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).
January 1, 1949
ON DECEMBER 12, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution approving the conclusions of the report of the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea and declaring in part "that there has been established a lawful…
January 3, 1948
I HAVE signed today an Executive order which delegates certain authority vested in me by S.J. Res. 167 which I signed on December 30.
Responsibility for consulting with representatives of industry, business, and agriculture in reaching…
January 3, 1946
Dear General Bradley:
I have today given my approval to H.R. 4717, an enactment to establish a Department of Medicine and Surgery in the Veterans' Administration.
I recognize the emergency situation which confronts the…
January 3, 1950
Dear Mr. Cooke:
For more than a century, the Federal Government has played a vital role in harnessing our water resources and converting them to the beneficial and productive use of the Nation.
Over this period our water resources…
January 2, 1952
AFTER extensive study of the matter with the Secretary of the Treasury, I have decided to institute a sweeping reorganization of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
This reorganization is part of a program to prevent improper conduct in…
January 4th, 1947
Dear Mr. Baruch:
The Secretary of State has handed me your letter of resignation as the Representative of the United States on the Atomic Energy Commission.
At first I was reluctant to accept the resignation. However, upon reflection…
January 3, 1951
THE Excess Profits Tax Act of 1950, which I have signed today, is the second step the Congress has taken since the start of aggression in Korea to help meet the rapidly rising costs of national defense. The Congress and its committees…
April 12, 1945
THE WORLD may be sure that we will prosecute the war on both fronts, east and west, with all the vigor we possess to a successful conclusion.
NOTE: The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone at 7:09 p.m. in the…
January 16, 1947
Gentlemen:
I am exceedingly pleased to receive your joint letter of January 16 in which you advise that you have reached full and complete agreement on a plan for the unification of the armed services.
I recognize that…
Message to the Congress Transmitting First Report on Inclusion of Escape Clauses in Trade Agreements
January 14, 1952
[Released January 14, 1952. Dated January 10, 1952]
To the Congress of the United States:
Pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 6 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951 (Public Law 50,
82nd…
January 19, 1948
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1948, under the Reorganization Act of 1945, which transfers the United States Employment Service and the Bureau of Employment Security…
January 12, 1951
THE Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, which I have signed today, is designed to protect life and property in the United States in case of enemy assault. It affords the basic framework for preparations to minimize the effects of an…
April 25, 1945
[ Delivered from the White House by direct wire ]
Delegates to the United Nations Conference on International Organization:
The world has experienced a revival of an old faith in the everlasting moral force of
justice. At…
January 10, 1950
My dear Judge Kenyon:
I want to express my appreciation of your service as United States Representative on the Commission on the Status of Women of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations during the past…
January 13, 1949
To the Senate of the United States:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith a certified copy of the Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights…
January 11, 1946
The Speaker of the House of Representatives:
SIR: Pursuant to the provisions of the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1945, and the Military Appropriation Act, 1946, I have the honor to transmit herewith for the…
May 14, 1948
THIS GOVERNMENT has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional government thereof.
The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto…
May 3, 1946
I HAVE ASKED Mr. Myron C. Taylor to return to Italy as my personal representative to His Holiness the Pope, with the rank of Ambassador.
After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Taylor came home for consultation and report. I have studied…
August 14, 1945
THE PRESIDENT. [reading]: "I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government--"
Before I go any further, this will be in the form of releases, so you don't have to copy it unless you want to. "--in reply to the…
May 3, 1950
To the Congress of the United States:
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 of the War Claims Act of 1948, I transmit herewith the report of the War Claims Commission required by that Section. In the absence of a thorough…
May 17, 1949
My dear Mon:
It is with the deepest regret that I yield to your request to withdraw my nomination of you to be Chairman of the National Security Resources Board. Like you, I am convinced that had your name been permitted to go before the…
May 22, 1947
THE ACT authorizing United States assistance to Greece and Turkey, which I have just signed, is an important step in the building of the peace. Its passage by overwhelming majorities in both Houses of the Congress is proof that the United…
May 10, 1951
THE REPORT of the President's Committee on Religion and Welfare in the Armed Forces is the first complete appraisal of these important programs since World War II. I am confident it will provide an invaluable guide for our expanding Armed…
April 18, 1952
THANK YOU very much. I have been in the midst of the press for the last 2 days. I had 450 editors on my hands yesterday afternoon, and they asked me everything from Genesis to Revelations. I don't know whether I gave them the right…
May 10, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Good morning everybody. Please be seated.
I don't have any announcements for you this morning, but I will try to answer questions if I can.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, the Veterans Administration tells me that they…