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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).

November 11, 1949 Dear Cap: Your letter of November tenth confirms the wish you had often expressed in our previous talks and leaves me no alternative. I therefore accept reluctantly and with sincere regret your resignation as the…
September 20, 1952 Mr. Commandant of the cadets in the review this morning, and my host here: I appreciate most highly this etching of the ship which I am to inspect shortly. The men at this table have offered to make a deal with me, to…
November 29, 1946 Dear__________: I am enclosing copy of a report just received from the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the status of this year's grain export program. You will be gratified, I know, to learn the details of our…
October 25, 1948 THANK YOU, thank you very much. It's a very great pleasure to me, and a very high honor to be so cordially welcomed to this great industrial district. I appreciate most highly the Governor's introduction. I appreciate what Congressman…
November 29, 1946 Dear Paul: I have your letter of November fifteenth and accept with reluctance, effective at the close of business on December 4, 1946, your resignation as Administrator of the Office of Price Administration. I told you…
September 28, 1950 I AM withholding approval of H.R. 7854 "To confer jurisdiction on the Court of Claims to hear, determine, and render judgment upon a certain claim of the Board of County Commissioners of Sedgwick County, Kansas." The bill confers…
September 22, 1952 Mr. Johnston, and members of this delegation: It is a very great privilege and a pleasure for me to welcome you here at the White House. I hope you are having a pleasant and instructive visit here, and that you will…
October 25, 1948 THANK YOU, thank you very much. I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this most cordial Chicago welcome that no city in the world can equalize. It's a real pleasure to be here this evening in Illinois. One of the reasons for my…
November 15, 1949 THANK YOU, Congressman Dawson. It is a pleasure to be introduced by a Congressman with whom I have worked so closely, and who is a real friend to all of us. Mrs. Bethune, Madame Pandit, Dr. Bunche, distinguished guests, and ladies and…
October 15, 1951 Mr. President of Wake Forest, Your Excellency the Governor of North Carolina, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is a privilege for me to be here today. It is a privilege to join my fellow-Baptists in rejoicing…
November 16, 1949 I AM very happy to accept this report from the United States Committee for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. I want to express my appreciation of the effective work the Committee has done in keeping the…
October 16, 1951 Begum Liaquat Ali Khan, Karachi, Pakistan. I send you sincere condolences, in which Mrs. Truman and our daughter join me, in your great sorrow which has come so suddenly and under such tragic circumstances. Pakistan which…
September 24, 1952 [Released September 24, 1952. Dated September 20, 1952] My dear Mr. Secretary: You recently informed me of your survey which will furnish the basis and groundwork for business planning in this country and continued high…
October 26, 1948 [1.] SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (Rear platform, 9:35 a.m.) Governor Schricker, and ladies and gentlemen--and fellow Democrats of this great city of South Bend, Indiana: I am extremely happy to be here this morning, and I wish I…
December 3, 1946 THE PRESIDENT. [1.] The first announcement I want to make is that O. Max Gardner will be Ambassador to Great Britain. [2.] And there is another short statement I want to make about the State Department and this building over here.…
September 28, 1950 I HAVE withheld my approval from H.R. 3419, "To amend the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946". This bill provides that in certain cases the cost basis of a war-built vessel purchased prior to the enactment of the Merchant Ship Sales…
October 26, 1948 THANK YOU, thank you--thank you very, very much. I can't tell you how very much I appreciate that reception. I want to say to you tonight, Mr. Chairman, and ladies and gentlemen--I am going to let you in on a secret. We have got the…
September 25, 1952 THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated. I have no statements to make. I will try to answer questions, if there are any. [1.] Q. Mr. President, the first one--do you agree with General Eisenhower that Senator Nixon completely…
November 16, 1949 Your Majesty: I am happy to welcome you to the United States on this, your first visit here. I have looked forward to Your Majesty's visit with great pleasure, and I trust that during its course you may have the…
December 4, 1946 AFTER ONE YEAR of emergency action to get housing for the returning veterans the time has come for an appraisal of the accomplishments of our efforts and a reappraisal of the program itself. In December of last year I asked Mr. Wyatt…
October 16, 1951 I AM PLEASED to have you here. I have had quite a long and painful experience with your profession--and it has been very helpful. I still have, I guess, more teeth than most any other 67-year-old man, thanks to the treatment that I…
September 28, 1950 THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated. [1.] I have one announcement to make. I am appointing George J. Bott of Maryland General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board. Q- What's his last name? THE PRESIDENT…
December 4, 1946 My dear Wilson: I have your letter dated December fourth and accept your resignation, effective at the close of business on December 5, 1946' Your achievement has been outstanding, as I have today emphasized in a…
September 29, 1950 Memorandum to: Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Chairman, National Security Resources Board Chairman, Board of Directors, Reconstruction Finance Corporation Secretary of Commerce Secretary of the…
September 26, 1952 Mr. Weil and members of the Committee: I wish to thank you for the resolution you have presented to me and for the thought that it expresses. Since I first came to the White House in 1945, I have worked to build and…