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).
April 13, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
I recommend that legislation be enacted reorganizing certain Federal activities in the Columbia River Valley to the end that the Federal Government may play a more effective part in the…
April 4, 1952
Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Mr. Secretary of State, and distinguished guests:
I am sure we all appreciate very highly the gracious remarks of Her Majesty, Queen Juliana. We are honored to have her and her husband with…
April 10, 1946
I HAVE TODAY signed an Executive Order1 transferring corporations of the Office of Inter-American Affairs to the Department of State. The order terminates the Office of Inter-American Affairs, and places those of its functions involving…
April 15, 1948
THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make this morning, so I am ready for questions.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, what do you think about the troubles which developed down in Bogata' last week? 1
THE PRESIDENT. I am…
March 15, 1950
I HAVE examined reports on the progress made by the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission and have been encouraged to note that many of the difficulties caused by the long delay in obtaining an appropriation for the work of the…
July 5, 1945
IT IS with great satisfaction that I announce that effective today as of 7 p.m. Eastern War Time the Government of the United
States has established diplomatic relations with the newly formed Polish Provisional Government of National Unity…
April 11, 1951
[1.] Statement by the President:
With deep regret I have concluded that General of the Army Douglas MacArthur is unable to give his wholehearted support to the policies of the United States Government and of the United…
April 11, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] The first thing I want to mention to you is a revision of the budget for the fiscal year 1946. We now anticipate net receipts for 1946--the fiscal year 1946 of 42,900 million, which is about 4,300 million above the…
April 24, 1947
THE PRESIDENT. I have no special announcements to make. Most of them have been made. If you have any questions you would like to ask, I will try to answer them.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, I have been asked to ask you whether you plan to go…
April 11, 1951
[ Broadcast from the White House at 10:30 p.m. ]
My fellow Americans:
I want to talk to you plainly tonight about what we are doing in Korea and about our policy in the Far East.
In the simplest terms, what we are doing in…
April 4, 1952
Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Mr. Secretary of the Interior, distinguished guests:
It is a very great pleasure indeed, Your Majesty, to accept this symbolic bell for the carillon. I appreciate your thoughtfulness very…
March 25, 1950
My dear Mr. Chairman:
I understand that the House of Representatives will soon consider the Foreign Assistance Act of 1950. I believe the Congress of the United States has an opportunity to strike a major blow for peace on…
April 14, 1949
THE PRESIDENT. I just wanted to say that I have no special announcements to make this morning. Any questions you want to ask? Now, go ahead.
[1.] Q. Is the--are you going to let the Navy go ahead with the plans for that world's biggest…
April 15, 1948
I AM deeply shocked at the news of the sudden death of President Manuel Roxas of the Philippines. In his passing, the Philippine people have lost a great leader and the United States of America a true friend.
He assumed office as…
July 5, 1945
I AM GRATIFIED to learn from your message to me transmitted through your Ambassador at Moscow that the Polish
Provisional Government of National Unity was established on June 28, 1945 in conformity with the Crimea decision. I am pleased
to…
April 15, 1949
IN MARCH 1948, at the first meeting of the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission, which was created by Congress to plan the celebration of the 150th birthday anniversary of our Nation's Capital, I said: "It is a matter of…
April 16, 1948
[ Released April 16, 1948. Dated April 15, 1948 ]
My dear Admiral Smith:
As you know, I am recommending to the Congress that the 1949 Budget of the United States Maritime Commission be amended to provide $100,000,000 in…
April 29, 1947
Mr. President, distinguished guests, and friends:
It is an especial pleasure for me to greet you here in Washington, Mr. President, as the guest of the Government and people of the United States. It gives me the deepest…
April 11, 1946
SINCE THE BUDGET MESSAGE was issued in January, the outlook for both revenues and expenditures for 1946 has changed materially. Revenues proved to be considerably higher than we anticipated, while expenditures are now expected to be…
April 7, 1952
Dear____________:
I ask the Congress as a matter of the utmost urgency to act, before it commences its Easter recess, to extend for a period of sixty days emergency powers which otherwise will terminate when the treaty of…
March 28, 1950
Dear Senator Tydings:
This is in reply to your letter of March 22, 1950, in which you have asked for the production before your Subcommittee of the investigative files relating to Government employees who are or have been…
July 6, 1945
To the Heads of all Executive Departments and Agencies:
Throughout the war period I have been concerned with the necessity of extreme care in the handling of government
funds, especially when expenditures are at such…
April 13, 1951
I AM happy to learn from Speaker Rayburn that Congress is planning to invite General MacArthur to address the Members of both Houses. I regard it as fitting that Congress bestow this honor on one of our great military men.
January 15, 1947
THE PROBLEM of reducing the death rate on the Nation's highways remains one of the most serious problems in our daily life. It is an appalling fact that 34,000 American citizens were killed in automobile accidents in 1946. I therefore…
January 10, 1949
[Released January 10, 1949. Dated January 3, 1949]
To the Congress of the United States:
I am transmitting my recommendations for the Budget of the United States for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950.
Under the laws…