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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).

January 19, 1952 THE PRESIDENT. [I.] I want to start this thing off with a couple of readings here which will clear up a lot of things for you if you haven't read the Budget Message. This is in addition to the message. [Reading] "Since drafting the…
May 1, 1945 I WANT TO SAY a word of deserved commendation for an organization which has been subjected to much criticism in recent weeks. I refer to the OPA. Probably no other government agency comes into such intimate contact with every citizen during…
January 19, 1946 THE PRESIDENT. This is the first time you have had a chance to sit down. [Laughter] [1.] You never saw a bigger one than that, I bet. [Indicating the Budget book] I have got a file of them all, since 1934, and they are right…
January 19, 1951 Dear Mr. Weil: The members of the President's Committee on Religion and Welfare in the Armed Forces deserve the thanks of the entire Nation for the work they have accomplished in the approximately two years during which…
January 30, 1947 [Broadcast from the White House at 11:45 p.m.] Fellow Americans: Again it is my privilege to speak to you about a movement that should have the heartfelt support of all of us. I refer to the continuing fight against the…
January 30, 1948 THIS MORNING when I heard the tragic news of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, I sent a message to Earl Mountbatten, the Governor General of India, expressing my condolences to him and to the people of India. Gandhi was a great…
January 21, 1950 I AM releasing herewith a letter which I have received from the Secretary of State about the action of the House of Representatives in rejecting the Korean aid bill on Thursday by a vote of 193 to 191. I entirely concur in the…
August 3, 1949 IT IS a pleasure to greet you this morning. You are making records for yourselves that will be useful when it comes time for you to run the Government. It won't be long now, from my way of calculation time, when you will all be…
July 26, 1951 To the Congress of the United States: I transmit herewith, pursuant to the United Nations Participation Act, a report on our participation in the work of the United Nations during 1950. It is a record of decision and action…
July 15, 1946 IT IS a very great pleasure to me today to be able to put the seventh regimental citation on your banners. You are to be congratulated on what you have done for this great country of ours. I think it was my predecessor who said that…
June 23, 1950 To the House of Representatives: I RETURN herewith, without my approval, H.R. 87, a bill relating to the promotion of veterans of World War II in the field service of the Post Office Department. This bill, for purposes of promotion and…
October 16, 1945 PRESIDENT RIOS of Chile left Washington yesterday after an official visit, during which it was my privilege to have him as a guest at the White House. It was a great pleasure to meet him, not only as a friend and statesman, but also as…
August 5, 1948 THE PRESIDENT. Gentlemen, I have a statement I want to read to you, and you will find it mimeographed outside as you go out. [1.] [Reading] "It now appears that the 80th Congress is determined to take no effective action on the…
August 6, 1947 I AM withholding my approval of H.R. 3997, a bill "To exclude certain vendors of newspapers or magazines from certain provisions of the Social Security Act and Internal Revenue Code". This bill proceeds in a direction which is exactly…
June 14, 1952 Mr. Chairman, Governor Lodge, Mr. Secretary of the Navy, distinguished guests: I am very glad to be here today in Groton, Connecticut. You see, I got the right town this time. Somebody told me last week that this ceremony was going to be…
June 14, 1952 Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Secretary: I certainly do appreciate the model very much. I hope you noticed the introduction that Mr. Hopkins used. He set me 50 years ahead of my time! You know, he made the statement…
October 17, 1945 To the Heads of the Executive Departments and Agencies: Analysis of the present situation in the Community War Fund drive in the government service shows that to date only $900,625 has been pledged, or 41.6 percent of the…
July 26, 1951 THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated. I have no particular announcements to make to you. I will try to answer questions. [1.] Q. Mr. President, General MacArthur made a speech last night,1 and he said these things: in Korea the…
August 5, 1948 To the Congress of the United States: Pursuant to the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, I am reporting to the Congress concerning a labor dispute which recently existed in the bituminous coal industry. The significant…
August 4, 1949 THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have a statement for you--getting to be a habit here lately. Saves a lot of questions, I find, though, if you clear them up before you start. [Reading]: "The Department of State is publishing tomorrow a volume…
June 24, 1950 Mr. Mayor, Governor Lane, Senator Tydings, Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen: I am very happy to participate in the dedication of this great airport. I was also most pleased to initiate your great Mayor into his first…
August 7, 1947 I HAVE withheld my approval from HR 597, "To protect American agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and the public health by prohibiting the unauthorized importation into, or the depositing in the territorial waters of, the United States…
July 16, 1946 Admiral Mitscher, and distinguished guests here today: It is a very great pleasure to me to have had the privilege of presenting citations to these aircraft carriers. They made remarkable records. When you read those records…
August 10, 1948 I HAVE today given my approval to H.R. 6959, the so-called "Housing Act of 1948." When I addressed the special session on July 27, 1948, I strongly urged the Congress to complete action on S. 866, the comprehensive Taft-Ellender-Wagner…
August 7, 1947 I HAVE withheld my approval from H.R. 3332, a bill entitled "An Act creating the Saint Lawrence Bridge Commission and authorizing said Commission and its successors to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Saint Lawrence…