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).
September 12, 1950
I HAVE today signed the Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950. This is the most important legislation enacted by the Congress in the budget and accounting field since the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, was passed almost 30…
October 28, 1946
I AM TODAY naming Gordon R. Clapp as Chairman of the TVA, to succeed David E. Lilienthal. Mr. Clapp has been TVA's General Manager since October 1939, and prior to that time served as Director of Personnel. Mr. Clapp's term of service…
September 4, 1952
I HAVE TODAY established a special Commission on Immigration and Naturalization, to study and evaluate the immigration and naturalization policies of the United States.
Our immigration and naturalization policies are of major…
October 29, 1949
I HAVE signed H.R. 4146, a bill making appropriations for the National Security Council, the National Security Resources Board, and the military functions administered by the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending June 30,…
October 18, 1948
Mr. Commander, members of the auxiliary, ladies and gentlemen:
This is an opportunity I have been looking forward to for 30 years, and I finally made it. I have chosen this occasion to discuss with you some very important…
October 19, 1948
Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency the Governor of North Carolina, Your Excellency the Governor of Tennessee, and ladies and gentlemen:
This is an occasion to which I have looked forward for a long time.
I have been interested…
September 12, 1950
My Dear Lou:
I have just read your letter.
It is clear to me that in writing it you have been actuated by motives of the highest patriotism, and I salute you. In the terribly regrettable circumstances which…
September 5, 1952
Dear Mr. Fowler:
I want to express my appreciation for your willingness to revise your personal plans in order to remain on duty in the Government until this December thirty-first, in lieu of leaving in September as had…
Remarks to Members of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Syrian and Lebanese American Federation
October 3, 1951
YOU CAN be exceedingly helpful. I am very much interested in peace in the Near East, as I am in every other section of the world. There isn't any good reason at all why there shouldn't be peace there, and everywhere else, for that…
October 29, 1946
ON BEHALF of the American people, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to President Benes and the Czechoslovak people on the occasion of the twenty-eighth Anniversary of the Independence of the Czechoslovak Republic. The…
October 29, 1949
I AM withholding my approval from S. 1385, a bill providing that the excess-land provisions of the Federal reclamation laws shall not apply to lands that will receive a supplemental water supply from the San Luis Valley project,…
September 13, 1950
My dear Mr. Chairman:
Attached is a draft of legislation which would permit General George C. Marshall to serve as Secretary of Defense. I request that you lay this matter before your Committee with a view to obtaining…
October 3, 1951
ANOTHER atomic bomb has recently been exploded within the Soviet Union. In spite of Soviet pretensions that their atomic energy program is being directed exclusively toward peaceful purposes, this event confirms again that the Soviet…
November 2, 1946
ON OCTOBER 24 I announced that I had directed that all avenues be explored toward enabling the 48 Estonian refugees who recently entered the United States without immigration visas to remain here, if they so desired, so that they might…
October 19, 1948
Governor Cherry, distinguished guests, and fellow Democrats of North Carolina:
I can't tell you how very much I appreciate the most cordial welcome I have received in the capital city of this great State today. Your…
October 30, 1949
[Broadcast from the White House at 11:25 p.m.]
Fellow citizens:
The United States has been a deeply religious Nation from its earliest beginnings. The need which the founders of our country felt--the need to be free to…
September 8, 1952
Dear Mr. Chairman:
On May 22, 1946, I approved certificates for air services to certain points in Mexico issued to Eastern Air Lines, Braniff Airways, and Western Air Lines. On May 12, 1947, I approved an amendment to the…
September 13, 1950
Mr. Chairman, Postmaster General, ladies and gentlemen:
The Postmaster General told me yesterday afternoon that he was having a postal supervisors and assistant postmasters meeting over here today, and that you had been…
October 4, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please sit down.
I haven't been late for a long time, but I thought I would keep you waiting a little while.
[1.] I know what you are interested in. You are interested in censorship. And I don't believe in…
October 21, 1948
[ Broadcast from the White House at 10:05 p.m. ]
I CERTAINLY appreciate the cordial introduction and support of Miss Bankhead. Miss Bankhead's father, the great Speaker of the House, Honorable William Bankhead, was a very good friend…
October 31, 1949
I HAVE withheld my approval of S. 2115, "To authorize payments by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs on the purchase of automobiles or other conveyances by certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes."
The purpose of the…
September 11, 1952
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
[1.] I have a short statement here, which I will read to you. And Tony,1 for your benefit I will read it very slowly, because it isn't mimeographed.
1 Ernest B. Vaccaro…
November 6, 1946
THE UNITED STATES is prepared to place under trusteeship, with the United States as the administering authority, the Japanese Mandated Islands and any Japanese Islands for which it assumes responsibilities as a result of the Second…
November 9, 1946
THE SECRETARY OF STATE has today formally announced the intention of this Government to enter into concerted trade agreement negotiations with eighteen other principal and representative trading nations for the reciprocal reduction of…
October 4, 1951
THE PRESIDENT has directed me to clarify his views on security information as follows:
1. Every citizen--including officials and publishers--has a duty to protect our country.
2. Citizens who receive military information…