What Does it Take to be a Great President?

created by Anna Eagen, Marc Fleischhauer, & Victoria Mona

 

Harry Truman

 

 

 

Where I Live(ed):

Independence, Missouri

Website:  Official White House Biography

 

About Me:

I was never a great man, but I'd like to think I was a good man. I had humble beginnings, born to farmers and raised in Kansas and Missouri. I took this humility into the presidency when I took office in '45 and it spoke to the nation that a common man of common origins could, indeed, become president. Of course, this came at the cost of a great president. It wasn't my intention to take the presidency, but I like to think I did well with the given situation. My presidency was not easy. I was thrust, unprepared, into the high expectations, the greatness, stigma of being a president of the United States. The desicions I was forced to make were not easy. But I had to do what was necessary at the time to keep America safe and American lives protected. Even looking back, I would not change my decision to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I know it may be hard for other generations to understand, but at least the Second Great War was over. Though seeing America through the end of WWII was stressful and trying, the years the followed proved just as hard... I may not be the most celebrated president (I do not ask that) but at least I saw America through both the good and the bad.

 

Date of Birth:

May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Kansas

Date of Death:

December 26, 1972

Sex:

Male

Political Views:

I support the Democratic party.

 

Religious Views:

Baptist, followed the beliefs of the Masons

 

Years Served as President:

12 April 1945- 1952

Status:

Married to Elizabeth ("Bess") Wallace

Children:

Mary Margaret, born February 17, 1924

Looking for:

Friendship, tokens of the past

Occupations:

Farmer, soldier, failed business man, judge, senator

 

Interests/Hobbies:

Education:

• University of Kansas Law school

 

Favorite Books:

2 volumes of my own personal written ALL BY MYSELF memoirs

 

Favorite Movies:

 N/A

 

Favorite Music:

Singing in the Rain

 

 

Friends:

• BARRINGER, LEWIS T
• BURRUS, RUFUS B
• All my relatives

 

Sports:

• Swimming
• Football
• Baseball

 

 

During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (at home) included:

 

Political

• In 1947, I helped to repeal the Taft-Hartley Bill which hindered union activities.

• Also, in 1947 I passed the National Security Act which created the Department of Defense, added an air force subdepartment, and created the Central Intelligence Agency.

• My administration had to deal with accusations made by Republicans that I had made little effort to clean out Communists from the government.

 

Social

• By executive order, I ended segregation in the military.

• I passed the Fair Employment Practices Committee act, which helped to protect the rights of minorities.

• I introduced the Fair Deal which promised federal aid for education, Social Security, and health insurance.

 

Economic

• I attempted to solve the nation’s agricultural problem by announcing the Brannan Plan which would support all farm products. However, this Plan met little support and was never passed.

• I introduced a large housing project.

• I also introduced the development of natural resources.

 

 

During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (abroad) included:

 

Political

• The war in the Pacific, and the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

• Dealing with Germany’s occupation and the cost of reparations.

• Changed America’s position in foreign affairs from abstention to participation.

 

Social

• I helped to contain the spread of communism.

• I recognized Israel as a state in 1948.

• It was necessary for me to help defend South Korean independence from North Korea’s communistic ideals.

 

Economic

• I helped to pass the Marshall Plan in June 1947, which provided aid for Europe and also set a foothold for American goods.

• Also, my administration introduced the North Atlantic treaty which provided military aid and support to resolve the economic and political problems of Europe.

• I also introduced Point Four, which helped underdeveloped nations with technological aspects, such as water systems and plans for increased crop yields.

 

Looking back at my presidential career, I had to wear several "hats."  Wearing these different "hats," these were my most significant achievements and failures:

 

Commander-in-Chief

Though maybe I should have asked Congress for a declaration of war, I instead took up my right as Commander-in-Chief to help defend South Korean independence from the invasion of North Korea in June 1950, calling the matter a “police action”.

Chief Executive

I reorganized the White House’s staff and also expanded the Executive Office and passed an act that created the Department of Defense.

 

Chief Diplomat

I attended the Potsdam conference which called upon Japan to surrender the war, helped to establish the lines of Poland, and discussed the matter Germany’s occupation and reparations.

Ceremonial Head of State

In 1950, I gave a speech at the tidal basin.

Manager of the Economy

I created the Fair Deal which helped promote general welfare, created housing programs, and attempted to solve the agricultural crisis.

Party Leader

I was a good leader of the Democratic Party, promoting general welfare as well as passing a number of civil rights acts.

National Leader

As the National Leader of the United States of America, I helped bring about the end of World War II, I helped to transition a wartime nation to a peacetime nation, and also promoted the general welfare of my nation, as well as many abroad. 

 

Favorite Quote About Me by a Famous Historian:

"Everybody who gets into serious trouble in the presidency invokes the Truman history and the Truman experience. But there's only one Harry Truman" - Robert Dallek

  

Positive Political Cartoon

 

 

Negative Political Cartoon

 

 

Works Cited:

 "Truman Cartoon." Cartoon. 1945. 10 June 2008 <http://www.picturehistory.com/product/id/3523#>. 

 

"Stalin and Truman Cartoon." Cartoon. 1950. 10 June 2008 <http://www.picturehistory.com/product/id/2226>. 

 

Graff, Henry F., ed. Presidents: A Reference History. 3^rd ed. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 817 pp. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. International Academy High School. 7 May 2008 http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=lom_inac.