Press conferences

Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., Commander of the Third Fleet, in Washington for a conference, predicted that fighting on Iwo Jima would be "very tough", but doubted the Japanese fleet would come out to interfere. He is shown here at a press conference at the Navy Department. From: Beth Gore

National Commander Paul H. Griffith, shown here, telling a press conference that the American Legion would "start from scratch" and cooperate with General Omar N. Bradley, Veterans Administrator, in carrying out VA programs. He indicated the Legion would "let bygones be bygones" and discontinue the running battle carried on against Bradley by former Commander John Steele. From: Beth Gore

Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, Chairman of the Army's Gripe Board, appearing at a press conference after finishing taking testimony from 40 witnesses, including 36 Army men ranging from Private to Five Star General. From: Beth Gore

General Jacob L. Devers, Chief of the Army Ground Forces, telling newsmen during a press conference that he hoped to put 7,000,000 men into a single Pacific punch at the Japanese. From: Beth Gore.

President Harry S. Truman leaves the Executive Office buildings after a press conference on the British-Iranian Oil Crisis. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

Jonathan Daniels, White House Press Secretary, talks to reporters who piled into his office hoping for an official announcement by President Truman of Germany's surrender. From: Beth Gore.

Dr. Edward U. Condon, head of the Bureau of Standards, meeting with members of the press following hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee. From: Beth Gore.

General Lucius D. Clay, American Commander in Germany, telling a press conference at the Pentagon that the Russians have developed a German Communist police force of 200,000 to 300,000 in the Soviet zone of Germany. From: Beth Gore.

President Harry S. Truman in the Oval Office, reading to the assembled members of the press his announcement of the Japanese surrender, officially signaling the war's end. Behind the President seated just to his right are Admiral William D. Leahy, Presidential Chief of Staff, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and directly behind them, Attorney General Tom Clark. Journalist Vivianne Lovell of Agence France-Presse stands in the striped dress on the left.

President Truman, dressed in what he calls his seashore seagull shirt, relaxes at his first press conference in three weeks at the "Winter White House" in Key West. This 10 x 14 photo shows the President surrounded by his staff.