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).
November 14, 1947
I DEEPLY appreciate the willingness of the members of the Loyalty Review Board, established within the Civil Service Commission, to give of their service to that Board. Their acceptance involves real personal sacrifice. At the same…
October 4, 1949
[Released October 4, 1949. Dated October 3, 1949]
Dear Senator Johnson:
Your Committee is considering the nomination of Leland Olds to be a member of the Federal Power Commission. Because of the nature of the opposition…
September 12, 1951
[Released September 12, 1951. Dated September 11, 1951]
Dear General Marshall:
It is with very great reluctance that I accept your resignation as Secretary of Defense effective, in accordance with your wishes, on…
October 4, 1949
General Hodge, General Gillem:
You fellows get ready now, this is a great whistlestop gadget!
It is a great pleasure for me to be here today. The last time I saw General Clark was in Chicago, when the Shriners were putting…
August 8, 1952
To the heads of all executive departments and agencies:
I am sending you a copy of a letter I have addressed today to the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, together with a copy of a report on Federal employee…
September 12, 1951
THIS IS a wonderful celebration. Most people who come to see the President come to get something. It seems that this organization has come to bring the President something that he appreciates very much.
This organization is doing a…
December 20, 1945
[ Released December 20, 1945. Dated December 14, 1945 ]
My dear Doctor Bowman:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter dated November 24, 1945, on behalf of the newly organized Committee supporting the Bush report,…
October 1, 1948
Mr. Chairman, Governor of West Virginia, distinguished guests:
For the past 2 weeks I have been visiting the people of this country.
I have met thousands of people and spoken to hundreds of thousands. I think I have been…
September 26, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have been somewhat disturbed by the comments on the meat situation, and since I happen to know of my own knowledge something about the meat situation, and since I have been from a meat-producing State, and have…
Statement by the President Making Public the Report of the Advisory Committee on the Merchant Marine
November 15, 1947
EARLY this year, it became apparent that the Nation was faced with the serious problem of deciding how an adequate fleet of freight and passenger vessels should be maintained. Only a few cargo vessels, and no passenger liners, were…
August 27, 1950
Dear Warren:
As I told you on the telephone this morning I want to congratulate you on your able presentation of the views of the United States Government in the Security Council of the United Nations from the first onset…
Letter to the Administrator, Federal Works Agency, Asking Him To Head a Conference on Traffic Safety
December 21, 1945
[ Released December 21, 1945. Dated December 18, 1945 ]
Dear General:
I am deeply concerned by the extent of traffic accidents on the Nation's streets and highways which have increased alarmingly since the end of…
October 5, 1949
Dear John:
Respect for human dignity is the central issue in the world struggle today.
America is dedicated to the conviction that all people are entitled by the gift of God to equal rights and freedoms even though they…
September 13, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
I haven't any special announcements to make, but I will try to answer questions as best I can.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, Governor Dewey, out of courtesy to you, refused to tell us what he…
August 12, 1952
GOVERNOR, it has been a pleasure to have you and the Senator here and have you meet all the staff, and to see the White House that you will occupy after the 4th--the 20th day of January--I almost gave you 2 months there.
The meeting…
September 28, 1946
General Taylor, General Higgins, members of the Cadet Corps:
It is a pleasure and a privilege to me today to pay you an official visit as the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. In my…
October 2, 1948
ON THIS your first New Year's Eve as President of the Provisional Council of the State of Israel I send you warm personal greetings and congratulations. May the New Year bring peace to Israel and to its citizens the opportunity to…
August 28, 1950
I HAVE today approved H.R. 6000, the Social Security Act Amendments of 1950. These amendments greatly strengthen the old-age and survivors insurance system and the public assistance programs originally established by the Social Security…
November 17, 1947
[As delivered in person before a joint session]
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the 80th Congress:
The Congress has been convened to consider two problems of major concern to the citizens of the United States and…
August 29, 1950
Dear___________:
Pursuant to our conversation today, I am furnishing you my views about the pending universal training legislation.
I am very much in favor of universal training legislation. The record will show that for…
October 6, 1948
[1.] WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (Rear platform, 10:45 a.m.)
Mr. Chairman:
I am certainly highly pleased at this wonderful reception. This reception reminds me of those I have been receiving all over the United States. It shows…
November 20, 1947
Dear Mr. Luckman:
Less than two months ago I appointed the Citizens Food Committee, with you as Chairman, to advise on ways and means of carrying out the necessary conservation effort. At that time I asked your Committee…
October 1, 1946
[Delivered from the White House at 10:30 p.m.]
My fellow citizens:
Tonight, although I am speaking to the whole Nation, I am thinking of my hometown, and I hope as you listen each one of you will think of your hometown. I…
December 22, 1945
THE WAR has brought in its wake an appalling dislocation of populations in Europe. Many humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, are doing their utmost to solve the multitude…
September 17, 1951
Mr. Chief Justice of the United States, Senator Green, Doctor Evans, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
We have met here this morning to put some pieces of parchment away in specially sealed cases, in order to…