Harry S. Truman

Paper Summary:

The paper describes the political and social background of Harry S. Truman, his inexperience and his sudden appointment as president. The paper explains that Truman walked into a presidency characterized by landmines, disruption, war, change and the Soviet threat, with little advisory framework in place to support his administration. The paper relates that while Truman was very unpopular at the time he left the presidency in 1953, his contributions were appreciated more in later years.

Outline:
Introduction
No Warning and No Time To Prepare
Political and Social Background of Harry S. Truman
Inexperienced and New
Truman: End To Fascism and Police Government
Tried To Please Everybody, Satisfied Nobody
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Former President Harry S. Truman's life changed with five mere words and so did the face of world politics on the day that upon entering Eleanor Roosevelt's sitting room at the White House and was informed: "Harry, the President is Dead." (Donovan, 1996) April 12, 1945 was a day that was quiet in Washington D.C. and in fact it had rained all afternoon. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had stopped in Warm Springs, Georgia for a rest after returning from the Big Three Conference in Yalta at the Crimea. (Donovan, 1996; paraphrased) "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Szilard, Leo (1960) Interview: President Truman Did Not Understand. U.S. News & World Report, 15 August 1960 pp 68-71.
• Neustadt, Richard (1960 ) Presidential Power and the Modern President. Alpha.Fdu. Edu. Online available at http://www.cybersisman.com/civicshonors/unit2/neustadt.pdf
• Sitkoff, Harvard (1971) Harry Truman and the Election of 1948: The Coming Age of Civil Rights in American Politics. The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 37 No. 4 pp. 597-616
• Gardner, Michael R. (2002) Harry Truman and Civil Rights: Moral Courage and Political Risks. Southern Illinois University Press.
• Poen, Monte M. (1996) Harry S. Truman Versus the Medical Lobby: The Genesis of Medicine. University of Missouri Press. 1996.

More papers on Harry S. Truman:

• Term Paper # 133172 : "Harry S. Truman"
• Term Paper # 103767 : "Harry S. Truman: Challenges and Achievements"
• Essay # 2666 : "Harry S. Truman"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: