HARRY S. TRUMAN

33rd President of the US 1945-1953

Buschistory Presents – The Presidentswww.buschistory.net

The Election• 1.President: Harry Truman Number 34 Vice president: Alben

Barkley (1947-53)

 • 2. Political Party - Democrat

 • 3. Term of Office 1945-1953

 • 4. Who came before and after him, and what were their Political

parties? • Franklin Roosevelt (Democrat) preceded him and Dwight

Eisenhower (Republican) followed him

• 5. Were there any unusual circumstances surrounding his ascent to the presidency? If so, describe the situation in specific detail.

• The death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 elevated him to the presidency

The Office• 6. Are there any catch phrases or terms specifically

associated with this president? If so, list and explain them. “The Buck Stops here” “Give em hell Harry”

• 7. When he left office, was it by: choice, defeat, natural death, assassination, or resignation. Explain your answer.

• He served two terms and retired in 1953

 

Domestic Issues and Events• 1945-46 Returning veterans, demobilizing the

military, labor issues and farmers wanting higher prices for crops, Baby Boom begins ( through 1964)

• 1947 – Taft Hartley (passed over Truman’s veto) restricted the activities of Labor Unions, Presidential Succession Act, Fair Deal announced, National Security Act

• 1948 – Executive Order 9980, 9981 (integration of the Fed gov’t and the armed forces)

• 1949 – first televised Inauguration• 1950- Alger Hiss, Red Scare, McCarthyism,

McCarran Security Act (Communists must register)

• 1951 – Rosenbergs convicted, 22nd Amendment (Term Limits)

• 1953 – First Hydrogen Bomb

Foreign Policy and Events• 1945 – Germany surrenders, Potsdam

Conference, Atomic Bomb, Japan Surrenders, UN Forms, Cold War begins??

• 1946 – Nuremberg Trials• 1947 –Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan • 1948 – Berlin Airlift begins, US

recognizes Israel• 1949 – Soviet Atomic Bomb, NATO

formed, China becomes Communist• 1950 – Korean War begins, NSC 68• 1951 – Truman fires General MacArthur• Hear Truman speak about Asia