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 21, 1950
To the Congress of the United States:
In my State of the Union Message in January, I recommended extension of rent control for another year beyond the present expiration date of June 30. Developments since that time have made…
May 2, 1946
To the Congress of the United States:
In this document, for the first time, I am transmitting for congressional consideration the budget programs of all wholly owned Government corporations. The submission of these programs is a…
May 10, 1948
Dear Clint:
I appreciate fully the circumstances which prompt your letter of May seventh. I had hoped that conditions would permit you to continue longer in your present post of responsibility.
Although I do so reluctantly and…
May 14, 1947
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE MEDAL FOR MERIT TO JOHN WESLEY SNYDER
JOHN WESLEY SNYDER, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States from August, 1940 to August, 1943. Mr.…
April 14, 1952
Members of the Council:
It is a pleasure for me to meet with you and to extend to each one of you a personal greeting on this Pan American Day. Today we are celebrating the founding of the Organization of American States, which…
August 8, 1945
THE PRESIDENT. I have only a simple announcement to make. I can't hold a regular press conference today; but this announcement is so important I thought I would call you in.
Russia has declared war on Japan! That is all…
April 24, 1950
Mr. President, distinguished guests, members of the Federal Bar Association:
I am delighted to be at this dinner tonight, and to join in commemorating the 30th anniversary of the founding of this fine organization of Federal lawyers. You…
May 9, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
During the past three months, the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch, established in July 1947, has submitted a series of reports containing its recommendations on steps which…
May 3, 1951
IT IS a very great pleasure for me this morning to have the privilege of meeting you gentlemen. I hope you are having a pleasant visit in this country of ours, and that you will find out some things for yourselves that when you go back you…
May 12, 1949
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] Gentlemen, I have but one announcement to make. I have come to the conclusion that it will be necessary to sign a continuing resolution so that some fifteen thousand Government employees can get paid--
Q. How many, sir…
May 15, 1947
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I signed an important bill this morning, and it is usual to give the pen to those who contributed most to the passage, so I am going to make Joe Fox a present of the pillar bill pen--[laughter].
Joseph A. Fox, Washington…
AS PRESIDENT of the United States, it gives me great satisfaction to sign, and thus ratify today the Treaty of Peace with Japan, the Security Treaty with Australia and New Zealand, the Security Treaty with Japan, and the Mutual Defense Treaty with the…
May 10, 1948
I HAVE today by Executive order taken over the country's railroads and directed the Secretary of the Army to operate them in the name of the United States Government.
A strike has been called for 6 a.m. tomorrow by 3 of the 22 railroad…
August 9, 1945
Dear Chairman Krug:
I have consulted with the Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion regarding steps to be taken by this Government to speed reconversion.
Every opportunity must be given to private business to exercise…
April 27, 1950
Dear Mr. Well:
I heartily approve the present efforts of the President's Committee on Religion and Welfare in the Armed Forces to stimulate community organization on behalf of the men and women of our armed forces.
I know that…
May 3, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
I have no special announcements to make today. I will listen to questions and try to answer them.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, the Prime Minister of Israel 1 arrived here today, to see you tomorrow and…
May 2, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. I have no announcements to make today, but I thought maybe you might want to ask me a question or two, and I had better let you in and let you ask them. So, fire away.
[1.] Q. What assurances did you give Mr. Byrnes yesterday…
Statement by the President Announcing Steps Taken To Develop a Bipartisan Approach to Foreign Policy
April 27, 1950
I ASKED Secretary Acheson and Senator Connally to call on me this morning for the purpose of canvassing in general the efforts that we are all making to devise ways of bringing about a true bipartisan approach to the consideration of our…
August 9, 1945
My dear Ed:
I take pleasure in appointing you as the United States Representative on the Preparatory Commission of the United Nations established by agreement signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945. In carrying out this…
May 16, 1947
Dear Senator Wherry:
This refers to your letter dated May 2, 1947, requesting certain information concerning the 60-day moratorium and the expenditure ceilings which were placed on Reclamation projects and other Federal…
May 3, 1946
THE MOUNTING TOLL of traffic fatalities in this country continues to be a cause for deep concern. More than 8,000 men, women and children were killed on the streets and highways during the first three months of this year. These tragic…
May 12, 1949
I HAVE today signed H.J. Res. 226, making temporary appropriations for the fiscal year 1949, and for other purposes.
This joint resolution is what is sometimes referred to as a "continuing resolution." It authorizes the expenditure of…
April 16, 1952
Dear Mr. Lovett:
Attached is a copy of my Message to Congress, March 28, 1952, on the subject of voting by servicemen, along with the report of the Special Committee on Service Voting of the American Political Science…
May 11, 1948
WITH REGARD to the recent exchange of views between Ambassador Smith and Foreign Minister Molotov in Moscow, it was felt by this Government that in view of the adoption of the European recovery program as a definite expression of policy and…
May 7, 1951
Governor Caldwell, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
This conference is being held to consider one of the most important tasks facing our country.
The lives of many millions of our fellow citizens may depend on the…