Speeches, addresses, etc.

President Harry S. Truman addressing a joint session of Congress asking lawmakers to enact legislation authorizing the government to seize the steel industry and run it until the contract dispute is settled. Seated behind him are Vice President Alben Barkley, left, and House Majority Leader John W. McCormack. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio (right, seated in third row from floor) sits with his hand to his mouth as he hears President Harry S. Truman (at rostrum, extreme left) denounce the Taft-Hartley Act and ask congress to quickly give him power to seize and operate the struck steel industry. Seated in the same row as Senator Taft are from left: Joseph McCarthy (Wisconsin), Richard Nixon (California) and Andrew Schoeppel (Kansas). Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman speaking at an electric consumers meeting in Washington. He displayed a magazine advertisement he condemned as power monopolies propaganda to frighten, threaten and confuse the people. (Similar to 69-579 except not airbrushed) Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman speaking at the dedication of the new National Headquarters of AMVETS. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman speaks at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C. Bess Truman, wife of President Truman, smiles as he announced he will not seek re-election. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman, accompanied by Democratic Party Chairman Frank McKinney, walks to the speaker's platform at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman leaves the speaker's table with the notes of his speech at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. The President announced that he would not seek re-election. The Chief Executive declared "I shall not be a candidate for re-election. I have served my country long and, I believe, honestly. I do not feel it is my duty to spend another four years in the White House". Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman is shown as he addressed the nation. The President asked Congress for nearly eight billion dollars in new foreign aid funds. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman delivered his State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress, meeting in the House Chamber. Seated behind the President are Vice President Alben W. Barkley (left) and House Speaker Sam Rayburn (right). Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society

President Harry S. Truman takes a drink of water as he delivers his State of the Union message before a Joint Session of Congress. Donor: Hennepin County Historical Society