Public Papers
The Public Papers of Harry S. Truman contain most of President Truman's public messages, statements, speeches, and news conference remarks. Documents such as Proclamations, Executive Orders, and similar documents that are published in the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations, as required by law, are usually not included. The documents within the Public Papers are arranged in chronological order. President Truman delivered the remarks or addresses from Washington, D. C., unless otherwise indicated. The White House in Washington issued statements, messages, and letters unless noted otherwise. (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Harry S. Truman, 1945-1953. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1966)
The Public Papers contain items such as the Statement by the President Announcing the Use of the A-Bomb at Hiroshima (August 6, 1945), the Special Message to the Congress on Greece and Turkey: The Truman Doctrine (March 12, 1947), the White House Statement Announcing Recognition of the Government of Israel (January 31, 1949), the Statement and Order by the President on Relieving General MacArthur of His Commands (April 11, 1951), and The President's Farewell Address to the American People (January 15, 1953).
April 22, 1952
To the Congress of the United States:
I am transmitting to the Congress for approval the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, adopted by the people of Puerto Rico on March 3, 1952.
The Constitution has been…
June 2, 1947
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith a certified photostatic copy of an agreement, executed by the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio,…
May 4, 1950
[Released May 4, 1950. Dated May 3, 1950]
PLEASE ACCEPT my sincere thanks for the kind message you have sent me upon your departure from New Orleans. It was indeed a great pleasure for me and for Mrs. Truman to welcome you and your lovely…
May 7, 1946
CITATION FOR THE LEGION OF MERIT
MAJOR GENERAL Ulysses S. Grant III as Director of Civilian Protection and Chief, Protection Branch, United States Office of Civilian Defense from July 1942 to April 1944 displayed marked ability in devising…
May 20, 1948
Mr. President, distinguished guests, and members of this great school:
It is a pleasure for me to be here today on the 198th anniversary of the birth of Stephen Girard, one of the country's great. It is also a pleasure to me to…
May 19, 1949
Dear Mr. Firestone:
I very much appreciate your report on the organization of the new peacetime USO. As I told you in our conference today, it will have the complete backing of the Government. It is good to know that the six…
May 15, 1951
To the House of Representatives:
I return herewith, without my approval, H.R. 3096, a bill "Relating to the acquisition and disposition of land and interests in land by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Federal Civil Defense Administration."…
May 19, 1949
I APPRECIATE that most highly. I want to say to you gentlemen that I hope you will have a pleasant time. You are most, most welcome here. Our only difficulty is finding the means to meet the precedent for courtesy which was set in Brazil. I…
May 7, 1946
THE GOVERNMENT of the United States is doing its best to take care of the food crisis in Europe at the present time, and UNRRA functions especially for this purpose. But individual Americans and groups of us can also send packages to friends…
May 4, 1950
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated, gentlemen.
[1.] I changed the arrangement around a little bit, and we have set some microphones around all over the place so that everybody can hear. I think this will probably be a more satisfactory…
May 21, 1948
To the Congress of the United States:
Alaska is our last great frontier area, and has the capacity to provide new opportunities for many thousands of our citizens. It contains known resources of food, timber and minerals of…
April 23, 1952
Dear Mr. Chairman:
I have been advised that a small quantity of petroleum exploration equipment was shipped from the Netherlands to Poland after the effective date of the Mutual Defense Assistance Control Act of 1951 (the…
June 3, 1947
THE ARGENTINE Ambassador, who has just returned from Argentina, reviewed with the President and the Secretary of State the steps which his government has taken and is continuing to take in fulfillment of its commitments undertaken in the…
August 16, 1945
By the President of the United States of America a Proclamation:
The war lords of Japan and the Japanese armed forces have surrendered. They have surrendered unconditionally. Three months after victory in Europe victory has…
May 20, 1949
THE PLACING in service of this additional generator, which today makes Grand Coulee Dam our biggest producer of hydroelectric power, is indeed an historic event. This is one more of the many steps necessary in harnessing the almost…
April 24, 1952
To the Congress of the United States:
I am transmitting herewith for the attention of the Congress the first Annual Report of the Federal Civil Defense Administration.
This is a comprehensive report on a most important subject…
August 16, 1945
THE PRESIDENT. Well, I called this press conference at the suggestion of Mr. Ross, because I thought you hadn't all had a chance to look me in the face or ask me any impertinent questions. [Laughter] I haven't anything that you would…
May 5, 1950
To the Congress of the United States:
I wish to bring to the attention of the Congress some major problems of small and independent businesses, and propose several important steps which should be taken to help them solve these…
May 15, 1951
I HAVE today approved S. 998, "To facilitate the financing of the defense contracts by banks and other financing institutions, to amend the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, and for other purposes."
I have signed this bill because it is…
June 4, 1947
My dear Mr._________:
On October 23, 1945, I recommended to the Congress the enactment of a system of universal training. From the extensive discussion which followed, it was obvious that there was great disparity of viewpoint…
May 8, 1946
General Fleming, ladies and gentlemen:
You are answering a call of last December to come to Washington from every State, determined to find ways and means of making our streets and highways safer. Your response to the call is…
May 21, 1948
I HAVE today signed H.R. 6226 providing funds for the procurement of military aircraft. The prompt action taken by Congress, on my request for legislation authorizing the immediate availability of funds included in the 1949 budget, and…
May 24, 1948
To the Congress of the United States:
I wish to urge upon the Congress the necessity for action at this session to strengthen our system for the protection of our people from the hazards of economic insecurity. We must not let…
April 24, 1952
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
I have a word or two for you before we start the questions.
[1.] There has been a lot of hooey about the seizure of the press and the radio. As I told you last week, the President of the United…
May 6, 1950
[Released May 6, 1950. Dated May 5, 1950]
My dear Senator O'Mahoney:
I am highly gratified by the thorough and objective consideration which your committee is giving to H.R. 331 and H.R. 49, bills which would enable the…