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Who is Harry Truman?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Harry Truman, or Harry S. Truman, was the thirty-third President of the United States. Before becoming President of the United States, Harry Truman was Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Upon the death of Roosevelt, Truman took over the Presidency. Truman served two terms in the office. During his first term, 1945 through 1949, he did not have a Vice President. In his following term from 1949 through 1953, however, his Vice President was Alben W. Barkley.

Harry Truman faced a number of domestic challenges as President of the United States. He faced economic troubles including severe shortages and numerous strikes. Upon his executive orders, the United States Armed Forces began a process of desegregation. Truman also faced the task of removing thousands of government officials from office for showing sympathy or adherence to the Communist movement. Because Truman was against mandatory loyalty oaths for government officials, however, some political groups accused him of being soft on Communism, even though he did proclaim the Truman Doctrine to Contain Communism. There was evident corruption in the Truman administration. Even senior White House staff were implicated.

A replica of the "Fat Man" atom bomb, which Truman ordered to be detonated over Nagasaki.
A replica of the "Fat Man" atom bomb, which Truman ordered to be detonated over Nagasaki.

Truman’s presidency was certainly not a quiet one. In addition to managing troubles on home soil, he also saw many major events take place in foreign affairs. While Harry Truman was in office, America claimed victory over Germany, saw the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II. Of course, before Japan surrendered, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed. During his time in office, the United Nations were founded, NATO was created, the Korean War began, and the Cold War began. He also developed the Marshall Plan, or the European Recovery Programme. At the heart of this plan was the intention of rebuilding post World War II Europe and repelling Communism.

Harry Truman.
Harry Truman.

Harry Truman was born on 8 May 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. On 28 June 1919, he married Bess Wallace. The couple had one daughter, Margaret, who was born on 17 February 1924. He passed away on 26 December 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 88. Truman was known for his folksy sayings. The popularization of the sayings, “The buck stops here,” and “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” have been attributed to Harry Truman.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for PublicPeople, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for PublicPeople, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Discussion Comments

PurpleSpark

@CellMania: The Attorney General recommended to the President that Collazo have his sentence reduced to time served. The decision was based on the fact that Collazo had been eligible for parole since April 1966 and he was no longer a threat. Also, President Carter thought it would be a good humanitarian gesture.

CellMania

Why did President Carter release Collazo in 1979?

alex94

@StormyKnight: There was a failed attempt on President Truman’s life on November 1, 1950, while the President and his family were staying in the Blair-Lee Mansion, due to structural damage in the White House.

Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, two Puerto Rican Nationalists, convinced themselves if they killed Truman, it would start an American Revolution that would lead to the independence of Puerto Rico. It should have been easy for them to do because the President and his family were vulnerable at the Blair-Lee Mansion. Also, if they had read the newspaper and knew the President’s schedule, they could have succeeded. President Truman was to unveil a statue at Arlington National Cemetery and they could have shot him moving to and from the car. Instead, they thought they could charge their way into the Blair-Lee Mansion.

Torresola was killed in a gun battle with the guards and Collazo was wounded. Collazo was sentenced to death, but Truman changed it to life in prison. In 1979, President Carter released Collazo, after only thirty years in prison.

StormyKnight

In this article, there is no mention of an assassination attempt on President Truman. Was there?

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    • A replica of the "Fat Man" atom bomb, which Truman ordered to be detonated over Nagasaki.
      By: Ambuj Saxena
      A replica of the "Fat Man" atom bomb, which Truman ordered to be detonated over Nagasaki.
    • Harry Truman.
      By: Mark Markau
      Harry Truman.
    • Harry Truman authorized the development of the hydrogen bomb.
      By: The Official CTBTO Photostream
      Harry Truman authorized the development of the hydrogen bomb.
    • The United Nations, which is headquartered in New York City, was established during the Truman administration.
      By: Touch
      The United Nations, which is headquartered in New York City, was established during the Truman administration.
    • Harry Truman served two terms in the White House.
      By: David
      Harry Truman served two terms in the White House.
    • In 1947, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall created the Marshall Plan.
      By: laufer
      In 1947, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall created the Marshall Plan.
    • Truman took over the presidency upon the death of Frankin D. Roosevelt.
      Truman took over the presidency upon the death of Frankin D. Roosevelt.