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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 9, 1950 [1.] COLUMBIA, MISSOURI (Upon receiving an honorary degree at the University of Missouri, 11:05 a.m.) President Middlebush and friends: I appreciate the honor which has been conferred upon me more than I can tell you. There…
July 8, 1946 Dear Mr. Fabian: I have your letter of May 31, 1946, in which you say "In looking ahead to further cooperation in the Government's program, I feel it is vitally necessary that you designate some agency which will serve as a…
October 5, 1945 THE PRESIDENT of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Gold Star in lieu of the Third Distinguished Service Medal to FLEET ADMIRAL CHESTER WILLIAM NIMITZ, UNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the following…
July 21, 1949 THE PRESIDENT. I have one announcement to make. Tony,1 I will make it slowly, so that you can get it down. 1Ernest B. Vaccaro of the Associated Press. Q. Thank you, sir. [Laughter] [1.] THE PRESIDENT, I am…
June 10, 1950 [1.] At the Battery D Breakfast (Crystal Room, Hotel Jefferson, 8:40 a.m.) Well, as usual, it has been a most successful party. I am more than happy to see so many of you here this morning. I have understood that the model cabinet…
July 15, 1948 IT BECOMES my sad duty to announce that John J. Pershing, General of the Armies of the United States, a great American, died this morning at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington. Embodied in General Pershing's character were all…
July 19, 1951 To the Congress of the United States: Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1102 of the Classification Act of 1949, I am transmitting herewith the first annual report of the Civil Service Commission under the Act, and…
July 10, 1946 IN THE DEATH of Sidney Hillman the cause of democracy in this country and the world loses one of its most effective and devoted exponents. Sidney Hillman was more than a distinguished labor leader; he was a great humanitarian and an…
June 10, 1952 [As delivered in person before a joint session] Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of the Congress: I should like to report to the Congress on certain events that have happened in connection with the current dispute in the…
July 30, 1947 I HAVE today approved House Resolution 3587, providing for a study of United States aviation problems by the Congress. The act establishes a temporary Congressional Aviation Policy Board. This 10-man board, to be composed of 5 members of…
July 19, 1951 Dear Mr. Harriman: Early yesterday I returned from a survey flight over the flood-stricken areas of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. I was appalled at what I saw. The extent and the violence of the destruction to homes, farms…
June 11, 1952 Memorandum for: Secretary of Defense Attached is copy of a letter from Senator Russell, which I think has a lot of merit. It seems to me that it would be well to ask Sweden, Switzerland, India, Pakistan and Indonesia to send…
July 20, 1948 IT IS a genuine pleasure to sign this special testimonial of the admiration and esteem of your host of Army comrades. You are one of the select few who have devoted a half century in the active military service to the defense of the…
October 5, 1945 [ Released October 5, 1945. Dated October 4, 1945 ] My dear Cap: I have your letter in which you request to be relieved of your responsibilities as Chairman of the War Production Board. It is with regret that I accede to…
July 11, 1946 IT'S A PLEASURE to me to be able to welcome you to Washington this morning. I understand that one of your tremendous problems is a result of the war. So many people now want education who didn't want it before, that you are having a…
June 10, 1950 Mr. Chairman, Governor Smith, Mayor Darst, His Excellency the Archbishop, members of the 35th Division, ladies and gentlemen: This is indeed a great occasion. I want to thank His Excellency, the Ambassador of France, for his…
July 25, 1949 THE AMERICAN people value peace and freedom above all things. Our ratification of the North Atlantic Pact with the overwhelming support of the Senate and the people shows our determination to preserve this peace and freedom. This treaty…
July 31, 1947 I AM withholding my approval of H.R. 1180, "To authorize the coinage of 50-cent pieces in commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the admission of Wisconsin into the Union as a State". The proposed legislation would authorize…
July 31, 1947 [Released July 31, 1947. Dated July 30, 1947] I HAVE withheld my approval of H.R. 981, a bill "To amend section 2 of the Act of January 29, 1942 (56 Stat. 21), relating to the refund of taxes illegally paid by Indian citizens." H.R. 981…
July 19, 1951 Dear Mr. Wilson: I am deeply concerned with the seriousness of the flood damage throughout the Middle West. Approximately two million acres of farm land in an area extending one thousand miles in length have been inundated. A…
June 11, 1952 Dear Dick: I appreciated very much your letter of the tenth as the result of our conversation yesterday on the situation in Korea. I hope we can get a concrete result. I am enclosing for you a copy of a memorandum which I…
July 25, 1949 To the Congress of the United States: To continue and strengthen our program for world peace and national security, I recommend that the Congress enact legislation authorizing military aid to free nations to enable them to…
July 11, 1946 THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have some reports I want to call your attention to. The Evaluation Board of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has put out a preliminary report, and the President's Evaluation Commission, headed by Senator Hatch, has put out…
June 12, 1950 I AM glad to have you ladies and gentlemen here this morning. I think this is the third time I have met with you. I told you, I think, the last time, that I listen to that farm broadcast nearly every morning at 5:30, and that I enjoy it a…
October 7, 1945 Jim Ahern, my friends of Southeast Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois: It is a pleasure to be here today. Once again I am your guest at the American Legion Fair. It is a customary procedure for…