Truman Politician and President

Truman: Politician and President

Truman: Politician and President

Newark Public Schools TAH GrantThe Gilder Lehrman Institute 3.2011

Newark Public Schools TAH GrantThe Gilder Lehrman Institute 3.2011

Truman’s BackgroundTruman’s Background

Missouri

Successful before presidency?

WWI

Missouri

Successful before presidency?

WWI

WWIWWI

National Guard

Missouri Army National Guard

1905-1911

rejoined - onset of WWI

National Guard

Missouri Army National Guard

1905-1911

rejoined - onset of WWI

WWI cont’dWWI cont’d

war record - political office

met Tom Pendergast’s nephew

war record - political office

met Tom Pendergast’s nephew

Becoming a PoliticianBecoming a Politician

1922 - elected county judge

later presiding judge

1934- US Senator

1922 - elected county judge

later presiding judge

1934- US Senator

Washington PoliticianWashington Politician

1934 - US Senator

1940 - re-elected

1934 - US Senator

1940 - re-elected

Truman CommitteeTruman Committee

investigate waste in defense industry

significance to Truman’s future

investigate waste in defense industry

significance to Truman’s future

1944 Election1944 Election

selected as VP candidate

second “Missouri Compromise”

selected as VP candidate

second “Missouri Compromise”

Accidental PresidentAccidental President

12 April 1945

Atomic Bomb

Japan

More in a few minutes

12 April 1945

Atomic Bomb

Japan

More in a few minutes

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs

Shaping Postwar World

IMF (Bretton Woods)

United Nations

Shaping Postwar World

IMF (Bretton Woods)

United Nations

German QuestionGerman Question

Nuremburg Trials 1945-1946

Partition of Germany

1949

Nuremburg Trials 1945-1946

Partition of Germany

1949

Reconstruction of JapanReconstruction of Japan

1946 constitution

economic powerhouse

within decades

1946 constitution

economic powerhouse

within decades

ContainmentContainment

1947

George Kennan

1947

George Kennan

Truman DoctrineTruman Doctrine

defined US foreign policy for 20 years

tangible evidence of containment

1947

Greece

Turkey

defined US foreign policy for 20 years

tangible evidence of containment

1947

Greece

Turkey

IsraelIsrael

1948

bastion of democracy in Middle East

1948

bastion of democracy in Middle East

Marshall PlanMarshall Plan

1947

economic chaos in Europe

exceeded prewar output

1947

economic chaos in Europe

exceeded prewar output

National Security ActNational Security Act

1947 - Department of Defense

NSC 1948

CIA 1949

1947 - Department of Defense

NSC 1948

CIA 1949

19481948

first peacetime draft

AEC - 1946

civilian control over nuclear weapons

first peacetime draft

AEC - 1946

civilian control over nuclear weapons

Berlin AirliftBerlin Airlift

1948-49

thought it might be WWIII

Soviets lifted blockade 1949

1948-49

thought it might be WWIII

Soviets lifted blockade 1949

Cold War - AchesonCold War - Acheson

NATO

Warsaw Pact

collective security

SU atomic bomb 1949

NATO

Warsaw Pact

collective security

SU atomic bomb 1949

Cold War cont’dCold War cont’d

China became Communist 1949

1952 - US exploded H-Bomb

1953- SU

potential to end civilization

China became Communist 1949

1952 - US exploded H-Bomb

1953- SU

potential to end civilization

Korean WarKorean War

1950-1953

MacArthur

Truman as politician

reaffirmed civilian control of military

1950-1953

MacArthur

Truman as politician

reaffirmed civilian control of military

Korean War cont’dKorean War cont’d

containment

point of contention between HST and Ike

1952 Election

containment

point of contention between HST and Ike

1952 Election

Truman Domestic Policies

Truman Domestic Policies

Taft-Hartley Act 1947

1946 President’s Commission on Civil Rights (1947 report)

1948 banned racial discrimination

federal government and military

Taft-Hartley Act 1947

1946 President’s Commission on Civil Rights (1947 report)

1948 banned racial discrimination

federal government and military

22nd Amendment22nd Amendment

Politics

17 years of continuous Democratic rule

Politics

17 years of continuous Democratic rule

Red ScareRed Scare

fear and paranoia

Smith Act of 1940

HUAC

Truman’s “loyalty” program

fear and paranoia

Smith Act of 1940

HUAC

Truman’s “loyalty” program

1948 Election1948 Election

Truman defeats Dewey

Truman’s Fair Deal

minimum wage

public housing

SSA of 1950

Truman defeats Dewey

Truman’s Fair Deal

minimum wage

public housing

SSA of 1950

1952 Election1952 Election

chose not to run

Ike elected

chose not to run

Ike elected

American Society in Post-WWII Era

American Society in Post-WWII Era

GI Bill of Rights

15 million returning GIs

Baby Boom

GI Bill of Rights

15 million returning GIs

Baby Boom

Economic BoomEconomic Boom

By mid-1950s, 60% of Americans owned home

compared to 1920s - 40%

By mid-1950s, 60% of Americans owned home

compared to 1920s - 40%

Economic BoomEconomic Boom

defense industry

IBM

consumerism

more disposable income

defense industry

IBM

consumerism

more disposable income

Post-War SocietyPost-War Society

Middle Class

Suburbs

cars

cult of domesticity

Middle Class

Suburbs

cars

cult of domesticity