Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the Unites States, was born in Lamar, Missouri in 1884, and died in Kansas City. Missouri in 1972 at the age of 88.
Truman became president on April 12, 1945 following the death of President Franklyn D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt was a hard act to follow, and Truman’s ascendency to the position was viewed with trepidation in many quarters.
Nevertheless, Truman took some monumental decisions, including the use of the first Atomic Bomb against Japan. Historical revisionism has caused that act to become controversial.
Although that action led to the ending of the Second World War, Truman had to deal with the aftermath of the conflict, particularly the increased tensions with the Soviet Union and the start of what was termed “the Cold War”.
During the First World War, Truman saw combat in France as an artillery officer. He was first elected to public office as a county official, and in 1935 became a U.S. senator. Truman contributed to the founding of the United Nations and issued the Truman Doctrine to contain communism. He was involved in the creation of NATO in 1949 and sent U.S. troops to defend South Korea after it was invaded by North Korea in 1950.
Assessments of Truman’s presidency were initially negative, but with the passage of time has come the realization that he was a good president who achieved much.
Browse these quotes of Harry S. Truman to understand a little about his wit and wisdom:
- A leader in the Democratic Party is a boss, in the Republican Party he is a leader.
- It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
- I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
- I never gave anybody hell! I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.
- Always be sincere, even if you don’t mean it.
- The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.
- A bureaucrat is a Democrat who holds some office that a Republican wants.
- The buck stops here!
- If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
- A President cannot always be popular.
- All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it.
- A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who’s been dead for 15 years.
These saying give an indication of the wit and wisdom of Harry S. Truman.
How do you rate him as a president? Are you old enough to remember the world situation when he became president?
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