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).
February 14, 1948
THE RELATIONSHIP of the Federal research program to our national welfare and the money spent annually for research by the Government make the establishment of this Committee a matter of national importance.
The Committee will…
January 31, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have only one announcement to make--I thought maybe you might have some questions and I would let you in--this is a letter from John Blandford to me, and my answer to him. It is mimeographed. It is his resignation…
May 8, 1945
[Delivered from the Radio Room at the White House at 9 a.m.]
THIS IS a solemn but a glorious hour. I only wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to
witness this day. General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have…
February 5, 1952
My dear Mr. Chairman:
It has become clear during the past two months that additional resources must be made available to France, Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia during this fiscal year to permit them to…
October 19, 1950
THE PRESIDENT. I will answer questions so far as I can. I have no announcements to make.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, having in mind the invitation from the President of Chile earlier in the year, is there any possibility that you would…
November 3, 1948
Mr. Mayor, and my fellow townsmen and citizens of this great county named after Andrew Jackson:
I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this turnout to celebrate a victory--not my victory, but a victory of the…
December 23, 1949
[Released December 23, 1949. Dated December 17, 1949]
Your Holiness:
The summons to peace on earth, good will toward men has come ringing down the ages, giving direction to the thought and the action of every human being…
October 1, 1952
[1.] COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA (Rear platform, 8:05 a.m.)
I am very happy indeed to be here this morning, and I am more than complimented and pleased that all of you were so willing to get up early and come down and see us…
October 24, 1951
FIRST, I would be happy to have that applause go on indefinitely, but you know, my schedule runs every 15 minutes, and as I told some people at a briefing the other day, the President spends most of his time trying to get people to do…
December 23, 1946
FREEDOM of conscience is basic to our American tradition of individual liberty. The Congress recognized this traditional freedom when it enacted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. That Act recognized conscientious…
October 24, 1950
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, the people of the United Nations:
Five years ago today the Charter of the United Nations came into force. By virtue of that event, October 24, 1945, became a great day in the history…
October 24, 1951
Mr. Chairman, General Marshall, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen:
General Marshall remarked to me, when he arose to receive that flourish, that we were breaking a precedent. General Marshall has broken many a…
December 24, 1949
[Broadcast nationally at 5:15 p.m.]
My fellow countrymen:
To each, to all, a Merry Christmas.
Once more I have come out to Independence to celebrate Christmas with my family. We are back among old friends and neighbors…
December 24, 1946
[Broadcast nationally at 5:15 p.m.]
Fellow citizens everywhere:
Again our thoughts and aspirations and the hopes of future years turn to a little town in the hills of Judea where on a winter's night two thousand years…
October 1, 1952
THANK YOU very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I appreciate most highly that cordial introduction, and that most cordial reception.
Mr. Chairman, Governor Bonner, Congressman Mansfield, Mr. Secretary of the…
November 4, 1948
[1.] ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (1:35 p.m.)
Thank you. This certainly is worthwhile, and I appreciate it more than I can tell you. It has been a tremendous fight. And it was a fight for the welfare of the country and the people,…
December 31, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. Gentlemen, I want to read you a proclamation--a statement on a proclamation; and when I get through reading that statement and proclamation, and a list of things affected by the proclamation, it will be handed to you…
October 25, 1950
Mr. President and gentlemen of the National Guard of the United States:
On June 14, 1905, I became a private in Battery B of the Missouri National Guard. There were just two batteries in the National Guard at that time,…
December 28, 1949
IT IS with pleasure that I greet the people of a new sovereign state, the people of the Republic of the United States of Indonesia, and congratulate you and your great leader, President Sukarno, on the attainment of Indonesian…
October 1, 1952
Senator Magnuson, Governor Mitchell, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen:
I have been looking forward to this evening.
I have been coming to the State of Washington for a good many years. I know of…
October 24, 1951
THANK YOU, Mr. Secretary. I don't know when I have had a more pleasurable occasion. I made a speech about these young men this morning, and I hope they will be able to read it, because what I said then will be much better than what I…
November 5, 1948
THANK YOU very much. I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this warm and cordial welcome of the Capital City of the greatest Nation on earth. It is overwhelming. It makes a man study and wonder whether he is worthy of the…
December 30, 1949
HIS IMPERIAL Majesty, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shahinshah of Iran, today completed his tour of the United States and departed for Iran. The Shah came to this country at the invitation of the President and his visit has enabled him to…
October 24, 1951
By the President of the United States of America a Proclamation:
WHEREAS, by a joint resolution, approved by the President on December 11, 1941, the Congress of the United States formally declared a state of war to exist…
October 1, 1952
I AM very grateful for that kind introduction by George Jessel and Bette Davis. It is good to have our old friends and new recruits working together this year to elect Adlai Stevenson.
I want to talk to you very plainly tonight about…