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).
May 1, 1947
I AM HAPPY to learn of the splendid program the daily and weekly newspapers of the country have adopted for the summer months as their contribution to the effort all of us are making to reduce the shocking cost in lives and human injuries…
April 8, 1952
[ Broadcast from the White House at 10:30 p.m. ]
My fellow Americans:
Tonight, our country faces a grave danger. We are faced by the possibility that at midnight tonight the steel industry will be shut down. This must not…
July 14, 1945
Dear Henry:
I have given careful consideration to your letter of July thirteenth urging that I send to the Senate immediately the
nomination of Judge Vinson as Secretary of the Treasury.
I am inclined to agree with you that…
April 19, 1948
AS YOU assume the heavy burdens of the office of President, I should like to express to you my confidence that the close and friendly relations which have always existed between the United States and the Philippines will continue.
I…
April 19, 1949
Mr. Toastmaster, George Jessel, Mr. Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Chairman, and good people who are volunteering, and all those who are being paid, and those who are working, anyway, for this bond drive;
Tonight in Washington, and in…
April 21, 1949
Dr. Pruden:
I appreciate your remarks, and I hope that I have not been a liability to the First Baptist Church.
You know, the President has to be very careful, when he goes to church, that he goes to church for the purpose of…
April 18, 1951
DR. HENRY G. BENNETT, administrator of the Point 4 program, has given me an informal report of the progress of the program to date. I am pleased with what he has told me.
The Point 4 program is more necessary today than ever. The threat…
April 3, 1950
To the Congress of the United States:
On March 31, 1950, I approved H.J. Res. 398, "Relating to cotton and peanut acreage allotments and marketing quotas under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, and to price…
April 22, 1948
Dear Averell:
In designating you to assume a post of great responsibility in the administration of the European Recovery Program, I realized that I was asking you to undertake a mission which would command all of your time…
April 9, 1952
To the Congress of the United States:
The Congress is undoubtedly aware of the recent events which have taken place in connection with the management-labor dispute in the steel industry. These events culminated in the action…
April 15, 1946
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen:
I have long looked forward to this opportunity to meet with the members of the Governing Board of the Pan American Union.
No one can address a meeting of the representatives of the…
July 16, 1945
IF THE DEMANDS of the Japanese war are to be met, the railroads in the west must have additional manpower immediately.
The manpower shortage is so serious that the War Department recently ordered 4,000 experienced railroad men to be…
May 1, 1947
DURING the conversations that have taken place in Washington as a continuation of those begun in Mexico in March of this year, the Presidents of the United Mexican States and of the United States of America have had an opportunity to ratify…
April 21, 1949
THE PRESIDENT. I have an announcement or two this time.
[1.] On Monday, I am having an official luncheon for the President of Israel, Dr. Chaim Weizmann.
And this morning I signed an appointment for David K. E. Bruce of…
April 18, 1951
THE UNITED STATES is moving steadily forward in concert with other countries of the Pacific in its determination to make ever stronger the position of the free world in the Pacific Ocean area.
In connection with the reestablishment of…
April 10, 1952
To the Congress of the United States:
I am today transmitting to the Congress three plans providing for reorganizations in the Post Office Department, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Justice. These plans…
July 17, 1945
To the Congress of the United States:
On October 3, 1944, the Congress enacted the Surplus Property Act of 1944, a comprehensive scheme for the
declaration, handling and disposal of all types of surplus property.
The…
May 1, 1947
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE LEGION OF MERIT DEGREE OF CHIEF COMMANDER TO MIGUEL ALEMAN
HIS EXCELLENCY Miguel Aleman, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Mexico, has displayed unswerving friendship to the…
April 17, 1946
THE PRESIDENT. [1.] I have got a couple of ambassadorial appointments to announce: George V. Allen of Maryland--to Iran; and Edward F. Stanton of California--to Siam.
[2.] And then there will be available for you, when you go out, a…
April 6, 1950
To the ,Congress of the United States:
One of the great advances in economic legislation made during the 1930's was to establish the Federal-State system of employment security. This system has two parts-first, a nation-wide…
April 22, 1948
THE PRESIDENT. Well, ladies and gentlemen, you have had all the announcements up to date. I haven't any announcements to make to you, so if you have any questions I will try to answer them.
[1.] Q. Mr. President, U.S. Steel today denied…
April 18, 1946
AN URGENT NEED has developed in this country to bring forcibly and dramatically to public attention, as a spur to the food-for-famine-effort, the facts about conditions in Europe which your visit and inquiries have brought to light.…
July 17, 1945
[Released July 17, 1945. Dated July 14, 1945]
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit herewith reports prepared by the American Red Cross and the War Refugee Board reflecting
foreign war relief operations which have been conducted…
April 22, 1949
To the Congress of the United States:
In a special message to the Congress on November 19, 1945, and in a number of messages since that date, I have recommended the enactment of comprehensive legislation to improve the…
April 18, 1951
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
[1.] I understand there are some visiting editors and some people from ASNE here today. On account of the fact that I found it impossible to appear at their meeting, if they will meet me over…