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 28, 1951
THE PRESIDENT, Please be seated.
[1.] I have an announcement to make, that Francis P. Matthews will be Ambassador to Ireland and Dan Kimball will be Secretary of the Navy.
[2.] And I have a very important…
July 10, 1947
THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make this morning. I thought maybe you might have some questions you might like to ask me.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, Senator Barkley, on his way out a moment ago, said you would veto the new…
May 23, 1952
Dear Mr. Secretary:
The labor disputes underlying the issuance of Executive Order No. 10141, dated July 8, 1950, and Executive Order No. 10155, dated August 25, 1950, have now been settled and interruptions in normal rail…
September 20, 1945
My dear Mr. Secretary:
I have today signed an Executive order which provides for the transfer to the State Department of the functions, personnel, and other resources of the Research and Analysis Branch and the…
June 29, 1951
I HAVE today signed Executive orders transferring administrative responsibility for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and for American Samoa from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior, effective July 1, 1951…
June 30, 1949
I HAVE today signed H.R. 2989, an act to incorporate the Virgin Islands Corporation.
The principal objective of the new corporation will be to bring about the utmost possible development of the economic resources of the Virgin Islands…
June 20, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. I have no particular announcements to make today, so you might as well start off with your questions.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, do you endorse the suggestion that Mr. La Guardia run for the Senate when Jim Mead declares for…
May 22, 1950
I HAVE just received the report of the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. For the past 2 years, this Committee has been working quietly to find ways and means to bring about true equality…
June 22, 1948
AGREEMENT has been reached between the Government of the United States and the Provisional Government of Israel on the establishment of a Mission of the United States in Israel and a Mission of the Provisional Government of Israel in the…
June 26, 1946
I HAVE APPOINTED a committee of industrialists and bankers to make a report and recommendation on the financing of international reconstruction. They will work closely with the National Advisory Council, which has the duty of formulating…
May 24, 1952
I am very happy, indeed, to be here today. I have had a chance to meet all of you, and to renew my acquaintance with your great Academy. It has always been my custom, when I take a review, to check on the marching ability of the different…
June 30, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith a letter from the Administrator of the Federal Works Agency, enclosing a report on Highway Needs of the National Defense.
The report was prepared at the request of…
July 2, 1951
Dear Mr. Keyserling:
Thank you for transmitting to me the report on the New England economy submitted to the Council of Economic Advisers.
Studies of regional economic problems can be a valuable aid in development of national…
June 25, 1948
IT IS with very great reluctance that I have signed S. 2242, the Displaced Persons Act of 1948.
If the Congress were still in session, I would return this bill without my approval and urge that a fairer, more humane bill be passed. In…
July 14, 1947
DEEP CONCERN is being expressed in many quarters over possible results of the recent settlement between the miners and the coal operators. It is widely feared that this settlement may lead to a substantial increase in the price of coal,…
May 22, 1950
Dear Governor Griswold:
On this third anniversary of the adoption by Congress of the Greek-Turkish aid program, it is appropriate that public recognition be given to the men and women who, in the critical Greek situation, have…
September 21, 1945
CITATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
AS SECRETARY OF WAR from the beginning of the actual mobilization of the Army to the final victory over Japan, Henry Lewis Stimson gave the United States of America a measure of distinguished…
May 22, 1950
To the Congress of the United States:
I transmit herewith to the Congress, pursuant to the United Nations Participation Act, my fourth annual report on the activities of the United Nations and the participation of the United…
Letter to Jess Larson on the Signing of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
June 30, 1949
My dear Mr. Larson:
I have today signed H.R. 4754 which was passed by the Congress "To simplify the procurement, utilization, and disposal of Government property, to reorganize certain agencies of the Government, and for…
September 22, 1945
[Released September 22, 1945. Dated September 6, 1945]
U.S. INITIAL POST-SURRENDER POLICY FOR JAPAN
Purpose of this Document
This document is a statement of general initial policy relating to Japan after surrender. It has been…
July 4, 1951
[Released July 4, 1951. Dated July 3, 1951.]
My dear Mr. Vice President:
I am forwarding to you for your information copies of the second Quarterly Report to the President by the Director of Defense Mobilization. This report…
July 15, 1947
I HAVE today approved H.R. 3647, extending until March 1, 1948, the authority of the Government to regulate the export of commodities which are in critically short supply here and abroad; to control the importation and domestic use of a…
June 26, 1948
I HAVE today signed H.R. 6556, the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1948. Unfortunately, this act extends for only 1 year the authority to enter into reciprocal trade agreements. It also makes unwise changes in the procedure for…
June 27, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] First I want to announce that Captain Clifford has been made Special Counsel to the President. He has been acting in that capacity nearly all the time since Judge Rosenman left; and Captain James H. Foskett, U.S. Navy,…
May 26, 1952
I AM more than happy to meet with this conference of farm, labor, and consumer groups. I am a little bit hoarse--I have been talking to the "Big four," two Members of the House and two Members of the Senate. I couldn't afford to let them…