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 29, 1948
THE PRESIDENT. I have a statement I want to read to you. I have been cautioned to read it very slowly by several of you. I will read it as slowly as I can. It is mimeographed and will be ready for you as soon as you go out.
[1.] "On April…
April 28, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
I submit herewith, for the consideration of the Congress, the Charter for an International Trade Organization, prepared by a conference of the United Nations which met in Havana in 1948,…
April 10, 1952
THE PRESIDENT. Good morning. Please be seated.
[1.] I want to make an announcement about next week's press conference. It will be held down here in the Natural History Building at 10th and Constitution Avenue. It will be a…
July 27, 1945
Dear Alben:
Today marks the eighth anniversary of your service as Majority Leader of the Senate. I understand that this is twice as
long as any of your predecessors have served. These years have been eventful ones. They have…
April 18, 1950
I HAVE had a very satisfactory talk with Secretary Acheson and Senator Bridges, who is the ranking Republican of the Senate in Senator Vandenberg's absence. We discussed a number of the more important problems facing this Nation in the…
May 1, 1948
Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
It is a pleasure to me to be with you tonight, and to listen, as I like to do, to the Marine Band. I was highly pleased with that barber shop quartette. I understood their…
April 11, 1952
On April 15, 1952, associations in many countries dedicated to art, science, and scholarship will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Leonardo da Vinci, the illustrious Italian painter, sculptor, inventor, scientist, and…
May 9, 1947
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress supplemental estimates of appropriation for the fiscal year 1947 for the Civil Service Commission in the amount of $16,160,000, and for the Department…
April 28, 1949
THE PRESIDENT. I have got an announcement or two to make this morning.
[1.] Maj. Gen. Philip Fleming, Federal Works Administrator, will be appointed to the Maritime Commission; and when he is confirmed he will be made Chairman…
April 25, 1946
My dear Judge Hutcheson:
I have received the report of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine which you and the other American members of that Committee transmitted to me under cover of your letter of April 20,…
April 20, 1951
My dear Dr. Buckley:
For some time, I have been considering the best means whereby scientists of the country could be assisted and encouraged in their participation in the mobilization program. At the same time, I have been…
January 12, 1951
Dr. Rusk, ladies and gentlemen:
I appreciate that introduction, and I hope I can deserve it.
I am vitally interested in what you are trying to do. I have always been interested in physical and mental health. I think it is…
April 23, 1945
THE GOVERNMENTS of the United Kingdom, United States of America and U.S.S.R., on
behalf of all the United Nations at war with Germany, hereby issue a solemn warning to all
commandants and guards in charge of Allied prisoners of war,…
January 15, 1948
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have one announcement for you. Mr. Vincent Burke, the Postmaster of Washington, will be the First Assistant Postmaster General. And his background is available for you after the conference, if you want it. He has…
January 15, 1947
YOU HAVE a vitally important job. We are none of us entirely familiar with just how far the Federal Government under the Constitution has a right to go in these civil rights matters.
I want our Bill of Rights implemented in fact. We…
January 9, 1950
[Released January 9, 1950. Dated January 3, 1950]
To the Congress of the United States:
I am transmitting my recommendations for the Budget of the United States for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951.
This Budget is a…
January 10, 1946
I HAVE RECEIVED and am releasing for publication the report of the Fact-Finding Board appointed in the General Motors dispute. The Board makes the following recommendations:
1. That the Company grant a general wage increase of 19½ cents…
January 13, 1949
To the Senate of the United States:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith a certified copy of the Charter of the Organization of American States, formulated at the…
January 12, 1952
OUR NATION'S top strategists have long since recognized that total defense plans are necessary for our survival. No longer can we rely on the strength-of-arms alone if a global war is thrust upon us.
America's strength rests on the will…
May 2, 1949
IT IS a pleasure to meet you. The work that you are doing in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture has been exceedingly helpful, not only in implementing the farm program but in keeping it going after it has been implemented.
We are…
April 30, 1946
I HAVE TODAY signed H.R. 5856 and S. 1610, the two bills which constitute the heart of the program for Philippine Rehabilitation and Recovery.
On October 6, 1943, President Roosevelt called upon the Congress "to make provision to…
May 13, 1947
THE PRESIDENT. Well, it's good to have you here. As I told you all on several occasions, there is nothing much that I can tell you. You are always telling me what to do! Very frankly, I think every one of you has given me the right advice…
April 11, 1952
IT HAS been my pleasure this morning to present Medals of Honor to 1st Lt. Lloyd Burke, United States Army, Cpl. Rodolfo Hernandez, United States Army, and T. Sgt. Harold E. Wilson of the United States Marine Corps.
These are wonderful…
May 4, 1948
To the Senate:
I am returning herewith, without my approval, S. 1304 "To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of Minnesota as a Territory of the United…
April 26, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
[1.] Before you start off, I think maybe I'd better remind you of a statement that I made in a speech on April 11th.1 I want to quote one paragraph, and it covers the Far Eastern situation…