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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).

December 29, 1951 I HAVE today signed an Executive order creating the President's Commission on the Health Needs of the Nation. The Commission has one major objective. During this crucial period in our country's history it will make a critical study…
December 18, 1950 The defense effort we are now undertaking in order to meet the critical world situation will call for the use of a number of emergency powers. Many of these powers can be exercised under the authority of legislation now in effect. It…
October 22, 1952 Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mayor, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen of Pittsburgh: In the last 3 weeks I have been back and forth across this country talking to the voters everywhere, from our smallest towns to our…
December 19, 1950 [Released December 19, 1950. Dated December 18, 1950] PURSUANT to the request of the North Atlantic Council that I designate a U.S. officer to take the position of Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, I have designated General of the…
October 23, 1952 [1.] WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA (Rear platform, 9:35 a.m.) I appreciate being here, I tell you. You know, Senator Kilgore told me that this is the first time a President of the United States ever paid an official visit to…
December 19, 1950 THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated, ladies and gentlemen. [1.] I have a statement that I want to read to you that probably will save you some questions. I will take it real slowly, because the mimeographed copies may not be…
October 25, 1952 [Released October 25, 1952. Dated October 24, 1952] Dear Dr. Zenkl: You have asked on behalf of the Council of Free Czechoslovakia that October twenty eighth of this year, the traditional Independence Day of…
February 13, 1947 THE PRESIDENT. [1.] Gentlemen, and ladies, some of you, I think, haven't--you were not in here yesterday when we were showing the picture here, which is, I think, a treasure. Now it is public property. We have dosed the deal on it on…
May 15, 1945 THE PRESIDENT. I am very sure that the first thing you are principally interested in is the free press in Germany. I would like to read a little statement here, and if you want to ask me some questions about it, I will try to answer them…
February 7, 1951 THAT is a wonderful letter, and I am pleased to have it. And he is just right about the necessity for the mobilization of the moral forces in the world against the unmoral forces. That is all we are trying to do. There are forces in…
February 3, 1950 AS I told you, the only way we will ever arrive at peace in the world is to settle it on a moral Christian basis. And that is what I have been working on for 5 years or more. We sometimes think we are approaching a solution, and then…
February 18, 1948 To the Congress of the United States: On several occasions I have stated that a primary objective of the United States is to bring about, throughout the world, the conditions of a just and lasting peace. This is a cause…
February 7, 1946 I HAVE TODAY indicated my disapproval of an Act recently passed by the Philippine Commonwealth Congress providing for the validation of payments made in Japanese "mickey mouse" money during the period of the Japanese invasion of the…
February 17, 1949 [Released February 17, 1949. Dated February 16, 1949] Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a supplemental estimate of appropriation for the fiscal year 1949 in the amount of $5,400…
February 7, 1952 THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated. [1.] I have one announcement here to make, and that is that I just sent down the name of Governor Ellis Arnall 1 to be Price Administrator, in place of Mike DiSalle.2 1 Former Governor of Georgia. 2…
December 19, 1950 Dear General Eisenhower: The North Atlantic Treaty Nations have agreed on the defense organization for Europe and at their request I have designated you as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. I view their request as a…
October 27, 1952 LAST FRIDAY night in Detroit, the Republican candidate for President made a speech discussing the decision to withdraw United States occupation forces from Korea in 1949. That speech contained so many misquotations or quotations out of…
December 21, 1950 THE SECRETARY of State this morning gave me a full report of his meeting in Brussels with the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty countries. I was greatly encouraged to hear from the Secretary of the…
October 27, 1952 [1.] WILLARD, OHIO (Rear platform, 3:25 p.m.) I am more than happy to be here today. I remember stopping here in 1948, and at that time I talked to you about the B. & O. Railroad and that great old railroad man-Dan…
December 22, 1950 Sovereign Land, His Excellency the Governor of Missouri, His Excellency the Governor of Kansas, distinguished guests: It certainly is a very great pleasure and a privilege to be here with you tonight. There is nothing like coming…
October 27, 1952 Mr. Mayor, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen: I am more than happy to be here tonight, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that cordial welcome which you have just given me. I remember very well how…
October 28, 1952 [1.] WINONA, MINNESOTA (Rear platform, 8:05 a.m.) This is my last trip around the country as President of the United States, and I am very glad to have a chance to come here to Winona before I leave that Office…
December 22, 1950 IT HAS BEEN a pleasure, of course, to be able to be with you at this luncheon. I have never before been able to attend, because of the business I always have when I am here. Everybody in Jackson County and Missouri and Kansas and…
October 28, 1952 I CERTAINLY do appreciate this most cordial welcome. And you know what you have done? When we were in Pittsburgh, in the Mosque there, there are 4,208 seats, or something like that, and my daughter informed me that she had 50 more…
December 23, 1950 Worthy Grand Matron, distinguished guests: Don't you think it would be rather superfluous for the older brother of the Grand Matron to attempt to make a speech now ? All I can say is that I am just as happy as I can be…