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 17, 1952
I HAVE today approved H.R. 8315 and H.R. 8316, proposals involving the creation of a Delaware River Port Authority to provide for the development of the Philadelphia-Camden port area.
I believe that immediate steps are necessary if the…
September 25, 1948
Mr. Chairman, Governor Jester, Honorable Mayor of El Paso, the Attorney General of the United States, and distinguished guests on this platform, and fellow Democrats of Texas:
It gives me a great deal of pleasure to come…
August 30, 1951
THE PRESIDENT, Please be seated.
I have no special announcements for you this morning. I will try to answer questions, however, if I can.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, have you received a report from the Wage Stabilization Board yet on the…
September 10, 1949
THIS MORNING the Steel Industry Board has reported to me its unanimous findings and recommendations as to fair and equitable terms of settlement of the current labor disputes in the steel industry. The national interest requires that…
August 10, 1950
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated. I have no special announcements to make this morning, but I will try to answer questions, if I can.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, what do you think of the performance of the Russian delegation--in particular,…
October 16, 1947
THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make this morning, but I thought maybe you might want to ask me some questions and I will answer them if I can.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, when the White House announced yesterday that you…
December 10, 1945
THE PRESIDENT of the United States and the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Canada issue the following statement:
We announced on August 29 that the Combined Production and Resources Board, the Combined Raw Materials Board and…
August 14, 1946
I HAVE WITHHELD my approval of H.R. 5654, a bill "To provide basic authority for the performance of certain functions and activities of the Bureau of Reclamation".
Paragraph (e) of the bill is objectionable because, in addition to…
January 24, 1952
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
I have no announcements to make. I will listen to questions.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, at a press conference a few months ago you said you wouldn't disclose whether you would run again until…
January 26, 1950
Madam President and ladies and gentlemen:
It is a very great pleasure for me to have the privilege of being here tonight. I wish I could have been here for the whole evening, but this has been quite a busy day for me. Every…
May 2, 1945
To Field Marshal Alexander:
On this momentous occasion of the surrender of the German Armed Forces in Italy, I
convey to you from the President and the people of the United States congratulations on the
signal success of the…
January 24, 1951
I AM HERE because, as I said about Paul Wooton the other night, Mr. Evans--and I never call him anything but Mr. Evans; you see he was my banker--was kind to me when I needed it.
You know, there used to be an old humorist in the…
Message to the Congress Transmitting First Annual Report on U.S. Participation in the United Nations
February 5, 1947
To the Congress of the United States:
In accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 I submit herewith my first annual report to the Congress on the activities of the United Nations and…
January 27, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
I commend to the favorable consideration of the Congress the enclosed letter from the Acting Secretary of State and the accompanying draft legislation to authorize an appropriation for…
February 5, 1948
THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make this morning. If you want to ask some questions, I will try to answer them.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, what do you think of the reaction of some of your southern Democratic colleagues…
January 24, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. I want to read a couple of things to you, and then I will stand for questions as usual.
[1.] "Judge Samuel I. Rosenman is leaving the White House officially on February 1st, to return to private life in New York City. I…
July 18, 1952
I HAVE signed H.R. 8122, a measure which takes important steps in strengthening agricultural .price supports. The new law sets aside the sliding scale for the 1953 and 1954 crop years, and delays the shift from the old method of computing…
September 26, 1948
[1.] THE ALAMO (2:35 p.m.)
Mr. Mayor, the Governor of Texas, and distinguished guests:
I appreciate the privilege today of spending Sunday in San Antonio.
I had the opportunity this morning to attend the services in…
August 11, 1950
To the House of Representatives:
I return herewith, without my approval, H.J. Res. 461, "To provide that South Parkersburg, West Virginia, shall for the purposes of the seventeenth decennial census be treated as a part of…
August 31, 1951
THANK YOU, Mr. Secretary. I am sure that this bond drive will be as successful as all the others have been, for the simple reason that it is right, that it is the safest investment in the world, that it is something that gives people…
September 13, 1949
Mr. Secretary of the Treasury, the Finance Minister of France, and members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Monetary Fund:
It gives me a great deal of pleasure to…
Statement by the President Concerning the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry (Palestine Commission)
December 10, 1945
THE COMPOSITION of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry which was announced in Washington and London on November 13, and which will operate under a rotating chairmanship will be as follows:
Joseph C. Hutcheson, Judge of the Fifth…
October 17, 1947
THE PRESIDENT. I notice Mr. Mencken told you that you were no use--[laughter]-and that's not the first time I have disagreed with Mr. Mencken.
I make it a point to read a great many editorials. They are, most of them, thoughtful and…
August 15, 1946
TO ALL my fellow citizens of the Jewish faith I extend hearty greetings and good wishes on their New Year's Day.
Its celebration this year comes at a time when the United States and its allies are seeking to lay the foundation of…
August 14, 1950
ON THIS second anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Korea, which finds the United States and other members of the United Nations aiding your people in the common purpose of repelling a savage and ruthless Communist invader…