By Subhash E, Prashanth V,  Yashar D

 

What Does it Take to be a Great President?

 

Harry Truman

 

 

 

Where I Live(ed):

Independence, Missouri

Website: www.trumanlibrary.org

 

About Me:

I saved many lives of Americans by dropping the atomic bomb. I was a soldier in World War I. I also concentrated on many domestic issues as well as foreign issues. For example, i fought for the elmination of discrimination and much more. 

 

Date of Birth:

May 8,1884

 

Date of Death:

December 26,1972

 

Sex:

Male

 

Political Views:

I am in the Democratic Party

 

Religious Views:

I was part of the Baptist Church

 

Years Served as President:

1945-1953

Status:

Married with Elizabeth Wallace in 1919

Children:

Mary Margaret (1924-2008)

Looking for:

musician (piano)

Occupations:

farmer, business man

 

Interests/Hobbies:

• Reading books
• Wrestling
• Swimming
• Piano

 

Education:

• Independence High School

 

Favorite Books:

Great Men and Famous Women, Plutarch and Arthurian romances, biographies of presidentia

 

Favorite Movies:

• The Famous War
• Bells of St. Mary's
• Tree grows in Brooklyn
• Brief Encounter

 

Favorite Music:

• White Christmas
• I'll Fly Away
• Don't Let Anybody Turn You Around
• South Pacific

 

Friends:

• Jim Pendergast
• Mike Pendergast
• Herbert Hoover
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Alben W. Barkley

Sports:

• Wrestling
• Swimming
• Watch baseball

 

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

 

Political

• I had to overcome various emotional problems since I've recieved presidency along with very significant responsiblities. It really challenged my leadership skills which i lacked.
• I had to put up with and solve many strikes, so as a solution I passed the Taft-Hartley Bill in 1947. This bill reduced the power of the Union Leaders which reduced the number of strikes. 
• Since many middle and lower class citizens had problems buying a house, I passed the Housing Act of 1949.

 

Social

• Had to resolve and withstand the people's confused views on the Korean War.

• Poverty and unemployment rates were still high so I passed the Employment Act in 1946 to increase the rates of employment in America.

• I felt segregation had to come to an end. Hence as an attempt to reduce segregation I passed Acts such as Fair Employment Practices Committee to make sure everyone was treated equal.

 

Economic

• There were many shortages of house and consumer production so I passed acts to help promote more labor workers.
• I stopped the labor strike in Washington D.C. by saying that the every striker will be drafted into the armed forces.
• There were many problems with the economy because there was a lot of inflation in the United States due to war demands.

 

 

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

 

Political

• The war against Japan and Germany. Especially the decision of using the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
• Getting the trust of the Japanese and German people by changing America's policy of isolationism in 1947.
• Joining the Korean War in 1950 and aiding the South Korean's government and maintaining independence.

 

Social

• I signed the charter for The Untied Nations promoting peace around the world.

• Persuaded Soviet Union to keep communism to themselves.

• Making sure to be a step ahead of my enemies and realizing their motives. Also aiding and maintaining the relationship with my allies.

 

Economic

• Helping the Allied forces with their economic problems for instance Europe when its economy was falling apart.
• I passed the North Atlantic Treaty and NATO to provide assistance to prevent economic problems.
• Also, I passed the Marshall Plan which helped many European countries that required help due to their economy fall.

 

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

Won the War against the Allied forces (Germany and Japan).

 

Chief Executive

I appointed 4 supreme court justices during my terms.

 

Chief Diplomat

I talked with the British prime minister in order to go on an invasion against Germany and win the war

 

Ceremonial Head of State

I gave medals to the brave generals of the war.

 

Manager of the Economy

I passed many acts to help get rid of the severe shortages in housing and consumer products.

 

Party Leader

I gave many speeches around the country to get reelected, so even though i was expected to lose, i won another term.

 

National Leader

I dropped the atomic bombs in order to end the war and save many lives.

 

Favorite Quote About Me by a Famous Historian:

"Yours has been a friendship which has reached deeped into my life than you know." (Hoover)

 

Positive Political Cartoon

http://www.picturehistory.com/images/products/0/2/2/prod_2226.jpg

 

Negative Political Cartoon

http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/photos/assets/photos/1107.jpg

Works Cited:

•  H. "Truman, Harry S." Presidents: A Reference History. Ed. Henry F. Graff. 3^rd ed. Detroit: Charles Scribner's    Sons, 2002. 445-460. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL.       14 May 2008 

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=lom_inac.

 

• Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Vol.2 Detroit, Gale. pg. 1021-1022
• www.trumanlibrary.org
• www.trumanlibrary.org/hoover/index.html