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).
July 2, 1948
I AM withholding approval of H.R. 6818, a bill "To amend title X of the Social Security Act (relating to aid to the blind) so as to provide greater encouragement of blind recipients thereunder to become self-supporting.''
I believe that…
June 1, 1950
THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make. I will try to answer questions.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, Senator Humphrey made a speech yesterday, in which he invited the liberal Republicans to join the Democratic Party, and in…
July 21, 1947
To the Congress of the United States:
When my first Economic Report was presented to the Congress on January 8, 1947, the Nation was turning from the economic controls of wartime to a free economy. Now, 6 months later, it is…
July 12, 1949
THE DIRECTOR of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has reported to me on the status of the current dispute between the major companies in the basic steel industry and the United Steel Workers of America, CIO. It appears that…
September 29, 1945
[ Released September 29, 1945. Dated August 31, 1945 ]
My dear General Eisenhower:
I have received and considered the report of Mr. Earl G. Harrison, our representative on the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees,…
July 13, 1949
Benjamin F. Fairless, President,
U.S. Steel Corporation.
Charles M. White, President,
Republic Steal Corporation.
Arthur B. Homer, President,
Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
In reply to your telegram of July 12 the present…
June 4, 1952
I APPRECIATE this presentation very much. It is certainly kind and thoughtful of your Press Club to remember me in this way.
I shall always treasure it, and I hope that I can live up to the sentiments expressed in the sentence which is on…
June 29, 1946
[Delivered from the White House at 9 p.m.]
My fellow countrymen:
The crucial situation which confronts our country requires that I report to the people this evening.
Today I returned to the Congress without my approval the…
October 1, 1945
Dear Mr. Hopkins:
I have your letter of September twenty-ninth and approve the action taken by the committee appointed by me at the meeting of September fifth.
Now that your recommendations have been made, we can all…
July 12, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
[1.] The Secretary of the Treasury called me just before I left the office over there, and said he wanted me to be sure to remind you that there is going to be a defense bond drive this fall.…
July 22, 1947
UPON this memorable anniversary, I extend to my fellow citizens of the Jewish faith sincere greetings for the New Year.
Let us all, of whatever religious faith, strive together in good works to the end that a just peace,…
June 3, 1950
THE PRESIDENT today established, by Executive order, a five-man Commission on Migratory Labor to make a broad study of conditions among migratory workers in the United States and of problems created by the migration of workers into this…
July 3, 1948
I AM withholding my approval from S. 2794, an act "To authorize the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to prescribe the rates of pay for certain positions at field installations".
This bill would authorize the Administrator to establish…
June 5, 1950
I HAVE today signed the Foreign Economic Assistance Act of 1950. This act is a major contribution to peace and freedom in the world.
This memorable act is a tribute to the wisdom and vigor of the forward-looking Members of the Congress of…
July 23, 1947
Dear Mr.____________:
Public Law 109, Seventy-seventh Congress, approved June 10, 1941, authorized and directed the President of the United States to present to Eire a statue of Commodore John Barry in honor of the…
June 4, 1952
THE PRESIDENT [in reply to a question by Jimmy Carrick concerning the President's giving the first pint of blood].
I think you will find that the blood of a 68-year-old man is not fit for the boys. I would be perfectly willing to do it,…
July 3, 1948
I HAVE today approved H.R. 4044, an act "To amend the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended; to create a commission to make an inquiry and report with respect to war claims; and to provide for relief for internees in certain cases."
This…
July 13, 1949
[Delivered from the White House at 10:30 p.m.]
My fellow citizens:
I want to talk to you tonight about our country, about its future, and about its importance to the hopes and aspirations of all mankind.
It is a good thing…
June 30, 1946
[Released June 30, 1946. Dated June 28, 1946]
Dear Mr. Ross:
I have your letter of June 28, containing the resignations of yourself and your fellow Committee members, together with recommendations made pursuant to Executive…
July 13, 1951
To the Congress of the United States:
I have approved S. 984, an Act relating to the recruitment and employment of agricultural workers from Mexico.
If promptly followed up by other needed measures, this Act can be a first…
October 2, 1945
[ Broadcast from the White House at 10:30 p.m. ]
My fellow citizens of the United States:
This is the month when in cities and towns throughout the country the community war fund is making its annual appeal. Perhaps you…
July 2, 1946
THE PRESIDENT conferred today with the following American members of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Palestine: Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Mr. Louis Lipsky and Rabbi Abba H. Silver.
The representatives of the Jewish…
June 5, 1950
Mr. Secretary of Labor, ladies and gentlemen of the conference:
I am very glad to welcome you to the second session of this conference on industrial safety.
What I am trying to do is to save people from unnecessary death and…
June 5, 1952
Dear Mr. Nyrop:
I send you herewith the Report of the Airport Commission which was submitted by General Doolittle and his associates on May 16th.
This is a most important document. It sets the pattern for future airport…
July 14, 1949
THE PRESIDENT, I have one short announcement to make to you, because I know you will ask some questions about it if I don't announce it.
[1.] [Reading, not literally]: "In the recent Economic Report to Congress,1 I made the following…