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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).

August 27, 1947 THE CHAIRMAN of the President's Scientific Research Board, whom I directed last October to study the scientific research and development of this country, has made his first report to me. Mr. Steelman's report, entitled "Science and…
August 6, 1951 [Released August 6, 1951. Dated August 3, 1951] Dear Phil: I read with a lot of interest your letter of July twenty-third regarding the Missouri River basin. Your organization is to be congratulated for raising special…
August 27, 1947 My dear Mr. Secretary: I have today issued the attached proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the week of October 5--11, 1947, as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In that…
July 30, 1946 I AM GRATIFIED that Congress has passed the Joint Resolution authorizing me to accept membership for the United States in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. I attach the greatest importance to this agency…
August 7, 1951 Dear Kenneth: I am gravely concerned about an item of very special significance in H.R. 4740, the State, Justice, Commerce, and Judiciary appropriation bill. This item is the appropriation to cover the contributions which we…
August 22, 1949 Mr. Commander in Chief, distinguished guests, fellow members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars: I am happy to be in Miami today to help celebrate the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of this organization. I want to thank you for…
June 30, 1950 AT A MEETING with congressional leaders at the White House this morning, the President, together with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reviewed with them the latest developments of the…
September 6, 1948 Mr. Mayor, distinguished leaders of labor and fellow citizens: This, in my opinion, is a great day for labor. This is a great day for the country. When I can stand on this same platform in the city of Detroit with the…
November 5, 1945 Ladies and gentlemen of the Labor-Management Conference: In a radio broadcast to the American people last Tuesday night, I said: "I am convinced that if labor and management will approach each other, with the realization…
June 26, 1952 THANK YOU very much. You are really doing something for the benefit of the country. You are finding out how government works, and what government under our system means by actual experience. Now this one person before you here has been…
September 9, 1948 THE PRESIDENT. I have no statements for you this morning, so if you want to ask questions, I will try to answer them. [1.] Q. Mr. President, can you tell us in any more detail about your campaign plans--immediate? THE PRESIDENT.…
August 23, 1949 To the House of Representatives: I am returning without my approval H.R. 3788, "To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate and maintain the Vermejo reclamation project, New Mexico." The bill would…
June 26, 1952 I HAVE today signed an Executive order on essential industrial apprentices and approved a policy on agricultural labor which together will contribute materially to our program of maintaining necessary industrial and farm production…
August 8, 1951 Dear Kenneth: I am transmitting today supplemental estimates of appropriations for flood control work for the fiscal year 1952. At the same time, I wish to urge the Congress to restore the funds eliminated by the House of…
July 30, 1946 To the Senate of the United States: With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the treaty of general relations and protocol between the United States of America and the…
November 7, 1945 [ Released November 7, 1945. Dated November 6, 1945 ] Dear Clarence: I wish to bring particularly to your attention my communication to the Speaker under date of October 18, 1945, (House Document No. 343), regarding the…
August 28, 1947 [Released August 28, 1947. Dated August 6, 1947] Your Holiness: In continuance of the exchanges of views undertaken from time to time since their beginning, on December 23, 1939, for the purpose of facilitating parallel…
June 30, 1950 Governor Duff, President Houghton, Boy Scouts of the world: I certainly appreciate most highly this decoration you have given me. I hope I can deserve it, and that I can wear it with honor to this great organization. As…
June 26, 1952 Dear Dr. Steelman: I have studied your proposed Defense Manpower Policy No. 6, dealing with some of the pressing problems which confront us in the field of agricultural manpower. As you know, Secretary Brannan has talked…
August 23, 1949 Ladies and gentlemen, and distinguished Members of the Congress from South Carolina: It certainly is a most cordial invitation which you have given to me, and one which it would be exceedingly hard to refuse. I hope that…
September 13, 1948 Mr. President, members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ladies and gentlemen: I am deeply honored in being with you tonight on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Association…
November 13, 1945 To the Congress of the United States of America: This country has pledged itself to do all that is reasonably possible to alleviate the suffering of our war-torn allies and to help them begin the task of restoring their…
July 6, 1950 THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make this morning. I will try to answer questions, if I can. [1.] Q. Mr. President, I wonder if you would comment on the railroad strike and what might be done to bring it to an end? THE…
August 1, 1946 THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I am sending a letter on the budget to all the heads of the executive departments and agencies--a copy of this will be available to you when you go out-asking them to cut expenses as much as possible. And we will…
August 8, 1951 Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests: When the Union Station was built many years ago, this room was supposed to be used by the President for the reception of Kings and Queens and Presidents and Prime Ministers of various…