Date Span: 1945-1953
The Naval Aide to the President Files include President Truman's communications with foreign government leaders and American diplomats; communications between the White House and Truman's headquarters during the Potsdam Conference; State Department briefing papers for the President; messages concerning the Korean War received from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander in Chief of the Far East; and correspondence concerning the tenure of service of individual U.S. Navy servicemen.
[Administrative Information | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List]
Size: 13 linear feet, 7 linear inches (ca. 24,800 pages)
Access: Open, with the exception of some documents that are closed for national security reasons or in accordance with the donor’s legal instructions.
Copyright: Harry S. Truman donated his copyright interest in writings in these files to the United States Government. Documents created by U.S. Government officials in the course of their official duties are likewise in the public domain. Copyright interest in any other writings in these files is assumed to remain with the authors of the documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: Carol Briley (1981); Cynthia G. Edwards and David Clark (2000).
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION
The Naval Aide to the President Files date from 1945 to 1953. After the White House Map Room was closed in 1946, the Naval Aide's office received the security classified and other sensitive diplomatic and military communications that had formerly been sent to the Map Room. The Naval Aide was involved in intelligence briefings for the president and conferences on urgent matters relating to the military and diplomatic fields.
During the Truman Administration, the Naval Aides to the President were James K. Vardaman, Jr. (1945-1946), Clark M. Clifford (1946), James H. Foskett (1946-1948), and Robert L. Dennison (1948-1953).
The Naval Aide to the President Files include: documents relating to the Berlin (Potsdam) Conference; communication files containing correspondence to and from the President; subject files pertaining to individual countries, topics, and organizations; copies of the War Department Intelligence Review which was a periodical that presented current intelligence developments; State Department Briefs containing summaries of confidential telegrams with foreign developments as reported by the State Department; and Naval Service Case files which pertain to military personnel.
The Berlin (Potsdam) Conference File, which is primarily arranged chronologically, contains the agenda prepared by the State Department; background information; territorial studies; discussion papers; Joint Chiefs of Staff recommendations; Combined Chiefs of Staff papers and meeting minutes; Heads of Government meeting minutes; President Truman's correspondence with Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Chiang Kai-shek, Joseph Stalin and the President of Poland; miscellaneous papers and reports; conference reports and press releases; and communications to and from the Map Room. This entire series is digitized and available online.
The Communications File, which is arranged alphabetically, contains correspondence between President Truman and individuals including Clement Attlee, Chiang Kai-Shek, Winston Churchill, Averell Harriman, Patrick Hurley, George Marshall, Joseph Stalin and John Winant.
The Subject File, which is arranged alphabetically, contains information about many aspects of U.S. Foreign policy during the Truman years. Included is material pertaining to the Council of Foreign Ministers; the surrenders of Germany and Japan; the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference of 1951; the Korean War; and the United Nations.
The War Department Intelligence Review File, which is arranged chronologically, contains copies of a periodical which presented current intelligence reflecting developments of military interest in the fields of politics, economics, sociology, technical sciences and military affairs.
The State Department Briefs File, which is arranged chronologically, contains summaries of confidential telegrams to the U.S. Department of State containing foreign developments as reported by State Department officials. This entire series is digitized and available online.
The Naval Service Case File, which is arranged alphabetically, contains correspondence, cables, memoranda and newspaper clippings with information pertaining to naval personnel including discharges, military discipline, retirement, and personnel missing in action or killed in action.
Other materials at the Truman Library which relate to this collection include the following collections: Clark M. Clifford Papers, Clark M. Clifford Files, Robert L. Dennison Papers, Robert L. Dennison Files, George M. Elsey Papers, George M. Elsey Files, James H. Foskett Papers and the Map Room File.
In addition, the following transcripts of oral history interviews relate to this collection: Clark M. Clifford, Robert L. Dennison, and George M. Elsey.
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]
| Container Nos. | Series | |
| 1-6 | BERLIN CONFERENCE FILE, 1945 Agenda, background information, territorial studies, papers, recommendations, memoranda, meeting minutes, President’s correspondence, miscellaneous papers, conference reports, press releases, and Map Room communications. |
|
| 7-9 | COMMUNICATIONS FILE, 1945-1946 Correspondence to and from the President including cables (dispatches and telegrams) and memoranda. |
|
| 10-16 | SUBJECT FILE, 1945-1953 Information pertaining to atomic energy, Council of Foreign Ministers, Europe, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Japan, Korea, peace, Soviet- Chinese relations, Palestine, Rumania, Russia, Soviet Union, Presidential trips, Truman Doctrine, and the United Nations. |
|
| 17-21 | WAR DEPARTMENT INTELLIGENCE REVIEW FILE, 1946-1947 Copies of the Intelligence Review, a periodical which presented current intelligence reflecting developments of military interest in the fields of politics, economics, sociology, technical sciences and military affairs. |
|
| 21-25 | STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFS FILE, 1945-1953 Briefs containing summaries of confidential telegrams to the U.S. Department of State containing foreign developments as reported by State Department Officials. |
|
| 26-31 | NAVAL SERVICE CASE FILE, 1945-1953 Correspondence, cables, memoranda and newspaper clippings with information pertaining to naval personnel, discharges, military discipline, retirement, and personnel missing in action or killed in action. |
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]
Box 1
- Volume I – Agenda Prepared by the State Department [June 30, 1945]
- Volume II – Background Information [July 6, 1945]
- Volume III – Territorial Studies [July 6, 1945]
- Volume IV – Papers prepared by the State Department for discussion [July 6, 1945]
Box 2
- Volume V – Recommendations from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Memoranda from the President’s Records [June 26, 1945]
- Volume VI – Papers and minutes of meetings of the Combined Chiefs of Staff [July, 1945]
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [1 of 16] Index
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [2 of 16] First Meeting, July 17, 1945, 5 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [3 of 16] Second Meeting, July 18, 1945, 4 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [4 of 16] Third Meeting, July 19, 1945, 5 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [5 of 16] Fourth Meeting, July 20, 1945, 4 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [6 of 16] Fifth Meeting, July 21, 1945, 5:15 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [7 of 16] Sixth Meeting, July 22, 1945, 5 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [8 of 16] Seventh Meeting, July 23, 1945, 5 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [9 of 16] Eighth Meeting, July 24, 1945, 5 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [10 of 16] Ninth Meeting, July 25, 1945, 11 a.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [11 of 16] Tenth Meeting, July 28, 1945, 10:30 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [12 of 16] Eleventh Meeting, July 31, 1945, 4 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [13 of 16] Twelfth Meeting, August 1, 1945, 4 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [14 of 16] Thirteenth Meeting, August 1, 1945, 10:40 p.m.
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [15 of 16] Conversation between Truman and Molotov, July 29, 1945
- Volume VII - Minutes of Meetings of Heads of Government [prepared by the Department of State]: [16 of 16] Pending Problems Before the Conference of July 30, 1945
Box 3
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [1 of 12] Index
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [2 of 12] First Meeting, July 18, 1945, 11 a.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [3 of 12] Second Meeting, July 19, 1945, 11 a.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [4 of 12] Third Meeting, July 20, 1945, 11:30 a.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [5 of 12] Fourth Meeting, July 21, 1945, 12 (noon)
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [6 of 12] Fifth Meeting, July 22, 1945, 11:10 a.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [7 of 12] Meeting Between Byrnes and Molotov, July 23, 1945, 10:30 a.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [8 of 12] Seventh Meeting, July 24, 1945, 11:15 a.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [9 of 12] Eighth Meeting, July 25, 1945, 12:30 p.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [10 of 12] Ninth Meeting, July 27, 1945, 4 p.m.
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [11 of 12] Meeting Between Byrnes and Molotov and of the Tenth Meeting, July 28, 1945
- Volume VIII - Minutes of meetings between Foreign Ministers: [12 of 12] Eleventh Meeting, August 1, 1945, 11:25 a.m.
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: First meeting, July 17, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Second meeting, July 18, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Third meeting, July 19, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Fourth meeting, July 20, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Fifth meeting, July 21, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Sixth meeting, July 22, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Seventh meeting, July 23, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Eighth meeting, July 24, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Ninth meeting, July 25, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Meeting of Foreign Secretaries, July 27, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Tenth meeting, July 28, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Eleventh meeting, July 31, 1945
- Volume IX - Minutes of meetings [prepared by Benjamin V. Cohen - Meetings of Heads of Government unless otherwise noted]: Twelfth and thirteenth meetings, August 1, 1945
- Volume X - The President's correspondence: Index
- Volume X - The President's correspondence: Volume X - The President's correspondence: With Winston Churchill
- Volume X - The President's correspondence: With Clement Attlee
- Volume X - The President's correspondence: With Chiang Kai-shek
- Volume X - The President's correspondence: With J.V. Stalin
- Volume X - The President's correspondence: With the President of Poland
Box 4
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Index
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Conference agenda
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Reports by Joseph E. Davies
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Unsigned reports for the President
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Council of Foreign Ministers
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Germany
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Italy
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Koenigsberg
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: The Near East
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Poland
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Reparations
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Southeastern Europe
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Spain and Tangiers
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: War criminals
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Waterways
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Japan
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Volume XI - Miscellaneous papers: Lend-lease
- Volume XII - Conference Reports, Protocols and Press Releases: Report on the Conference - President's Draft
- Volume XII - Conference Reports, Protocols and Press Releases: Report on the Conference - Final Typewritten Copy
- Volume XII - Conference Reports, Protocols and Press Releases: Report on the Conference - President's Copy
- Volume XII - Conference Reports, Protocols and Press Releases: Report on the Conference - Press Releases
- Volume XII - Conference Reports, Protocols and Press Releases: Protocol of proceedings - President's Draft
- Volume XII - Conference Reports, Protocols and Press Releases: Protocol of proceedings - Copies for Presidential Party
Box 5
- Communications to the Map Room, July 7-14, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Incoming]
- Communications to the Map Room, July 7-14, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications to the Map Room, July 15-25, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Incoming]
- Communications to the Map Room, July 15-25, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications to the Map Room, July 26 - August 2, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Incoming]
- Communications to the Map Room, July 26 - August 2, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications to the Map Room, August 3-7, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Incoming]
- Communications to the Map Room, August 3-7, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Outgoing]
- Unnumbered communications to the Map Room, July - August, 1945 [Map Room Incoming]
- Communications from the Map Room, July 7-14, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications from the Map Room, July 7-14, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Incoming]
Box 6
- Communications from the Map Room, July 15-25, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications from the Map Room, July 15-25, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Incoming]
- Communications from the Map Room, July 26 - August 2, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications from the Map Room, July 26 - August 2, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Incoming]
- Communications from the Map Room, August 3-7, 1945 [1 of 2] [Map Room Outgoing]
- Communications from the Map Room, August 3-7, 1945 [2 of 2] [Advanced Map Room Incoming]
- Unnumbered communications from the Map Room, July - August, 1945 [Map Room Outgoing]
- Meetings of Heads of State
COMMUNICATIONS FILE, 1945-1946
Box 7
- Attlee from Truman, 1945-1946
- Attlee to Truman, 1945-1946
- Chiang Kai-shek from Truman, 1945-1946
- Chiang Kai-shek to Truman, 1945-1946
- Churchill from Truman, April, 1945
- Churchill to Truman, April, 1945
- Churchill from Truman, May, 1945
- Churchill to Truman, May, 1945
Box 8
- Churchill from Truman, June-July, 1945
- Churchill to Truman, June-July, 1945
- Churchill's trip to Florida [November-December, 1945]
- Harriman from Truman, 1945
- Harriman to Truman, 1945
- Harriman to Truman, 1946
- Hurley from Truman, 1945
- Hurley to Truman, 1945
- Marshall from Truman, 1946
- Marshall to Truman, 1946
- Miscellaneous communications from Truman, 1945
- Miscellaneous communications to Truman, 1945
Box 9
- Miscellaneous communications from Truman, 1946
- Miscellaneous communications to Truman, 1946
- Miscellaneous communications other than Presidential [1945-1946][1 of 2]
- Miscellaneous communications other than Presidential [1945-1946][2 of 2]
- Stalin conference with Harry Hopkins, May, 1945
- Stalin from Truman, 1945
- Stalin to Truman, 1945
- Stalin and Truman, 1946
- Winant from Truman [1945]
- Winant to Truman [1945-1946]
Box 10
- Arabian relations [December 10, 1947]
- Atomic Energy [1945-1955, bulk dates 1946 - 1949]
- Council of Foreign Ministers - London, September, 1945
- Council of Foreign Ministers - meetings, 1946
- Council of Foreign Ministers - messages to the President from the Secretary of State, April - May, 1946
- Council of Foreign Ministers - meetings, June - July, 1946
- Council of Foreign Ministers - March - April, 1947
- Council of Foreign Ministers - November - December, 1947
Box 11
- Crimean Conference - minutes of James F. Byrnes [February, 1945]
- Diplomatic relations with Finland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania [May - June, 1945]
- European Recovery Program [December 1, 1947]
- Europe [January 15, 1946]
- Europe, Peace Conference for [May 30, 1948]
- France [November - December, 1947]
- Germany - surrender, treaty, armistice [April - August, 1945][1 of 2]
- Germany - surrender, treaty, armistice [April - August, 1945][2 of 2]
- Germany - zones of occupation in Germany and Austria (April - May, 1945)
- Germany - zones of occupation in Germany and Austria (July - November, 1945)
- Great Britain [March, 1948]
- Greece
Box 12
- Hopkins - Stalin conference in Moscow, May - June, 1945
- Intelligence [September, 1945]
- Italy [November, 1947]
- Japanese Peace Conference [September, 1951] [1 of 4]
- Japanese Peace Conference [September, 1951] [2 of 4]
- Japanese Peace Conference [September, 1951] [3 of 4]
- Japanese Peace Conference [September, 1951] [4 of 4]
- Japan - surrender [April - September, 1945] [1 of 4]
Box 13
- Japan - surrender [April - September, 1945] [2 of 4]
- Japan - surrender [April - September, 1945] [3 of 4]
- Japan - surrender [April - September, 1945] [4 of 4]
- Korea [1948 - 1952]
- Korea - messages, June, 1950 [J.C.S. and CINCFE]
- Korea - messages, July, 1950 [J.C.S. and CINCFE]
Box 14
- Korea - Messages (J.C.S. and CINCFE) - August - September, 1950
- Korea - Messages (J.C.S. and CINCFE) - October - November, 1950
- Korea - Messages (J.C.S. and CINCFE) - December, 1950
- Korea - Messages (J.C.S. and CINCFE) - January - April, 1951
- Middle East [December, 1947]
- Miscellaneous [January - April, 1947]
- Pacific: Soviet - Chinese relations: talks between Stalin and T.V. Soong, April 10, 1945
- Pacific: Soviet - Chinese relations: talks between Stalin and T.V. Soong, July - August, 1945
- Palestine [January - April, 1948]
- Pauley, Edwin G. - correspondence on reparations [August - December, 1947]
- Roosevelt, Elliot - comments in Moscow [December, 1946]
- Rumania [November, 1947]
- Russia [1948]
- Soviet Union, American Relations with the - a report by Clark M. Clifford, September 24, 1946
Box 15
- Trips of the President - May - September 16, 1945 (incoming messages)
- Trips of the President - May - September 16, 1945 (outgoing messages)
- Trips of the President - September 22 - December 10, 1945
- Trips of the President - December 28, 1945 - March 10, 1946
- Truman Doctrine - reactions to Truman's speech, March 12, 1947
- United Nations Conference on International Organization - Executive Committee, 1945
Box 16
- United Nations Organization [December, 1945 - March, 1946] [1 of 3]
- United Nations Organization [December, 1945 - March, 1946] [2 of 3]
- United Nations Organization [December, 1945 - March, 1946] [3 of 3]
- United Nations Organization - Daily Secret Summaries, March - April, 1946
- United Nations Organization - Daily Secret Summaries, May, 1946
- United Nations Organization - Daily Secret Summaries, June - August, 1946
- Visits [July, 1945 - February, 1946]
- Wallace, Henry A. - reaction to talks, September, 1946
- Wallace, Henry A. - reaction to talks, April, 1947
- World Situation [Secretary of State George C. Marshall's November 6, 1947 cabinet presentation]
WAR DEPARTMENT INTELLIGENCE REVIEW FILE, 1946-1947
Box 17
- February, 1946 [Nos. 1-3]
- March, 1946 [Nos. 4-7]
- April, 1946 [Nos. 8-11]
- May, 1946 [Nos. 12-16]
Box 18
- June, 1946 [Nos. 17-20]
- July, 1946 [Nos. 21-24]
- August, 1946 [Nos. 25-29]
- September, 1946 [Nos. 30-33]
Box 19
- October, 1946 [Nos. 34-38]
- November, 1946 [Nos. 39-42]
- December, 1946 [Nos. 43-45]
- January, 1947 [Nos. 46-50]
Box 20
- February, 1947 [Nos. 51-54]
- March, 1947 [Nos. 55-58]
- April, 1947 [Nos. 59-62]
- May, 1947 [Nos. 63-67]
Box 21
- June, 1947 [Nos. 68-71]
STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFS FILE, 1945-1953
Box 21
Box 22
- January - May, 1946
- June - August, 1946
- September - December, 1946
- January - May, 1947
- June - August, 1947
- September - December, 1947
- January - April, 1948
- May - August, 1948
Box 23
- September - December, 1948
- January - April, 1949
- May - August, 1949
- September - December, 1949
- January - April, 1950
- May - July, 1950
- August - October, 1950
- November - December, 1950
Box 24
- January - February, 1951
- March - April, 1951
- May - June, 1951
- July - August, 1951
- September - October, 1951
- November - December, 1951
- January - February, 1952
- March - April, 1952
Box 25
- May - June, 1952
- July - August, 1952
- September, 1952
- October, 1952
- November, 1952
- December, 1952 - January, 1953
NAVAL SERVICE CASE FILE, 1945-1953
Box 26
- A
- Ba - Be
- Bi - Bo
- Br - By
- Ca - Ch
- Ci - Con
Box 27
- Coo - Cz
- D
- E
- F
- G
- Ha - Harr
Box 28
- Hart - Holl
- Holt - Hy
- I
- J
- K
- L
Box 29
- Mc
- Ma
- Me - Mi
- Mo - My
- N - O
- P
- Q
Box 30
- Ra
- Re - Ri
- Ro - Ru
- Sa - Se
- Sh - So
Box 31
- Sp - Sz
- T
- U - V
- Wa - We
- Wh - Wy
- X - Z