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 5, 1952
General Dwight D. Eisenhower:
Thank you for your prompt and courteous reply to my telegram. I know you will agree with me that there ought to be an orderly transfer of the business of the Executive branch of the Government…
November 6, 1952
IN THE DEATH of Adolph J. Sabath the country has lost a public servant of rare distinction.
Adolph Sabath served in the Congress longer than any other Member in its entire history. Mr. Sabath became a Member of Congress on March 4,…
November 12, 1952
Dear Mr. Davis:
The world's first powered flight in a craft heavier than air was made by the Wright Brothers on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The importance of aviation to our nation and to the world…
November 14, 1952
THANK YOU--thank you very much. I hope I will always deserve it. I was in dead earnest in the effort to implement the report of the Commission on Civil Rights. I shall continue to work for it as long as I live, for it is part and…
February 9, 1950
Dear Mr. Vice President:
I am informed that the Senate will shortly consider H.R. 5472, the rivers and harbors and flood control authorization bill. In addition to authorizing projects for construction, this bill will also…
February 9, 1946
THIS IS a privilege for me. I think it is going to make the day more pleasant for me to get a chance to see the people who actually make the Government run.
I have called you together to direct your attention to the recent Executive…
February 20, 1948
Dear :
A Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee recently has been studying the matter of physical disability retirements. On January 29, 1948, the Secretary of Defense expressed his views…
February 11, 1952
To the Congress of the United States:
The Defense Production Act is now scheduled to expire on June 30, 1952. That Act is essential to the defense mobilization effort of the Nation. I recommend that it be extended for two…
February 18, 1949
IT IS GOOD to see all of you. I wish it were possible for me to attend every veterans meeting to which I am invited. It is impossible, though I am glad it was possible to get you in this afternoon.
I am familiar with your problems,…
February 8, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated. I have had some of you gentlemen suggest that I sit down--[laughter]--that maybe I could do a better job sitting down. I feel better on my feet, but I will sit down if that is what you want, if you can…
February 18, 1947
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE LEGION OF MERIT DEGREE OF CHIEF COMMANDER TO
ABDUL AZIZ IBN ABDUR RAHMAN AL FAISAL AL SAUD
HIS MAJESTY Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdur Rahman al Faisal Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, rendered exceptionally…
May 18, 1945
THE PRESIDENT had the pleasure today of conversing with the French Foreign Minister, M.
Bidault, upon his arrival from San Francisco and of discussing with him a number of problems of
primary interest to France and the United States.
The…
November 16, 1952
Rabbi Gerstenfeld, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen:
This is a happy occasion for the Washington Hebrew Congregation. I am glad to take part in it. It is also an important occasion for all of us, because it…
November 18, 1952
PRESIDENT Truman and General Eisenhower met today at the White House. After conferring together by themselves, they met with the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury, the Director of Mutual Security, and General Eisenhower's…
November 18, 1952
To the Congress of the United States:
I am transmitting herewith the Second Report on the Mutual Security Program, covering operations during the first 6 months of 1952 in furtherance of the purposes of the Mutual…
November 19, 1952
IT CERTAINLY is a very great pleasure for me to be here tonight to meet with the Association of Military Surgeons.
I don't know when I have enjoyed an entertainment more than I have the one which has just finished. And I was highly…
November 20, 1952
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
[1.] I want you to understand that the election is over, that we are trying to get things in shape to make an orderly turnover of the Government to the successor, and that we want to let…
November 21, 1952
I AM appreciative of the privilege that General Smith has offered me, to come over here and make a few remarks to this organization. I am, naturally, very much interested in it.
When I became President--if you don't mind me…
November 21, 1952
WILLIAM GREEN, for more than half a century, held a place of responsible leadership in American life. For nearly 28 of those years he was president of the American Federation of Labor and as such helped to improve the working, living…
November 23, 1952
Reverend Dr. Johnson, Reverend Clergy and distinguished guests, and members of the Westminster Presbyterian Church:
I am glad you have invited me to come here and take part in laying the cornerstone of your new church.…
November 25, 1952
My dear Mr. Ramspeck:
During the present fiscal year sharp reductions are being made in the number of personnel employed in the administration of programs under the Defense Production Act, and it is expected that by the…
November 25, 1952
I DO appreciate your coming up to see the President. I guess this is seven or eight times you have been here--I don't know the exact count, but rather often, I know that, and it has always been a pleasure.
I tried the last time you…
February 11, 1946
FEBRUARY 12 of this year will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of a great Polish patriot who is revered by all Americans-General Thaddeus Kosciusko.
The American nation will never forget the prominent role he played in the…
February 13, 1952
I CONSIDER it a privilege to be here tonight to do honor to two wonderful men. When Mike came down here, Paul Porter and Chet Bowles and all the men who had been through hell in the Second World War discouraged Mike in every way they…
February 20, 1948
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith to the Congress, pursuant to the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (section 4, Public Law 264, 79th Congress, 59 Stat. 620), my second annual report on the…