as "that great Democratic President, Woodrow Wilson". He goes on to talk about how the Republican Congress impeded his efforts to improve the country, and shares his plan to try to get them to pass some new laws.
He speaks about the Democratic Party much in the same way that similar speeches speak of the United States, saying "we are now the defenders of the stronghold of democracy and of equal opportunity." With these words, he indicates that the Democratic party is heroic (politeia) and that current democrats can uphold the heroic legacy left by their predecessors (arete). It can be seen as parallel to his 1945 speech discussed above, but rather than calling upon Americans to defend the world against the evils of Germany and Japan, he is calling upon Democrats to defend America against the evils of the Republican party.
Republican Nomination
Thomas E. Dewey was chosen as the republican nominee for the 1948 election. He had also been the party's nominee in 1944, and was considered a leader of the Republican Party. Though many found him cold and unlikeable on a personal level, he had won the 1946 Gubernatorial Election by a wide margin. His running mate was the popular Earl Warren, Governor of California.
The republican platform called for public debt reduction, opposed racial segregation, a constitutional amendment for equal rights for women, and eventual statehood for Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. In foreign policy, the republicans planned to strengthen the United Nations, establish friendship with China, and recognize Israel.
Democratic Nomination
Truman managed to win the democratic nomination, though the democratic national convention was controversial; the Democratic platform supported the desegregation of the military, a policy strongly opposed by Southern Democrats. Some of them even left the Convention in protest, and later formed a States' Rights Party, known as the Dixiecrats, with South Carolina's Governor Strom Thurmond as their nominee for president. The liberal Democrats also defected, forming the Progressive Party and nominating Henry Wallace as their presidential candidate.
Despite serious doubt from others, Truman believed he could win the 1948 election. In February of that year, at a dinner in Washington, D.C., he proclaimed "I will tell you who is going to be the next president of the United States. You are looking at him right now!" The rest of the nation was not convinced, however; everyone predicted that Dewey would win. The Chicago Daily Tribune was so certain of a Republican victory that they decided on election night to distribute a paper with the headline "Dewey defeats Truman". Faced with a three-way split in the Democratic Party, Truman's confidence seemed groundless. His victory in the 1948 election is widely considered "the greatest election upset in American history."
Electoral Results
blue: Truman, 303 electoral votes, 24,105,695 popular votes
red: Dewey, 189 electoral votes, 21,969,170 popular votes
yellow: Thurmond, 39 electoral votes, 1,169,021 popular votes
The Truman Campaign
Truman embarked on an ambitious national campaign, giving speeches in more than 250 cities. He criticized the "do-nothing, good-for-nothing Republican congress" and and blamed them for the passage of the anti-labor Taft-Hartley act. He was relentless in his criticizing and even ridiculing Dewey and the Republican party.His campaign was exciting, with the crowd frequently yelling out "Give 'em hell, Harry!" in response to his vigorous speeches. His campaign slogans included "With Truman for Civil Rights", "Beat High Prices", and "Phooey on Dewey".
In the early months of the campaign, Truman's campaign appearances were accompanied by the sound of the Missouri Waltz, an association that Truman didn't seem to enjoy. In July of 1948, one band, which had not been given instruction on what to play, chose a Broadway tune, "I'm Just Wild About Harry".
One of Truman's aides, seeing how pleased Truman was at the change, contacted the song's composers, requesting permission to make the song the official Truman campaign song. The composers Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake were black Americans and active NAACP members were supportive of Truman, granting his campaign permission to use the song and even changing a few lyrics to show support for Truman's decision to desegregate the armed forces.
The new lyrics said “I’m just wild about Harry And Harry’s wild about me. The fates decreed it, and I agreed it, Harry made history!” Blake was later quoted saying "Mr. Truman integrated the armed forces. I would write him an opera if he wanted.” (use the following url to listen to a version of this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV_qpGirp5Y )
Years
later, Sissle and Blake wrote the following letter to Truman. In this
letter they explain the similarities between the Harry from their show
and the President, and thank the President for his association with the
song, which made it even more popular than when it first came out.
In a time when many feared the U.S. might soon enter war against the Soviet Union, the following poster was meant to point out that Truman was a veteran, while Dewey was not.
The Republican Campaign
Dewey's campaign was exceedingly bland by comparison. He was noncommittal on many issues, hoping to avoid any groups within the population. Because of the three-way split in the Democratic party, it was believed that all he needed to do to secure the election was not make any big mistakes. His campaign slogans included "Dewey Gets Things Done", "All 48 in 48' Dewey Warren", and "Truman for Ex-President".
He
spoke only vaguely of his plans for the future and avoided
controversial topics. His speeches were comprised of many non-political,
vaguely optimistic statements, such as "You know that your future is
still ahead of you."
Truman's 1949 Inaugural Address
After being sworn in, Truman gave his inaugural address, in which he discussed the ways in which the US would have to lead the world in order to achieve lasting peace. As has been seen in many speeches made by American presidents, the country is portrayed a heroic, a force for good, a defender against evil. He speaks against communism, and highlights the many differences between it and democracy.
Though this is not a eulogy, it does include speech on the good things that America has done (logos/ergon). His speech is very persuasive in its anti-communist zeal and in it Truman explains the plans for fighting against communism while promoting democracy. This speech follows the Greek tradition in that Truman is asking his listeners for support in this fight, asking them to uphold the values that are fundamental to their country.
During his presidency, Truman was known to be an early riser; always awake by 5:30 in the morning. He read multiple newspapers every morning before taking his daily two-mile walk. He used this time to think to himself, and considered his "daily constitutional" an important part of each day.
Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Joseph Stalin all shake hands at the Potsdam conference in 1945.
These plans and expectations would affect the course of Truman’s policy making decisions. Taking office at the end of the war, Truman was left to deal with big foreign policy decisions. The most significant of these was the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan. Under his leadership, the US undertook a great deal of commitments and became significantly more engaged in global issues. While he likely did not intend to transform US foreign policy so drastically, the circumstances at the time demanded that policy adapt.
1948 Presidential Election
Truman's 1948 Democratic Convention Acceptance Speech
After winning the democratic nomination, Truman gave this acceptance speech, in which he demonstrates why the Democratic success over the Republicans is necessary for the good of the nation. Putting it plainly, he says "they are wrong and we are right". This speech follows the tradition of the epitaphios logos in that he is calling upon his audience to act, to do what is best for the country. What is different is that in this case he is not talking about the great deeds accomplished by a person, but by the Democratic Party. He reminds listeners of all the good the party did for farmers and labor, as well as international accomplishments such as the removal of trade barriers and the establishment of a foreign aid program. He even uses progonoi, describing the Democratic party as one that has always been good - "the Democratic party is the people's party...it always has been and always will be." He refers to predecessors of the Democratic party, such as "that great Democratic President, Woodrow Wilson". He goes on to talk about how the Republican Congress impeded his efforts to improve the country, and shares his plan to try to get them to pass some new laws.
He speaks about the Democratic Party much in the same way that similar speeches speak of the United States, saying "we are now the defenders of the stronghold of democracy and of equal opportunity." With these words, he indicates that the Democratic party is heroic (politeia) and that current democrats can uphold the heroic legacy left by their predecessors (arete). It can be seen as parallel to his 1945 speech discussed above, but rather than calling upon Americans to defend the world against the evils of Germany and Japan, he is calling upon Democrats to defend America against the evils of the Republican party.
Republican Nomination
Thomas E. Dewey was chosen as the republican nominee for the 1948 election. He had also been the party's nominee in 1944, and was considered a leader of the Republican Party. Though many found him cold and unlikeable on a personal level, he had won the 1946 Gubernatorial Election by a wide margin. His running mate was the popular Earl Warren, Governor of California.
The republican platform called for public debt reduction, opposed racial segregation, a constitutional amendment for equal rights for women, and eventual statehood for Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. In foreign policy, the republicans planned to strengthen the United Nations, establish friendship with China, and recognize Israel.
Democratic Nomination
Truman managed to win the democratic nomination, though the democratic national convention was controversial; the Democratic platform supported the desegregation of the military, a policy strongly opposed by Southern Democrats. Some of them even left the Convention in protest, and later formed a States' Rights Party, known as the Dixiecrats, with South Carolina's Governor Strom Thurmond as their nominee for president. The liberal Democrats also defected, forming the Progressive Party and nominating Henry Wallace as their presidential candidate.
For much of the time leading up to the election, things didn't look good
for Truman. Opinion polls indicated that Truman was far behind Dewey,
and some democrats were lending their support to either the Progressive
or States' Rights Parties. Some of the Democratic party bosses tried to
get rid of Truman and nominate someone more popular. Interestingly,
Eisenhower was seriously considered as a nominee for both
the democratic and republican parties, but refused to be a candidate
for either party.
Despite serious doubt from others, Truman believed he could win the 1948 election. In February of that year, at a dinner in Washington, D.C., he proclaimed "I will tell you who is going to be the next president of the United States. You are looking at him right now!" The rest of the nation was not convinced, however; everyone predicted that Dewey would win. The Chicago Daily Tribune was so certain of a Republican victory that they decided on election night to distribute a paper with the headline "Dewey defeats Truman". Faced with a three-way split in the Democratic Party, Truman's confidence seemed groundless. His victory in the 1948 election is widely considered "the greatest election upset in American history."
Electoral Results
red: Dewey, 189 electoral votes, 21,969,170 popular votes
yellow: Thurmond, 39 electoral votes, 1,169,021 popular votes
The Truman Campaign
Truman embarked on an ambitious national campaign, giving speeches in more than 250 cities. He criticized the "do-nothing, good-for-nothing Republican congress" and and blamed them for the passage of the anti-labor Taft-Hartley act. He was relentless in his criticizing and even ridiculing Dewey and the Republican party.His campaign was exciting, with the crowd frequently yelling out "Give 'em hell, Harry!" in response to his vigorous speeches. His campaign slogans included "With Truman for Civil Rights", "Beat High Prices", and "Phooey on Dewey".
In the early months of the campaign, Truman's campaign appearances were accompanied by the sound of the Missouri Waltz, an association that Truman didn't seem to enjoy. In July of 1948, one band, which had not been given instruction on what to play, chose a Broadway tune, "I'm Just Wild About Harry".
One of Truman's aides, seeing how pleased Truman was at the change, contacted the song's composers, requesting permission to make the song the official Truman campaign song. The composers Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake were black Americans and active NAACP members were supportive of Truman, granting his campaign permission to use the song and even changing a few lyrics to show support for Truman's decision to desegregate the armed forces.
The new lyrics said “I’m just wild about Harry And Harry’s wild about me. The fates decreed it, and I agreed it, Harry made history!” Blake was later quoted saying "Mr. Truman integrated the armed forces. I would write him an opera if he wanted.” (use the following url to listen to a version of this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV_qpGirp5Y )
Sissle and Blake
In a time when many feared the U.S. might soon enter war against the Soviet Union, the following poster was meant to point out that Truman was a veteran, while Dewey was not.
The Republican Campaign
Dewey's campaign was exceedingly bland by comparison. He was noncommittal on many issues, hoping to avoid any groups within the population. Because of the three-way split in the Democratic party, it was believed that all he needed to do to secure the election was not make any big mistakes. His campaign slogans included "Dewey Gets Things Done", "All 48 in 48' Dewey Warren", and "Truman for Ex-President".
After being sworn in, Truman gave his inaugural address, in which he discussed the ways in which the US would have to lead the world in order to achieve lasting peace. As has been seen in many speeches made by American presidents, the country is portrayed a heroic, a force for good, a defender against evil. He speaks against communism, and highlights the many differences between it and democracy.
Though this is not a eulogy, it does include speech on the good things that America has done (logos/ergon). His speech is very persuasive in its anti-communist zeal and in it Truman explains the plans for fighting against communism while promoting democracy. This speech follows the Greek tradition in that Truman is asking his listeners for support in this fight, asking them to uphold the values that are fundamental to their country.
During his presidency, Truman was known to be an early riser; always awake by 5:30 in the morning. He read multiple newspapers every morning before taking his daily two-mile walk. He used this time to think to himself, and considered his "daily constitutional" an important part of each day.
Truman shared a great deal of correspondence with former president Herbert Hoover during his presidency. Shortly after becoming president, Truman received the following telegram from Hoover:
This was the first contact between the two men. Hoover hoped for an opportunity to become involved again in political affairs, but he knew little of Truman or whether the offer to help would be accepted.
Soon after, Truman sent the following response:
Especially
significant was the hand-written note at the bottom: "I assure you I
shall feel free to call upon you. Thanks for the offer." This suggested
that Truman was indeed open to getting advice from the former
president.
The Truman administration soon found itself dealing with worldwide food problems post WWII. They considered Hoover, who had experience as a famine relief administrator, as someone who would be able to provide valuable insight on the matter. Hoover was eager to be of assistance, but would not go to the White House unless specifically invited by the president. On May 24th, 1945, Truman sent a hand-written letter to Hoover, which read as follows:
My dear Mr. President: --
If you should be in Washington, I would be most happy to talk over the European food situation with you.
Also it would be a pleasure to me to become acquainted with you.
Truman responded by thanking Hoover, both for the memorandum and his visit.
On June 1st, 1945, Truman reflected in his diary on his visit with Hoover, saying:
". . . Saw Herbert Hoover day before yesterday and had a pleasant and constructive conversation on food and the general troubles of U.S. Presidents -- two in particular.
We discussed our prima donnas and wondered what makes 'em. Some of my boys who came in with me are having trouble with their dignity and prerogatives. It's hell when a man gets in close association with the President. Something happens to him . . ."
In the following months, correspondence on various matters continued between the two presidents. In February 1946, Truman asked Hoover to serve on the famine emergency committee, an offer which Hoover was glad to accept. Over the following three months, the two wrote each other frequently regarding the ongoing world food crisis. Hoover traveled to 22 different countries in the course of 57 days, conducting press conferences and spreading awareness. Upon returning from his travels the committee carried out many of his recommendations and he continued to provide insight for the Truman administration.
During Truman's presidency, correspondence between these two men was formal, but polite. Truman was very grateful to Hoover for his work in the famine relief effort, and also undertook the project of restoring Hoover's name to the dam that had been built on the Colorado. In 1930 the dam was named "Hoover Dam", but during the Roosevelt administration there was a great effort to ensure that the dam instead be referred to as "Boulder Dam". In 1947, the name was changed back to "Hoover Dam", a great show of respect for the former president.
The relationship between these two men, however, was not without its rough patches. During the campaign for the presidential election of 1948, Truman made several scathing remarks about Hoover and his time as President. In spite of this, Hoover did not end his contact with the White House, instead continuing to occasionally offer his ideas to the President.
On November 1, 1950, there was an assassination attempt on President Truman. Hoover made a public statement that same day expressing his gratitude that the President was unharmed, and sent Truman a telegram the next day reiterating that message. The President's response read as follows:
Dear Mr. President:
It is impossible to tell you how much your letter of November second means to me. Please know that I am truly grateful for these expressions, especially because they come from you.
This correspondence reflects the growth in their regard and affection for one another.
Upon
Truman's leaving office, there was limited correspondence between the
two men for several years. Their communication was renewed in 1955 when
Truman asked for help in raising money to fund the Truman library. After
that, the two kept in touch, then the only members of the "exclusive
trade union" of former presidents of the United States.
On May 8th, 1957, Truman wrote to Hoover to personally invite the latter to the Truman Library opening. He explained "A more formal announcement is being sent to you, but because of my high regard for you and our common interest in the proper care and use of Presidential papers, I want to add my personal invitation." Hoover attended the opening and gave a brief speech praising Truman's work. Truman later reciprocated by speaking at the dedication of Hoover's library, and the two remained in contact until Hoover's death in 1964.
Truman wrote to Hoover's sons, following their father's death, "I was deeply saddened at the passing of your father. He was my good friend and I was his."
After retiring to Independence, Missouri, Truman occupied himself with writing his memoirs, meeting with visitors, and raising money for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. The library opened in Independence in 1957, and Truman maintained an office inside it for several years. Even after retiring, Truman stayed involved in American politics. He publicly criticized the Eisenhower administration's policies on numerous occasions, and even campaigned against him in 1956. He had better relations with Kennedy, and got along especially well with Johnson. He did not, however, enjoy cordial relations with President Nixon.
Truman was admitted on Dec. 5th, 1972 to the Kansas City Research Hospital and Medical Center due to lung congestion and an irregular heart beat. After being in the hospital for two weeks, he began showing improvements, but he quickly began to deteriorate again. On Christmas morning his condition was critical, and the doctors believed he had only a few hours left to live. He managed to make it through Christmas day, but on the morning of Dec. 26th, Harry Truman took his last breath. He had been in the hospital for 22 days. At 88 years old, he died of old age, doctors saying that there was "a complexity of organic failures causing a collapse of the cardiovascular system."
A
state funeral was held in his hometown of Independence, Missouri. The
president at the time of Truman's death was President Richard Nixon.
Nixon declared the day of the burial to be a day of national mourning,
and also declared that the American flag should be flown at half-mast
for the following thirty days. President Nixon went to Kansas City to
honor Truman by lying a wreath on his coffin, but did not attend the
funeral as the family had requested it be a small, private affair.
At the beginning of his presidency, foreign affairs was one of the things Truman had least experience. However, because of the global circumstances at the time, he had to learn quickly and make important foreign policy decisions. He is mostly strongly remembered for these foreign policy decisions, such as the dropping of the atomic bombs and his tough stance against communism. Though he was widely unpopular at the end of his presidency, he has since earned the admiration of many historians, and is now frequently considered one of the ten best Presidents in US history.
Sources
"Harry S. Truman." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 28 June 2015.
Palmer, Kerry. "The Leadership Genius of Harry Truman." All Things Leadership. N.p., 2 Jan. 2010. Web. 27 June 2015.
"Harry S. Truman Biography." Facts on President Harry S. Truman. Truman Little White House, n.d. Web. 28 June 2015.
"Plain Speaking." Harry S. Truman. Snopes.com, 18 May 2011. Web. 28 June 2015.
"Harry S. Truman." The White House: History and Grounds. The White House, n.d. Web. 28 June 2015.
Krock, Arthur. "President Roosevelt Is Dead; Truman to Continue Policies; 9th Crosses Elbe, Nears Berlin." Editorial. The New York Times 13 Apr. 1945: 1. On This Day. The New York Times. Web. 24 June 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0412.html>.
This was the first contact between the two men. Hoover hoped for an opportunity to become involved again in political affairs, but he knew little of Truman or whether the offer to help would be accepted.
Soon after, Truman sent the following response:
The Truman administration soon found itself dealing with worldwide food problems post WWII. They considered Hoover, who had experience as a famine relief administrator, as someone who would be able to provide valuable insight on the matter. Hoover was eager to be of assistance, but would not go to the White House unless specifically invited by the president. On May 24th, 1945, Truman sent a hand-written letter to Hoover, which read as follows:
My dear Mr. President: --
If you should be in Washington, I would be most happy to talk over the European food situation with you.
Also it would be a pleasure to me to become acquainted with you.
Most
sincerely
HARRY S. TRUMAN
HARRY S. TRUMAN
This
letter was especially significant for Hoover, as it ended his long
separation from the White House and public service. The invitation
initiated a close collaboration and friendship which would serve the
self-interest of both men.
Hoover
accepted the President's invitation and set up a meeting. The two met
on May 28th, 1945 and discussed various international issues, primarily
the need for food relief in Europe. Hoover advised that the military
should, at least for a time, take charge of administering the food
program. Truman accepted the advice, asking Hoover to set this up with
the Secretary of War, Henry Stimson. Following this meeting, Hoover wrote up and sent to Truman a memorandum on various issues that they had discussed.
Truman responded by thanking Hoover, both for the memorandum and his visit.
On June 1st, 1945, Truman reflected in his diary on his visit with Hoover, saying:
". . . Saw Herbert Hoover day before yesterday and had a pleasant and constructive conversation on food and the general troubles of U.S. Presidents -- two in particular.
We discussed our prima donnas and wondered what makes 'em. Some of my boys who came in with me are having trouble with their dignity and prerogatives. It's hell when a man gets in close association with the President. Something happens to him . . ."
Truman and Hoover at their first meeting
May 28th, 1945
In the following months, correspondence on various matters continued between the two presidents. In February 1946, Truman asked Hoover to serve on the famine emergency committee, an offer which Hoover was glad to accept. Over the following three months, the two wrote each other frequently regarding the ongoing world food crisis. Hoover traveled to 22 different countries in the course of 57 days, conducting press conferences and spreading awareness. Upon returning from his travels the committee carried out many of his recommendations and he continued to provide insight for the Truman administration.
Hoover reporting to Truman following his trip to South America
During Truman's presidency, correspondence between these two men was formal, but polite. Truman was very grateful to Hoover for his work in the famine relief effort, and also undertook the project of restoring Hoover's name to the dam that had been built on the Colorado. In 1930 the dam was named "Hoover Dam", but during the Roosevelt administration there was a great effort to ensure that the dam instead be referred to as "Boulder Dam". In 1947, the name was changed back to "Hoover Dam", a great show of respect for the former president.
Political cartoon depicting Ickes trying to remove
the "Hoover" from Hoover Dam.
The relationship between these two men, however, was not without its rough patches. During the campaign for the presidential election of 1948, Truman made several scathing remarks about Hoover and his time as President. In spite of this, Hoover did not end his contact with the White House, instead continuing to occasionally offer his ideas to the President.
On November 1, 1950, there was an assassination attempt on President Truman. Hoover made a public statement that same day expressing his gratitude that the President was unharmed, and sent Truman a telegram the next day reiterating that message. The President's response read as follows:
Dear Mr. President:
It is impossible to tell you how much your letter of November second means to me. Please know that I am truly grateful for these expressions, especially because they come from you.
Very
sincerely yours,
HARRY S. TRUMAN
I
hope you are in good health.HARRY S. TRUMAN
This correspondence reflects the growth in their regard and affection for one another.
On May 8th, 1957, Truman wrote to Hoover to personally invite the latter to the Truman Library opening. He explained "A more formal announcement is being sent to you, but because of my high regard for you and our common interest in the proper care and use of Presidential papers, I want to add my personal invitation." Hoover attended the opening and gave a brief speech praising Truman's work. Truman later reciprocated by speaking at the dedication of Hoover's library, and the two remained in contact until Hoover's death in 1964.
Truman wrote to Hoover's sons, following their father's death, "I was deeply saddened at the passing of your father. He was my good friend and I was his."
After retiring to Independence, Missouri, Truman occupied himself with writing his memoirs, meeting with visitors, and raising money for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. The library opened in Independence in 1957, and Truman maintained an office inside it for several years. Even after retiring, Truman stayed involved in American politics. He publicly criticized the Eisenhower administration's policies on numerous occasions, and even campaigned against him in 1956. He had better relations with Kennedy, and got along especially well with Johnson. He did not, however, enjoy cordial relations with President Nixon.
Ex-President Truman with visitors at his desk in his
presidential library in Independence, Missouri.
Unlike
many other former presidents, Truman had relatively little personal
wealth. In the years following his presidency, he was living primarily
off of an army pension. His financial situation is believed to be one of
the main reasons that congress passed the Former Presidents Act in
1958, which allotted former presidents a pension of $25,000 per year.
The only other living ex-president at the time was Herbert Hoover, who did not
suffer the same financial difficulties. However, Hoover accepted the pension in order to avoid embarrassing Truman.
Truman after retirement.
Truman also
became the first member of Medicare in 1965. Truman fought long and hard
for Federal Health plans during his presidency, but to no avail. When
Johnson later got the bill through congress, he chose to go to
Independence and sign the Medicare Act in the Truman library. Truman was
then enrolled and for the rest of his life was the holder of Medicare
card number 1, which was used to help pay for his lengthy hospital
visits at the end of his life.
President Johnson signs the Medicare Act into law
with ex-President Truman seated beside him.
Truman was admitted on Dec. 5th, 1972 to the Kansas City Research Hospital and Medical Center due to lung congestion and an irregular heart beat. After being in the hospital for two weeks, he began showing improvements, but he quickly began to deteriorate again. On Christmas morning his condition was critical, and the doctors believed he had only a few hours left to live. He managed to make it through Christmas day, but on the morning of Dec. 26th, Harry Truman took his last breath. He had been in the hospital for 22 days. At 88 years old, he died of old age, doctors saying that there was "a complexity of organic failures causing a collapse of the cardiovascular system."
Announcement of the ex-President's death.
President Nixon arriving to pay his respects to the
former president.
At the beginning of his presidency, foreign affairs was one of the things Truman had least experience. However, because of the global circumstances at the time, he had to learn quickly and make important foreign policy decisions. He is mostly strongly remembered for these foreign policy decisions, such as the dropping of the atomic bombs and his tough stance against communism. Though he was widely unpopular at the end of his presidency, he has since earned the admiration of many historians, and is now frequently considered one of the ten best Presidents in US history.
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