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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).

July 31, 1945 [Released July 31, 1945. Dated July 28, 1945] To the House of Representatives: I return herewith, without my approval, H.R. 3477, a bill "Authorizing the improvement of certain harbors in the interest of commerce and navigation…
April 19, 1950 [Released April 19, 1950. Dated April 18, 1950] My dear Mr. Speaker: I fully share the concern of the House of Representatives for the thousands of children removed from Greece to eastern Europe by the communist guerrilla…
April 19, 1950 I HAVE today signed S. 2734, a bill authorizing a long-range economic rehabilitation program for the Navajo and Hopi Indian Tribes. The passage of this act is an important milestone in our Government's administration of Indian affairs. It…
April 26, 1951 To the Congress of the United States: I recommend that the Congress extend for two years the Defense Production Act of 1950, which is now scheduled to expire on June 30, 1951. I also recommend that the Act be strengthened in…
April 12, 1952 THE House Judiciary Committee by resolution adopted January 29, 1952, established a special subcommittee to conduct an inquiry of specific allegations and complaints, based upon credible evidence determined by the subcommittee, with…
August 2, 1945 I. REPORT ON THE TRIPARTITE CONFERENCE OF BERLIN ON JULY 17, 1945, the President of the United States of America, Harry S. Truman, the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,…
May 3, 1949 Mr. Secretary, and members of the farm press: I am most happy to have you here and to meet all of you. I know that you are interested in the welfare of the people who produce the food and clothing from the soil in this country,…
April 30, 1946 Dear Senator Murray: It has been most gratifying to observe the deep interest displayed and the progress made by the Senate Education and Labor Committee under your Chairmanship in the conduct of the hearings on S. 1606, the…
May 13, 1947 [Released May 13, 1947. Dated May 12, 1947] I THANK YOU for your courteous message sent me upon your departure from the United States. The visit which you and your distinguished companions have graciously paid to me and to the people of the…
May 5, 1948 To the Congress of the United States of America: I am transmitting herewith the first quarterly report of expenditures and activities under the United States Foreign Aid Program authorized by Public Law 389 of the 80th Congress,…
May 6, 1948 THANK YOU very much, Mr. Johnston, for that cordial introduction. I appreciate it. I also appreciate the privilege of being with you today to discuss with you some of your problems as I see them--express my own point of view on a subject…
August 4, 1945 [Released August 4, 1945. Dated July 31, 1945] To the House of Representatives: I return herewith, without my approval, H.R. 3549, "To provide for the conveyance of certain Weather Bureau property to Norwich University,…
May 3, 1949 FOUR YEARS AGO on March 29, 1945, President Roosevelt announced the selection of Gen. Lucius D. Clay for service in Military Government in Germany. Historically the Army has had a great tradition of constructive achievement in the government…
May 13, 1947 THE WAR and Navy Departments recently began their inquiries to determine the wishes of the next of kin concerning the final burial of the men and women who gave their lives in our country's service during World War II. In compliance with…
April 30, 1946 I AM VERY HAPPY that the request which I made for the immediate admission of 100,000 Jews into Palestine has been unanimously endorsed by the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry. The transference of these unfortunate people should now be…
April 30, 1951 Sir: I transmit herewith for the consideration of the Congress my budget recommendations for the military functions of the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1952. My recommendations for appropriations…
April 20, 1950 Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, members of the American Society of Newspaper Editors: I am happy to be here today with this group of editors. You and I have a great many important problems in common, and one of the most important of…
April 14, 1952 My dear Mr. Secretary: The mounting toll of traffic accidents on our highways is one of the more serious problems confronting our Nation today. While the continuing efforts made by individuals, organizations, Federal, State and…
May 14, 1947 To the Congress of the United States: I have today signed H.R. 2157, the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947. The primary purpose of this Act is to relieve employers and the Government from potential liability for billions of dollars in so-called "…
May 6, 1948 THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make to you today. If you want to ask any questions, I will try to answer them. [1.] Q. What are the prospects for preventing the railroad strike, now that Mr. Steelman has gone into action…
April 14, 1952 It gives me much pleasure indeed to welcome you to this country of ours, and I hope you will get as much pleasure out of your citizenship in this country as I have had in helping you to get here. This country of ours is a magnificently…
August 6, 1945 SIXTEEN HOURS AGO an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base. That bomb had more power than 20,000 tons of T.N.T. It had more than two thousand times the blast power of the British "Grand Slam"…
May 5, 1949 THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have only one announcement to make. I am accepting the resignation of Mr. Kenney, the Under Secretary of the Navy.1 He will serve until his successor is appointed and confirmed. I have no one under consideration for his…
May 1, 1946 CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE MEDAL FOR MERIT TO JULIUS A. KRUG JULIUS A. KRUG, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as a member and as Chairman of the War Production Board from June 1941…
May 3, 1951 [Released May 3, 1951 Delivered April 27, 1951] FOR THE LAST several weeks many of you gentlemen have been involved in an intensive effort to develop the military budget for 1952. That budget represents one of the most significant programing…