Harry S. Truman
(April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953)

Born: May 8, 1884
Died: December 26, 1972

Political Party: Democrat
Previous Occupation: Farmer, public official

Elected From: Missouri
Vice President: Alben W. Barkley (1949-53)
Cabinet Members: view list

Other Government Positions:
· Judge on Jackson County Court, 1922-24
· Presiding Judge of Jackson County Court, 1926-34
· United States Senator, 1935-45
· Vice President, 1945 (under F.D. Roosevelt)

Inaugural Address: 1949
Biography: view

Presidential Highlights:
· World War II. Germany surrendered on May 2, 1945 ending the war in Europe. The Allies (England , Soviet Union, and United States) demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender. Japan refused. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The Japanese still refused to surrender. On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki. The next day, Japan offered to surrender. On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II.

· Supported the founding of the United Nations (an international peacekeeping organization).

· Approved the Marshall Plan (financed the rebuilding of Europe). Between 1948 and 1952, the United States made grants and loans to Europe totaling $21 billion.

· Sponsored the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (a military alliance covering the United States and nearly all of Western Europe) to contain the communist threat.

· Announced the Truman Doctrine (committed the United States to "support free peoples" anywhere in the world) to aid nations threatened by communist aggression.

· The Korean Conflict. In June, 1950, North Korea (a communist country) invaded South Korea. President Truman asked the United Nations (UN) to intervene in Korea. The UN consisted mostly of U.S. troops. UN troops pushed North Korea back to the 38th parallel. China came to the aid of North Korea, and they forced the UN troops to retreat to the south. Peace negotiation began in 1951. President Truman never broke the stalemate in Korea.

· Centralized more power in the Executive Branch. Created the council of Economic Advisors (provides the president with economic advice). Increased the size of the White House Staff.

· Approved the National Security Act (coordinates defense and foreign policy for the president) which reorganized the defense agencies, created the Central Intelligence Agency, and created the U.S. Air Force.

· Increased the minimum wage, social security benefits, and farm subsidies. Won federal funding for housing, urban renewal, and aide to education.

Presidential Election:
1945
Death of Franklin Roosevelt

1948
Harry S. Truman303
Thomas E. Dewey189
Strom Thurmond39

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