33Rd President

Truman was known for making tough decisions

The Man from Missouri

33rd president Played the piano Wore thick glasses from age 6 Was not allowed to play contact sports Endured much teasing Read every book in the local library when he was a kid.

From Lamar, MO Fought in WWI Became president when FDR died during WWII

Lives of the Presidents by Kathleen Krull p58-60 Harry giving Bess a smooch. Harry was a family man. Bess-- or “Boss” All the People Since 1945 by Joy Hakim Whistle Stop Campaign • Truman liked to • introduce his wife & “He’s the president, one daughter on the editor wrote, yet he’s just campaign. He would an ordinary family man say “Would you like to proud of his wife & meet the boss?” he’d daughter. “ say just before Bess Bess told her husband if he appeared. called her the “Boss” one more time, she’d get off the train. Bess, Harry, & Margaret

Harry referred to Bess as “the Boss” Margaret was their only child.

Margaret grew up and became a singer and a writer of mystery books. (including Murder in the White House) Her father supported her singing ambitions, and when a music critic roasted her in print he fired off a letter warning that the man would need a “new nose” if Truman ever met him. Truman had a peppery nickname for several reasons. People would talk about Truman and say something like this, “Give ‘Em Heck Harry!” It was what he was known for.

The letter that Truman wrote in defense of his daughter's singing

• Post Music Critic Paul Hume's December 6, 1950, • Some day I hope to meet you. When review of Margaret Truman's singing performance that happens you'll need a new nose, at Constitution Hall, stating, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and • "Miss Truman is a unique American phenomenon perhaps a supporter below! with a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality • Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman (she) cannot sing very well is flat a good deal of alongside you. I hope you'll accept the time more last night than at any time we have that statement as a worse insult than heard her in past years has not improved in the a reflection on your ancestry. years we have heard her (and) still cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish." • H.S.T. • Since the letter was sent by President Truman to Mr. Hume, the original letter • President Truman responded with the following was in Mr. Hume s possession, not letter to Hume: President Truman s, and consequently did • THE WHITE HOUSE not come to the Library as part of the • WASHINGTON President s papers. Hume sold the letter in 1951, for $3,500. The original letter • Dec. 6, 1950 continued to reside in private hands as • Mr. Hume: part of the Malcom Forbes Estate, where • I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's it hung in the family s New York corporate concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an art galleries. The Estate purchased the "eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay." letter in 1983, from an unnamed individual for an unnamed, but • It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man "substantial" sum. A copy of the letter also who wishes he could have been successful. When hung in the office of President Bill Clinton. you write such poppy-cock as was in the back In 2002, the letter was puchased by the section of the paper you work for it shows Harlan Crow Library, a private library at conclusively that you're off the beam and at least the Highland Park, Texas, estate of Harlan four of your ulcers are at work. Crow, a real estate businessman.

Loyal to his family? Peppery? Honest?

He told people what he thought. Sometimes they didn’t like it. Some people said that is not how a president should act. What do you think? Responsible? Hard Working? Stubborn? When that term was over Truman ran for reelection. • It was a tough job taking over as president when Roosevelt died. Everyone said Dewey would win and Truman accepted the Truman would lose. But guess responsibility. He did not make what? He won. • excuses. Truman pulled off one of the biggest upsets in political history. • Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill Fiery? Peppery? Known to pop off? First Truman was Lieutenant During WWI. His men were not ready to take orders from him. He said, “I After that, the soldiers found they could, in didn’t come here to get along with you. fact, get along with their new commander. He bluntly told the men. “You’ve got to Before long, Truman was promoted to get along with me. If there are any of captain. He and his men were involved in you that can’t, speak up right now and I horrific battles the last year of the war. will bust your back right now.” Encyclopedia of the Presidents Hargrove p28

What were some of Truman’s nicknames?

What were some of Truman’s favorite quotes?

• The BUCK STOPS here! The BUCK • Truman kept a plaque with this quote on his STOPS here! desk in the oval office. ------He also kept this sign on his desk.

More of Truman’s Quotes

“Always do right. This will gratify some, and astonish the rest.” Mark Twain

Truman’s Quotes

This sign was on his desk.

Truman seldom backed away from a struggle.

Do you think the soldiers who served with him in WWI knew this? The BUCK

TrumanST keptOPS a plaque here! with this quote on his desk in the oval office.

explain It meant he accepted responsibility. When you make a mistake do you own up to it? Or do you try to pass the buck? decisive: able to make tough decisions

How did WWII finally end? • • Who are the men?

• What countries do they represent?

• Who were we fighting?

• How did Truman decide • to try to end WWII?

tough decisions

How did WWII finally end? • • Truman made the decision to drop 2 atomic bombs on Japan. • This was one of the toughest decisions a president ever faced. He believed it saved American lives & ended WWII.

Some historians say that Harry Truman made more tough decisions than any other modern president did. Courageous? Fair? • During WWII both black & white American soldiers • Nearly every admiral, fought & died for the USA. general & civilian But black soldiers were not advisor tried to talk treated equal to white Truman out of this. But soldiers. Truman struggled to make the Armed Services in 1948 it became law. • He knew it was the right thing to • racially fair. do. (always do right) • He made the tough decisions (the buck stops here) • And he wasn’t afraid of the heat (if you don’t like the heat get out of the kitchen)

Some historians say that Harry Truman made more tough decisions than any other modern president did. • Do you agree?

Truman was known for making tough decisions

The Buck Stops Here. Truman took his responsibility seriously.

He had a knack for making hard choices. He dropped the bomb on Japan. He made the army racially integrated when most people opposed it. He could take the heat. He proved it when Roosevelt died.