Harry S Truman Library & Museum

Harry S Truman, our 33rd President, was born in Missouri in 1884. He became president upon Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death on April 12, 1945. He was elected on his own as president in 1948, and served until 1953.

President Truman greets you as you enter the museum.

Truman served in World War I as Captain.

After the war, Truman opened a men’s clothing store in downtown Kansas City.

Harry and Bess’ wedding announcement.

Truman served in the Senate from 1935 until he became Vice President in 1945.

This is the Bible that was used when Truman was sworn into office as President.

Interestingly, as Vice President, Truman had only met with President Roosevelt twice prior to FDR’s death, and Truman was totally unaware of the atomic bomb the US had been developing. He made the decision to drop the bombs on Japan, ending World War II.

Letter written on rice paper from President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China to President Truman.

After the war, our attention turned to the developing threat from Communist Soviet Union.

With the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, President Truman ordered supplies dropped in via airplane, the “Berlin Airlift”, delivering billions of pounds of food and supplies to the people.

On May 14, 1948, the state of Israel declared itself an independent nation. President Truman issued a “de facto” recognition of the new state. In 1949, following the first elections in Israel, the US officially recognized them as a nation.

Ancient pottery vessels gifted to Truman. The footed vase dates from 2000 to 1800 BC. The rounded base pitcher dates from the time of the Jewish Kings 1000 to 800 BC. The long-necked cruet served as a wine decanter in the first century AD.

Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion gifted this menorah to President Truman in 1951, It dates back to at least 1767, when it was donated to a synagogue in Germany.

Because of low approval numbers, much of America was sure Truman would lose the election of 1948, so much so that some newspapers printed the headlines before the results were in!

Many of President Truman’s Square Deal programs were not enacted into law.

Korea became hot.

We went to war in Korea. President Truman skirted the Constitutional requirement for Congress to declare war by calling the war “police action”. Congress has not declared war since World War II, even though our military has been at war numerous times. This precedent started with the Korean War.