Abstract
The paper relates that Harry S. Truman may have been among the least prepared Vice Presidents ever to assume the Presidency. The paper reveals that he had been Vice President for less than three months when Franklin Roosevelt died; during that time he had little contact with the White House and had not been briefed on major strategic issues. The paper also notes that when he asked the grieving Eleanor Roosevelt if he could be of any assistance to her, she pointed out that he was the one who would need the help from that point on.

From the Paper
"Harry S Truman may have been among the least prepared Vice Presidents ever to assume the Presidency. He had been Vice President for less than three months when Franklin Roosevelt died, in 1945; during that time he had little contact with the White House and had not been briefed on major strategic issues, including the atomic bomb project. When he asked the grieving Eleanor Roosevelt if he could be of any assistance to her, she pointed out that he was the one who would need the help from that point on ("Harry S Truman" 1.) Truman's history as a politician of integrity and effectiveness was what..."

Tags:truman, cold war, roosevelt

Abstract
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) "

Tags:atomic, bomb, Soviet, threat, war, change

Abstract
This paper discusses Harry S. Truman's life, as well as his history as a politician. The paper provides a background to his life, but focuses on his achievements as President of the United States. It also discusses Truman's first notable act as President, which was also his most notorious - the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. In addition, the paper describes Truman's other achievements and focuses on the challenges that he had to overcome as president.

From the Paper
"Arthur Schlesinger Sr., the Harvard historian, was noted for (among other accomplishments) his polling of other historians and scholars in order to arrive at a list of "rankings" or ratings of the greatest Presidents in United States history; he conducted such polls in 1948 and again in 1962. His son, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., has followed in the footsteps of his father by conducting an updated poll in 1996. While some critics have noted that the great variance in presidential ranking polls may suggest that they are more subjective than objective (cf. Dean), Schlesinger's placement of Truman at number seven on his list of greatest Presidents may well be a testimony to the difficulties that Truman had to overcome during his two terms in office, and his strong personal intention to do what was necessary to get the country back on a peacetime footing in the face of a brewing Cold War (Schlesinger 179.) Given the subjective nature of such polls, there is no guarantee that Truman will remain in this position in future polls, as history has a way of being reinterpreted and placed into new contexts as new information comes to the surface with the passing of years; as a result, new and fuller perspectives may be expected to arise."

Tags:atomic bomb, politician, vice president, Roosevelt

Abstract
A biography of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman. The author examines his background, increased involvement in politics in his younger years and his political career later on in life.

From the Paper
"Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884. He was the oldest of the three children of John Anderson and Martha Ellen Truman. The middle initial S. in his name is not an abbreviation, but a reflection of his family's reluctance to choose between his grandfathers' names, Shippe and Solomon. His family moved to Independence, Missouri, in 1890, where he had trouble participating in many boyhood activities because of his thick glasses and extreme nearsightedness. Because of this, he became interested in reading and playing the piano. These influenced his career years. His father had financial problems, so he never attended college, and because of his poor eyesight, he could not enroll in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point."

Tags:bess, hiroshima, ii, nagasaki, war, world

Abstract
This paper discusses the presidency of Harry S. Truman, providing information about his terms of office as well as analyzing the Truman Administration. The paper also delves into Truman's terms to determine the success of this great American President.

From the Paper
"The Truman Administration represents two tales of two different opinions of failure and success. Following his exit from the Oval Office, Truman left with the lowest public approval rating in the history of the Presidency. Yet, somehow during the course of the next fifty-five years leading to the present, Truman's image has evolved into one of a prestigious, courageous worker who supported equal rights. How did this happen? How did a man become so beloved even after doing nothing of substantial political merit after leaving at the end of his second term? Two reasons are believable when considering the reason for this surge in approval. First and less likely, is the notion that Truman had a slim chance of overall approval following the magnificent loyalty the country felt towards FDR. The shadow cast by FDR over the Truman regime never allowed for Truman to achieve his potential approval ceiling. It was only after years had passed would American's begin to realize the economic success they enjoyed under the terms of both FDR and Truman. "Time heals all" is the saying I use to describe American perception of Presidential scandal. Clinton and Reagan have slowly been forgiven of the scandals that rocked the White House while they served terms. However, just as slowly, people begin to realize that the administrations, themselves, were a success. This same trend has allowed Truman to escape much of the Communist espionage accusations which plagued public opinion during the end of his final term, perhaps leading to the plunge of his public rating."

Tags:Presidents, economic, activitists

Abstract
The paper outlines Harry S. Truman's presidency and looks at the history of the atomic bomb and the Manhattan Project. The paper explores the motivations and justification behind Truman's decision to bomb Japan's cities and considers the American public's support for this move. The discusses the view that bombing Japan would cost fewer lives than if America invaded Japan, but also considers the opposition of those who were against this type of warfare. The paper addresses the sentiment today about Truman's decision and concludes that whether it was right or wrong, the world must now ensure it never happens again.

Outline:
Harry S. Truman
The First Atomic Bombs
The History of the Atomic Bomb and the Manhattan Project
Motivations, Oppositions and Actions
Earlier Presidential Statement and Other Motivations
Pathway of Truman's Order, President Truman's Own View and Values
Only One Bomb to be Authorized
To Save American and Japanese Lives
Looking Back: Was the Decision Really Necessary?
The Bomb Reverberates Today
Today's Sentiments About Truman's Decision

From the Paper
"The first nuclear fission weapons were made from fissionable materials, uranium tetrafluoride and plutonium nitrate. Both are radioactive and toxic metallic elements. They were brought in from Hanford into a secret laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico in late 1944. Leading physicist Robert Oppenheimer and his fellow chemists gave form to the materials. The produced 1 gun-type uranium bomb, called "Little Boy," and two implosion-type bomb, called "Fat Man." "Little Boy" contained 135 pounds of 90% pure fissionable material, 2 pounds of which were equivalent to 15-16,000 tons of TNT. As the war with Japan proceeded and when a costly allied invasion appeared clearly possible, President Truman approved the use of these nuclear weapons against selected Japanese targets."

Tags:Pearl, Harbor, nuclear, warfare, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Japan, arms, race

Abstract
This paper provides a comparison and contrast of the military and foreign policy views of President Harry S. Truman and General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War, the first limited engagement conflict of the Cold War that would ultimately result in a controversy between the two leaders that witnesses MacArthur being relieved of his command by Truman.

From the Paper
"The Truman-MacArthur Controversy was a conflict between President Harry S. Truman and General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War. (Hirsch Kett Trefil) The controversy occurred during the first major conflict of the Cold War, the war between communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea. Primarily, the controversy revolved around the direction of the Korean War, with MacArthur insisting American air power be used to attack the People's Republic of China in direct opposition to Truman's belief that any U.S. attack on China would..."

Tags:communism, containment, limited engagement, stalemate, China, Soviet Union, foreign policy, Commander-in-Chief, authority

Abstract
The writer of this paper explores the ironic similarities shared by Presidents Truman and Johnson, who both inherited the office of president at the death of their predecessors, both were extremely popular leaders and both died while in office. It is another irony that each president became embroiled in a war in Asia. This paper discusses both wars in detail as well as the events that led up to the conflicts including the fact that the Korean war set a precedent for the Vietnam War. This paper also examines the different leadership styles of both presidents, including the manner in which Truman kept firm control over the military while Johnson accepted most military assessments at face value. This paper also contemplates how these two conflicts effectively ended the public life of both Truman and Johnson, bringing an end to each one's administration.

From the Paper
"Earlier in January, 1968 the Tet Offensive attempt to take over the American Embassy had been a turning point in the war. Five of South Vietnam's six major cities, 36 of its 44 provincial capitals, and 66 of the 242 district towns were attacked. American losses were heavier than ever before, 3,895 men killed in eight weeks. South Vietnamese forces sustained much smaller losses, but there were an estimate 14,000 noncombatant men, women and children who were killed in the campaign. Although the Communist offensive was ultimately to lose 58,000 men in the offensive, the action drew even more dissent at home. The protestors were not now only the radicals and students, but mainstream voters were also increasingly expressing their opposition lining up in a groundswell of support for presidential Robert Kennedy, who pledged to end the war, as were members of the president's cabinet."

Tags:war, asia, vietnam, military, u.s., america, korea, political, president, government, protest

Abstract
In this article, the writer provides an analysis and review of David McCullough's biography of America's 33rd president in 'Truman'. The analysis discusses the personal qualities of Harry S. Truman that McCulloguh argues were responsible for helping a common man with limited education rise to the highest position of power in the free world.

From the Paper
"In 'Truman' David McCullough provides a biography of America's 33rd President Harry S. Truman. McCullough paints the tale of a common man with poor origins and limited education one that suffered business failure and worked as a farmer on his father's farm but still rose to the highest position of power in American government and the free world. Despite Truman's limited time as a senator as President his skillful decision-making made him a natural leader of others. McCullough paints Truman as a man whose common ..."

Tags:government, elections, Dewey, WWII, atomic bomb, NATO, Marshall Plan, Truman Doctrine

Abstract
This paper presents a review of the main development in U.S. history under President Harry S. Truman from 1945-1951. It explores his foreign policy during the post WW II era and shows the many precedents he set. The writer then examines several of the Presidents who took office after Truman and how his foreign policy and legacy influenced their decision making policies. Presidents examined are Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Reagan, Bush and Clinton.

From the Paper
"President Harry S. Truman is considered by many to be one of the greater Presidents of the United States. Truman was Vice President for a few weeks before he became President on April 12, 1945. During his term as Vice President, he saw little of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was not briefed on the development of the atomic bomb or of the United States' problems with Soviet Russia. When he became President, these problems became life. Truman later told reporters, "I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me." (Cochran, 1973)"

Tags:president, american, clinton, reagan, ford, bush, kennedy, eisenhower, cold, war