Harry Truman

WWII Role: Vice President, later President of the United States

"It is an understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences. The buck stops here.” (Harry Truman)

Harry Truman was born in Missouri on May 8, 1884. He was the oldest of three children. As a child, Truman was a good student, and he group up with a love for reading and music.

After graduating from high school in 1901, Truman briefly attended business school. He also worked as a bank clerk and on a family farm.

In 1917, the United States entered World War I, and 32-year old Truman volunteered to join the army. He served in France as a captain of a U.S. field artillery unit and won the loyalty of the men under his command with his leadership abilities. He returned home in 1919, married his childhood sweetheart, Bess, and opened a men's clothing shore. When the business failed, a friend encouraged Truman to enter politics. After winning some local elections, he won a U.S. Senate seat in 1934.

Truman as an officer in World War I.

During Truman's second term in the Senate, he gained national recognition for chairing a committee that looked into waste and fraud in the U.S. military. It was this work that brought him to the attention of President Franklin Roosevelt, who asked Truman (then, a non-controversial unknown in national politics) to run as vice president in the 1944 election. When Roosevelt died 83 days into his fourth term, Truman succeeded him as president. He was sworn in on April 12, 1945.

Senator Harry Truman (center) with Senators Homer Ferguson, Harold Burton, Thomas Connally, and Ralph Brewster.

Truman oversaw the end of World War II in Europe. While in Europe conferring with the Allies, Truman received word of a successful atomic bomb test by Allied scientists. Turning his attention to the war with Japan, he demanded that the Japanese surrender. When Japan refused, Truman ordered the atomic bomb be dropped on the Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Shortly after the second bombing, Japan surrendered.

Truman being sworn in as president in 1945 following the death of Franklin Roosevelt

Truman soon had to face the beginning of the Cold War struggle with the Soviet Union. In 1947, he proclaimed the Truman Doctrine, stating that the United States would oppose Soviet aggression anywhere around the globe.

Many political observers thought Truman was going to lose his 1948 bid for reelection, but Truman's cross-country campaign fueled an upset victory. Truman faced many challenges through his second term in office. He dealt with rising tensions related to the Cold War, including the Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948 and the start of the Korean War in 1950.

After completing his second term, Truman continued to be active in the Democratic Party, and spent time campaigning for Democratic candidates. In the mid-1960s, Truman's health declined rapidly. He died the day after Christmas in 1972.

Truman at his desk and the famed, "Buck Stops Here" sign.

Source: McDougall-Littell's Modern World History