Harry Truman

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the life and presidency of Harry Truman. It begins by describing his life before he became President of the United States and then goes on to describe the events leading up to his taking over after the death of President Roosevelt in 1945. The paper discusses his choices during his presidency, particularly that of dropping the atomic bomb in 1945 and it discusses his leadership and decision-making abilities, as well as the secret to his success as a president.

From the Paper:

"Their wedding began a 53-year union that would only end with Harry's death in 1972 at the age of 88. All throughout their marriage Harry continued to write letters to his beloved Bess. Historian Gesselbracht quotes another from 1948, "On June 28, 1948, Harry and Bess's twenty-ninth anniversary, Bess got a short letter from Harry. 'You still are on the pedestal where I placed you that day in Sunday school 1890. What an old fool I am.'" Fool or not, these romantic and sentimental letters show another side to America's 33rd president. They show that a great leader can still be loving, considerate, and devoted. They also show the great importance of healthy personal relationships for anyone in the public life. At a time when so many relationships last days instead of years, it is refreshing and inspiring to read again the loving words of Harry Truman. His love for Bess clearly helped him through difficult times, and made the joyous times even better."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Author not Available. Biography of Harry S. Truman, accessed 27 March 2006; available from the White House, http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ht33.html; Internet.
• Daniel, Margaret Truman. "23 Reminiscences," In Harry S. Truman: The Man from Independence. Edited by Levantrosser, William F., 369-370. New York: Greenwood Press, 1986.
• Gesselbracht, Ray. "The Love Story of Harry and Bess Truman." White House Studies 1, no. 2 (2001): 253+.
• Hillman, William, and Harry Truman. Mr. President: The First Publication from the Personal Diaries, Private Letters, Papers, and Revealing Interviews of Harry S. Truman, Thirty-Second President of the United States of America. New York: Farrar, Straus and Young, 1952.
• Levantrosser, William F., ed. Harry S. Truman: The Man from Independence. New York: Greenwood Press, 1986.

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