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).
June 11, 1946
IN VIEW of the urgency of various problems relating to the displaced Jews in Europe and Palestine, I am appointing under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State a Cabinet Committee on Palestine and Related Problems, composed of the…
June 21, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. That clock is 7 minutes fast! [Laughter]
I have no announcements to make. If you want to ask me some questions, I will try to answer them.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, do you plan to do anything about the United…
June 14, 1948
I HAVE today signed a Joint Resolution providing for the U.S. membership and participation in the World Health Organization. I have at the same time signed the Instrument of Acceptance of the Constitution of the World Health Organization…
May 14, 1950
Governor, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
It is a pleasure for me to be here in Wisconsin, one of the great progressive States of the Union. And I am glad to be in Madison, a State capital and a university center…
July 1, 1947
I HAVE just signed the joint resolution authorizing the President to accept membership in the International Refugee Organization. Pursuant to this authorization I have also signed, on behalf of the United States, the necessary instrument…
May 15, 1950
[Broadcast from Chicago, Ill., at 9:54 p.m.]
WE HAVE just heard the voice of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia opening the Savings Bonds Independence Drive.
The Liberty Bell first rang out for independence in July 1776. Then…
June 14, 1948
[1.] SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA (Rear platform, 7:15 a.m.)
Well, Santa Barbara is a nice place. I see the covered wagons are still pulling in here. Everybody must have had a pleasant evening, gone home early, and gotten up…
May 21, 1952
MRS. JONES, I congratulate you on this award.
Next to a child's mother, the greatest influence on his character and his growth into a good citizen is his teacher.
I remember with much pleasure the teachers I had when I was…
June 20, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 1949, prepared in accordance with the Reorganization Act of 1949. This plan is designed to strengthen the administration of the United…
September 13, 1945
Dear General Pershing:
This should be one of the happiest of your many birthdays as you remember that this time we went all the way through to Berlin, as you counseled in 1918. I hail a great soldier who happily…
June 11, 1946
To the Senate of the United States:
In the autumn of 1944, at the invitation of the United States, an International Civil Aviation Conference was held in Chicago. The main purpose and chief result of this Conference was the…
June 21, 1951
THE SECRETARY of the Treasury tells me that you have been very cooperative and very helpful in selling bonds. I want to thank you for it.
You are doing something that is good for your country, something that is good for yourselves, and…
June 20, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 7 of 1949, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949. This plan transfers the Public Roads Administration to…
June 22, 1951
THE PRESIDENT of the Republic of Ecuador and the President of the United States of America have met in Washington, D.C., and have reaffirmed their determination to continue their support of the efforts of the United Nations to reestablish…
June 12, 1946
[ Released June 12, 1946. Dated June 11, 1946 ]
Dear Randolph:
I have received your letter of May twenty-eighth informing me of the successful completion of the Allied negotiations with the Swiss Government on the subject of…
May 15, 1950
Senator Lucas, Governor, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice President of the United States, fellow Democrats:
This pageant we have just seen shows the part that the Democratic Party has played in the building of our country.
The Democratic Party has…
September 14, 1945
[ Released September 14, 1945. Dated September 13, 1945 ]
The Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir: With reference to appropriations and contract authorizations for the Navy Department and naval service, I have…
July 1, 1947
My dear Mr.___________:
I am transmitting a draft of a bill "To provide a more satisfactory program of benefits relating to active service in the armed forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during World War II, and for…
June 14, 1948
Mr. President, Governor Knight, Mr. Mayor, distinguished guests, and members of the Press Club:
This has been a most rousing welcome in this great city in sunny California. The Mayor of Omaha told me that the greatest crowd…
May 21, 1952
THANK YOU very much, Captain. I certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness in placing this plaque on the Blair House. It commemorates an event about which I do not like to think. It taught me a very good lesson, that the President is well and…
June 15, 1948
To the House of Representatives:
I return herewith, without my approval, H.R. 6355, "Making supplemental appropriations for the Federal Security Agency for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, and for other purposes."
This…
September 17, 1945
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT is now in a position to fulfill the main requests of Europe--with the exception of sugar, fats and oils--from this date until January 1 as these requests have been stated to it by the governments of the…
June 22, 1951
Mr. Ewing, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
We are here today to lay the cornerstone of a building which will be devoted to the service of mankind. The men and women who work in this clinical research center will…
June 20, 1949
I HAVE today signed S. 213, 81st Congress, an act to provide benefits for members of the reserve components of the armed forces who suffer disability or death from injuries incurred while engaged in active-duty training for periods of…
June 14, 1946
To the Senate:
I return herewith, without my approval, S. 1805, the purpose of which is to provide for the promotion of personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who were prisoners of war, without regard for the…