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The American Presidents #33
Harry S. Truman
The plainspoken man from Missouri who never expected to be president yet rose to become one of the greatest leaders of the twentieth century
In April 1945, after the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the presidency fell to a former haberdasher and clubhouse politician from Independence, Missouri. Many believed he would be overmatched by the job, but Harry S. Truman would surprise them all.
Few chief executives have had so lasting an impact. Truman ushered America into the nuclear age, established the alliances and principles that would define the cold war and the national security state, started the nation on the road to civil rights, and won the most dramatic election of the twentieth century―his 1948 "whistlestop campaign" against Thomas E. Dewey.
Robert Dallek, the bestselling biographer of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, shows how this unassuming yet supremely confident man rose to the occasion. Truman clashed with Southerners over civil rights, with organized labor over the right to strike, and with General Douglas MacArthur over the conduct of the Korean War. He personified Thomas Jefferson's observation that the presidency is a "splendid misery," but it was during his tenure that the United States truly came of age.
In April 1945, after the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the presidency fell to a former haberdasher and clubhouse politician from Independence, Missouri. Many believed he would be overmatched by the job, but Harry S. Truman would surprise them all.
Few chief executives have had so lasting an impact. Truman ushered America into the nuclear age, established the alliances and principles that would define the cold war and the national security state, started the nation on the road to civil rights, and won the most dramatic election of the twentieth century―his 1948 "whistlestop campaign" against Thomas E. Dewey.
Robert Dallek, the bestselling biographer of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, shows how this unassuming yet supremely confident man rose to the occasion. Truman clashed with Southerners over civil rights, with organized labor over the right to strike, and with General Douglas MacArthur over the conduct of the Korean War. He personified Thomas Jefferson's observation that the presidency is a "splendid misery," but it was during his tenure that the United States truly came of age.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2008
About the author
Robert Dallek
50 books160 followersRobert Dallek is the author of 'Nixon and Kissinger', a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and 'An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963', among other books. His writing has appeared in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Vanity Fair. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Society of American Historians, for which he served as president in 2004-2005. He lives in Washington, D.C.
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May 27, 2022
A President In Perilous Times
With the death of President Franklin Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, Vice-President Harry Truman (1884 -- 1972) became the 33d president of the United States. Truman served through what would have been virtually the entirety of Roosevelt's fourth term and then won an upset victory over Thomas Dewey in 1948 to serve a term on his own. There was little in Truman's background that seemed to prepare him for this responsibility. The reasons for the ailing Roosevelt's selection of Truman remain obscure, as the two men were not on good terms. Truman faced many challenges while in office and, with the passage of time, appears to have met many of them. Robert Dallek offers an excellent overview and assessment of Truman's presidency in this short biography "Harry S. Truman"(2008) written as part of the American Presidents Series edited by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Sean Willentz. Dallek has written extensively on the modern presidency, with books about Johnson, Kennedy, Nixon and Kissinger, among others.
Many of the books in this series devote substantial space to the pre-presidential life and career of their subjects. Dallek covers Truman's formative years in a dense, quick single chapter. Raised in rural Missouri, Truman entered politics through the notorious Pendergast machine and ultimately was elected and re-elected to the Senate before Roosevelt chose him for the vice-presidency. The brisk treatment of Truman's early life allows Dallek to focus the reader's attention where it belongs: on Truman's eventful and difficult presidency.
Besides using the extensive public record, Dallek draws upon Truman's letters, diary entries, off-the record comments, drafts and other documents of a private character to round out a portrayal of a complex individual and era. Truman was thrust unprepared into the presidency. At times, he appeared to waffle in an attempt to chart a middle course based on consensus. When he did so, Truman frequently pleased nobody. At his best, Truman led decisively. He tried to act, Dallek, argues, for the good of the country rather than for any interest group and he expected the same of others.
Besides the well-known statement that "the buck stops here", Dallek offers other Truman quotations that are more insightful. For example, in 1946, in the face of public opposition to price controls, Truman in an undelivered draft speech criticized the opposition for "following Mammon instead of Almighty God" and for having "gone over to the powers of selfishness and greed". After leaving the presidency, Truman expressed sympathy for President Herbert Hoover who, like Truman himself, had to face seemingly intractable difficulties. In considering his time in office, Truman wrote that leadership required "a president who can make up his own mind, who isn't afraid of controversy". Truman continued: "our country has never suffered seriously from any acts of the president that were truly intended for the welfare of the country; it's suffered from the inaction of a great many presidents when action should have been taken at the right time. He has to keep reminding people that a good president must do more than just believe in what he says -- he must act on what he believes."
Truman faced momentous foreign and domestic issues, and he was greatly unpopular during much of his time in office. Immediately upon taking office, Truman oversaw the surrender of Germany, and he made the decision to use the atomic bomb to end the war with Japan. He also authorized the development of the hydrogen bomb. In the face of division within his administration, Truman recognized the State of Israel. In the late 1940s, Truman became involved in the quagmire of a war in Korea, where he was criticized by both the hawks and doves of the day. The Korean War led to Truman's climactic but justified decision to fire General Douglas MacArthur for insubordination.
In domestic affairs, Truman supported a liberal agenda, including civil rights legislation and universal health insurance; but these proposals lacked Congressional support. Early in his presidency, Truman stood down the labor union leader John Lewis. In 1952, near the end of his tenure, Truman tried to seize control over the steel mills as a result of a labor dispute. The Supreme Court declared this attempt outside the scope of presidential power.
Truman is best-known for his actions in the face of Soviet aggression following WW II. He developed the Marshall Plan for the relief of Europe. Over the course of his presidency, the "containment policy" for controlling the spread of communism was developed and implemented. Trying to steer a course between isolationism and war, the containment policy substantially remained in place until the end of the Cold War. Dallek regards it as Truman's greatest achievement. Truman also had to face domestic issues regarding claimed communist influence, including among other things the red-baiting tactics of Senator Joe McCarthy.
When Truman left office, his administration faced severe criticism over Korea and over allegations of corruption and cronyism. His party had been in power for a long time. With the gaining of historical perspective, Truman's presidency has become highly regarded by many historians, including Dallek. His book shows a determined, honest, and gifted leader with flaws who tried to act in the public interest in a difficult time and in many crucial matters succeeded. Dallek's book is highly useful in thinking about Truman's presidency and about presidential leadership.
Robin Friedman
With the death of President Franklin Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, Vice-President Harry Truman (1884 -- 1972) became the 33d president of the United States. Truman served through what would have been virtually the entirety of Roosevelt's fourth term and then won an upset victory over Thomas Dewey in 1948 to serve a term on his own. There was little in Truman's background that seemed to prepare him for this responsibility. The reasons for the ailing Roosevelt's selection of Truman remain obscure, as the two men were not on good terms. Truman faced many challenges while in office and, with the passage of time, appears to have met many of them. Robert Dallek offers an excellent overview and assessment of Truman's presidency in this short biography "Harry S. Truman"(2008) written as part of the American Presidents Series edited by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Sean Willentz. Dallek has written extensively on the modern presidency, with books about Johnson, Kennedy, Nixon and Kissinger, among others.
Many of the books in this series devote substantial space to the pre-presidential life and career of their subjects. Dallek covers Truman's formative years in a dense, quick single chapter. Raised in rural Missouri, Truman entered politics through the notorious Pendergast machine and ultimately was elected and re-elected to the Senate before Roosevelt chose him for the vice-presidency. The brisk treatment of Truman's early life allows Dallek to focus the reader's attention where it belongs: on Truman's eventful and difficult presidency.
Besides using the extensive public record, Dallek draws upon Truman's letters, diary entries, off-the record comments, drafts and other documents of a private character to round out a portrayal of a complex individual and era. Truman was thrust unprepared into the presidency. At times, he appeared to waffle in an attempt to chart a middle course based on consensus. When he did so, Truman frequently pleased nobody. At his best, Truman led decisively. He tried to act, Dallek, argues, for the good of the country rather than for any interest group and he expected the same of others.
Besides the well-known statement that "the buck stops here", Dallek offers other Truman quotations that are more insightful. For example, in 1946, in the face of public opposition to price controls, Truman in an undelivered draft speech criticized the opposition for "following Mammon instead of Almighty God" and for having "gone over to the powers of selfishness and greed". After leaving the presidency, Truman expressed sympathy for President Herbert Hoover who, like Truman himself, had to face seemingly intractable difficulties. In considering his time in office, Truman wrote that leadership required "a president who can make up his own mind, who isn't afraid of controversy". Truman continued: "our country has never suffered seriously from any acts of the president that were truly intended for the welfare of the country; it's suffered from the inaction of a great many presidents when action should have been taken at the right time. He has to keep reminding people that a good president must do more than just believe in what he says -- he must act on what he believes."
Truman faced momentous foreign and domestic issues, and he was greatly unpopular during much of his time in office. Immediately upon taking office, Truman oversaw the surrender of Germany, and he made the decision to use the atomic bomb to end the war with Japan. He also authorized the development of the hydrogen bomb. In the face of division within his administration, Truman recognized the State of Israel. In the late 1940s, Truman became involved in the quagmire of a war in Korea, where he was criticized by both the hawks and doves of the day. The Korean War led to Truman's climactic but justified decision to fire General Douglas MacArthur for insubordination.
In domestic affairs, Truman supported a liberal agenda, including civil rights legislation and universal health insurance; but these proposals lacked Congressional support. Early in his presidency, Truman stood down the labor union leader John Lewis. In 1952, near the end of his tenure, Truman tried to seize control over the steel mills as a result of a labor dispute. The Supreme Court declared this attempt outside the scope of presidential power.
Truman is best-known for his actions in the face of Soviet aggression following WW II. He developed the Marshall Plan for the relief of Europe. Over the course of his presidency, the "containment policy" for controlling the spread of communism was developed and implemented. Trying to steer a course between isolationism and war, the containment policy substantially remained in place until the end of the Cold War. Dallek regards it as Truman's greatest achievement. Truman also had to face domestic issues regarding claimed communist influence, including among other things the red-baiting tactics of Senator Joe McCarthy.
When Truman left office, his administration faced severe criticism over Korea and over allegations of corruption and cronyism. His party had been in power for a long time. With the gaining of historical perspective, Truman's presidency has become highly regarded by many historians, including Dallek. His book shows a determined, honest, and gifted leader with flaws who tried to act in the public interest in a difficult time and in many crucial matters succeeded. Dallek's book is highly useful in thinking about Truman's presidency and about presidential leadership.
Robin Friedman
November 4, 2016
https://bestpresidentialbios.com/2016...
“Harry S. Truman” is Robert Dallek’s 2008 biography of the 33rd president and is a member of the American Presidents Series. Dallek is an author, historian and retired professor focusing on the U.S. presidents. He has written nearly two dozen books including a notable series on LBJ, a bestselling biography of JFK and a dual-biography of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.
In contrast to many of the biographies in this series which provide more attention to the subject’s entire life, Dallek’s biography focuses almost exclusively on Truman’s presidency. Only the first chapter (with eighteen pages) is allocated to Truman’s first six decades (and includes his improbable rise to the nation’s highest office).
Consistent with other American President Series biographies, this book contains just 153 pages of text. But this is in stark contrast to David McCullough’s iconic “Truman” which weighs in at nearly 1,000 pages. Fortunately, Dallek’s review of Truman’s life is consistently excellent at what it covers in-depth. By crystallizing the essence of the Truman presidency and conveying it in a clear, comprehensible way Dallek performs an invaluable service for readers with little time to spare.
Unfortunately, much is lost in the process. Given space constraints, the narrative is long on headline facts and short on both context and color. Dallek does a fantastic job providing the reader what a student of Truman needs to know but provides almost none of what’s nice to know.
Readers will learn virtually nothing, for instance, of Truman’s family life (I don’t recall his wife ever being mentioned). And with almost no exposure to his childhood – which proved instrumental in forging the core of his personality – and with little exposure to his chronic business failures as an adult, his rise to national political prominence cannot be fully appreciated.
Finally, readers used to more traditional presidential biographies will miss the colorful character introductions available in longer formats. Dean Acheson and George Marshall are just two of the important advisers to President Truman who are under-covered and, therefore, are likely to be underappreciated by the reader.
Overall, Robert Dallek’s “Harry S. Truman” is a fine summary of the life (but mostly the presidency) of Harry Truman. With two hundred additional pages, it is all but certain that Dallek could have fashioned a superb biography of Truman. Instead, he provides a solid introduction to the 33rd president which proves too compact to offer the character insight or analysis which Truman deserves.
Overall rating: 3½ stars
“Harry S. Truman” is Robert Dallek’s 2008 biography of the 33rd president and is a member of the American Presidents Series. Dallek is an author, historian and retired professor focusing on the U.S. presidents. He has written nearly two dozen books including a notable series on LBJ, a bestselling biography of JFK and a dual-biography of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.
In contrast to many of the biographies in this series which provide more attention to the subject’s entire life, Dallek’s biography focuses almost exclusively on Truman’s presidency. Only the first chapter (with eighteen pages) is allocated to Truman’s first six decades (and includes his improbable rise to the nation’s highest office).
Consistent with other American President Series biographies, this book contains just 153 pages of text. But this is in stark contrast to David McCullough’s iconic “Truman” which weighs in at nearly 1,000 pages. Fortunately, Dallek’s review of Truman’s life is consistently excellent at what it covers in-depth. By crystallizing the essence of the Truman presidency and conveying it in a clear, comprehensible way Dallek performs an invaluable service for readers with little time to spare.
Unfortunately, much is lost in the process. Given space constraints, the narrative is long on headline facts and short on both context and color. Dallek does a fantastic job providing the reader what a student of Truman needs to know but provides almost none of what’s nice to know.
Readers will learn virtually nothing, for instance, of Truman’s family life (I don’t recall his wife ever being mentioned). And with almost no exposure to his childhood – which proved instrumental in forging the core of his personality – and with little exposure to his chronic business failures as an adult, his rise to national political prominence cannot be fully appreciated.
Finally, readers used to more traditional presidential biographies will miss the colorful character introductions available in longer formats. Dean Acheson and George Marshall are just two of the important advisers to President Truman who are under-covered and, therefore, are likely to be underappreciated by the reader.
Overall, Robert Dallek’s “Harry S. Truman” is a fine summary of the life (but mostly the presidency) of Harry Truman. With two hundred additional pages, it is all but certain that Dallek could have fashioned a superb biography of Truman. Instead, he provides a solid introduction to the 33rd president which proves too compact to offer the character insight or analysis which Truman deserves.
Overall rating: 3½ stars
April 5, 2017
Like Truman's daily walks in D.C., this biography of our 33rd president trots along at a brisk pace, providing a balanced and engaging portrait of a leader who was savaged in his own lifetime, only to be revered in posterity. Definitely worth taking in. I learned a great deal in a mere 150 pages. Another well-done work by the great Robert Dallek.
February 28, 2021
Seems like a pretty decent distillation of Truman scholarship, which is most likely only so extensive because of the pivotal time in which he was President. Long on policy, short on psychoanalysis, and I like that.
October 1, 2020
The tail-end of nearly 20 years of liberal, big government policies and wars is difficult to make look good.
February 12, 2022
It was a great read by a great author and historian - I’m only giving it 4 stars because it left me wishing it was longer. I acknowledge that that’s the point of The American Presidents series, so I should’ve known what I was getting into, but still… An excellent book if you want a quick snd compelling read about Truman, but not if you want lots of references to documents and speeches and associates that you get in other biographies.
April 3, 2018
In many ways an unlikely occupant of the office, Harry Truman’s career was one of dogged determination in a series of failed jobs and minor offices. Even his first term as a United States senator was less than noteworthy, and it was not until he had won reelection and achieved prominence as the head of a special committee designed to root out corruption and waste in military appropriations that he emerged as a vice presidential prospect in the 1944 presidential campaign – a critical decision given Franklin Roosevelt’s failing health.
Though Truman was selected to serve as vice president to a terminally ill man, Robert Dallek stresses the lack of preparation for his succession. Thrust into office by Roosevelt’s sudden death, the new president found himself facing enormous challenges involving the ongoing war and the even thornier ones of peace. While generally sympathetic to Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan, Dallek judges his plummeting support in the months that followed as the result of his attempts to be all things to all people, and that it was not until Truman decided to be his own man that he enjoyed greater success as president.
Dallek judges the two years that followed as Truman’s most successful as president, as he made key decisions involving the Cold War, the recognition of Israel, and civil rights. He fought against the Republican-dominated 80th Congress, and used their opposition to his domestic agenda as a launching pad for his victory over Thomas Dewey in the 1948 election. Yet Truman was unable to capitalize on his unexpected triumph, as he faced anticommunist hysteria, charges of corruption by members of his administration, and an intractable war in Korea, all of which led to his decision to abandon a run for another term in 1952.
An award-winning presidential historian and biographer, Dallek uses his considerable knowledge and insight to inform this study of Harry Truman. Though lacking original research, the author infuses his narrative with perceptiveness borne of his extensive historical expertise, one that has much to offer readers familiar with the 33rd president. The result is a book that is a good starting place for anyone interested in learning about the man from Missouri and how he led the nation through tumultuous times.
Though Truman was selected to serve as vice president to a terminally ill man, Robert Dallek stresses the lack of preparation for his succession. Thrust into office by Roosevelt’s sudden death, the new president found himself facing enormous challenges involving the ongoing war and the even thornier ones of peace. While generally sympathetic to Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan, Dallek judges his plummeting support in the months that followed as the result of his attempts to be all things to all people, and that it was not until Truman decided to be his own man that he enjoyed greater success as president.
Dallek judges the two years that followed as Truman’s most successful as president, as he made key decisions involving the Cold War, the recognition of Israel, and civil rights. He fought against the Republican-dominated 80th Congress, and used their opposition to his domestic agenda as a launching pad for his victory over Thomas Dewey in the 1948 election. Yet Truman was unable to capitalize on his unexpected triumph, as he faced anticommunist hysteria, charges of corruption by members of his administration, and an intractable war in Korea, all of which led to his decision to abandon a run for another term in 1952.
An award-winning presidential historian and biographer, Dallek uses his considerable knowledge and insight to inform this study of Harry Truman. Though lacking original research, the author infuses his narrative with perceptiveness borne of his extensive historical expertise, one that has much to offer readers familiar with the 33rd president. The result is a book that is a good starting place for anyone interested in learning about the man from Missouri and how he led the nation through tumultuous times.
November 14, 2009
Of all of the volumes in the American Presidents series, this was for me the most anticipated (I put Harry Truman in the top 5 best Presidents,) but I was very disappointed with Dallek's narrative. Going through some of the most challenging and difficult crises the US had faced since the Civil War, and certainly some of the most thrilling and exciting developments in modern history, Dallek paints the entire story without depth or color. He barely mentions the creation of the United Nations (which Truman saw as one of his most important achievements) and the Berlin Airlift gets a scant five paragraphs.
Dallek's prose is clunky, disjointed, and fragmented.
I reluctantly give it two stars; it is very close to only being worthy of one. But I am wild about Harry, and after having read David McCulloughs glowing and very flattering biography (the best biography I have ever read, by the way,) maybe my expectations were too high. Anyone who wants a fair and more complete picture of Truman the man and how that man became one of history's "near great" presidents should read McCullough's bio. Dallek's bio reminds me of a great movie with everything but the beginning and end credits cut out of it.
Dallek's prose is clunky, disjointed, and fragmented.
I reluctantly give it two stars; it is very close to only being worthy of one. But I am wild about Harry, and after having read David McCulloughs glowing and very flattering biography (the best biography I have ever read, by the way,) maybe my expectations were too high. Anyone who wants a fair and more complete picture of Truman the man and how that man became one of history's "near great" presidents should read McCullough's bio. Dallek's bio reminds me of a great movie with everything but the beginning and end credits cut out of it.
February 1, 2020
In reading about Harry Truman, I saw some parallels between him and President Trump, in that Truman found himself being attacked often by the media, and when he fired General MacArthur, the public was crying for Truman’s impeachment. There were claims that he was actually a Communist. According to author Dallek, Truman would often say what was on his mind and came off gruff and the public said that he was mentally unstable and thus not capable to be the leader of the United States. He was judged on many of his decisions, and he often felt overwhelmed by the position.
As Vice President, Truman became President of the United States after President Roosevelt died in office, and then he ran a term and was in the position of presidency for another term after winning an election.
Roosevelt had not told Truman about his plans to drop atomic bombs on Japan during WWII, and Truman had been only advised of same after Roosevelt’s death. Truman did feel that the bombs would help end Japan’s participation in WWII and he thought it might frighten the Soviets from going to War with the United States. After ordering the bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese did surrender only days after. But, Truman received criticism for his decision after the War.
After the War, there were new problems to content with. One item I did find particularly interesting was that Truman tried to push through a Civil Rights Bill particularly to assist the blacks to help stop some of the discrimination, so they could have the chance to get better paying jobs, or at least be paid better, to stop discrimination in housing, and stop them from having to pay poll taxes, which halted them from voting. With pressure from the south, and from conservative Republican in the House and Senate, he would have to drop his efforts. It made me feel how timing is everything in that it wasn’t until over 20 years later that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. I hadn’t known of Democratic President Truman’s push for rights for blacks. He was upset in how they were treated especially in the south.
After WWII, there was a paranoid about Commission and Truman ordered troops to South Korea with the hope to stop North Korea from forcing Communism in this county. He got the NATO into place as well which was a treaty consisting of several Western European counties, wherein the United States vowed they would come to their aid if they were attacked. The treaty’s purpose was to show the Soviets that the United States would not allow Communism to dominate Western Europe.
There is a lot more to this book in trying to give a synopsis of Truman’s time in office. Communism seemed to be one the biggest things Truman had to deal with in that Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy was also making convincing speeches about Communist spies in the United States. Truman expressed that McCarthy’s claims were hogwash and that McCarthy was a liar, trying to cover up his own shortcoming with such accusations.
After his retirement, he worked with researchers and ghost writer stop put together his memoirs and he helped open the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Missouri.
As Vice President, Truman became President of the United States after President Roosevelt died in office, and then he ran a term and was in the position of presidency for another term after winning an election.
Roosevelt had not told Truman about his plans to drop atomic bombs on Japan during WWII, and Truman had been only advised of same after Roosevelt’s death. Truman did feel that the bombs would help end Japan’s participation in WWII and he thought it might frighten the Soviets from going to War with the United States. After ordering the bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese did surrender only days after. But, Truman received criticism for his decision after the War.
After the War, there were new problems to content with. One item I did find particularly interesting was that Truman tried to push through a Civil Rights Bill particularly to assist the blacks to help stop some of the discrimination, so they could have the chance to get better paying jobs, or at least be paid better, to stop discrimination in housing, and stop them from having to pay poll taxes, which halted them from voting. With pressure from the south, and from conservative Republican in the House and Senate, he would have to drop his efforts. It made me feel how timing is everything in that it wasn’t until over 20 years later that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. I hadn’t known of Democratic President Truman’s push for rights for blacks. He was upset in how they were treated especially in the south.
After WWII, there was a paranoid about Commission and Truman ordered troops to South Korea with the hope to stop North Korea from forcing Communism in this county. He got the NATO into place as well which was a treaty consisting of several Western European counties, wherein the United States vowed they would come to their aid if they were attacked. The treaty’s purpose was to show the Soviets that the United States would not allow Communism to dominate Western Europe.
There is a lot more to this book in trying to give a synopsis of Truman’s time in office. Communism seemed to be one the biggest things Truman had to deal with in that Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy was also making convincing speeches about Communist spies in the United States. Truman expressed that McCarthy’s claims were hogwash and that McCarthy was a liar, trying to cover up his own shortcoming with such accusations.
After his retirement, he worked with researchers and ghost writer stop put together his memoirs and he helped open the Truman Presidential Museum and Library in Missouri.
May 22, 2021
I confess that I am not a fan of President Truman and haven't been since reading T. R. Fehrenbach's This Kind of War in college in the 70's. I think he stripped the military, especially the Army, too much in the draw down after WWII. We sustained unnecessary casualties in Korea as a result! History has been kind though to President Harry S. Truman rating him among the top ten Presidents in our history. This book is another in the American President series published by Time Books, Henry Holt and Company edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. and Sean Wilentz. I recommend reading this and all of the other presidential books in the series. They are short biographies offering understanding of the problems facing our presidents and how they responded to them.
Truman was an accidental president originally having assumed the mantle when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office in April 1945. He surprisingly won election in his own right in 1948. He served eight years as president. In those years he faced many issues. Use of the atomic bomb, demobilizing forces after WWII, the start of the Cold War, the War in Korea and numerous domestic issues like inflation, labor v. management conflicts, the seizure of steel mills, civil rights issues. I give him credit for his stand on civil rights. He integrated the U.S. Military and supported civil rights legislation despite the opposition of Southern Democrats. His support led to the creation of the "Dixiecrats," not a country western singing group, but a new political party composed of former Southern Democrats. It was the beginning of the swing from the solid Democratic South to the now solid Republican South that evolved over the next few decades. Truman presided over the recognition of the nation of Israel by the United States and suffered through the rise in conflict there between Israel and the Arab countries and Palestinians. He lamented that he had about come to the conclusion that there was no solution to the problem but that we had to keep trying. Rings true even today! Truman's popularity waned reaching about 21% approval level by the time he left office. There was a lot of cronyism in his cabinet and there was many accusations of corruption but Truman was loyal to his friends and tried hard to be honest to his beliefs. This book covers these issues and more and points out where Truman missed opportunities to improve his popularity but also shows clearly that he would remain faithful to his own principles. I liked this book but it did not really improve my opinion of Truman and ironically, the day I finished it I received a solicitation in the mail to contribute to the Truman Library! I did not contribute.
Truman was an accidental president originally having assumed the mantle when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office in April 1945. He surprisingly won election in his own right in 1948. He served eight years as president. In those years he faced many issues. Use of the atomic bomb, demobilizing forces after WWII, the start of the Cold War, the War in Korea and numerous domestic issues like inflation, labor v. management conflicts, the seizure of steel mills, civil rights issues. I give him credit for his stand on civil rights. He integrated the U.S. Military and supported civil rights legislation despite the opposition of Southern Democrats. His support led to the creation of the "Dixiecrats," not a country western singing group, but a new political party composed of former Southern Democrats. It was the beginning of the swing from the solid Democratic South to the now solid Republican South that evolved over the next few decades. Truman presided over the recognition of the nation of Israel by the United States and suffered through the rise in conflict there between Israel and the Arab countries and Palestinians. He lamented that he had about come to the conclusion that there was no solution to the problem but that we had to keep trying. Rings true even today! Truman's popularity waned reaching about 21% approval level by the time he left office. There was a lot of cronyism in his cabinet and there was many accusations of corruption but Truman was loyal to his friends and tried hard to be honest to his beliefs. This book covers these issues and more and points out where Truman missed opportunities to improve his popularity but also shows clearly that he would remain faithful to his own principles. I liked this book but it did not really improve my opinion of Truman and ironically, the day I finished it I received a solicitation in the mail to contribute to the Truman Library! I did not contribute.
February 4, 2020
I’ve been working my way through David McCullough’s comprehensive biography of Harry S. Truman for the last three weeks. At almost 1,000 pages, it isn’t the kind of book that you finish at a single sitting! After making my way through to the surrender of Japan in 1945, I picked up A.J. Baime’s more recent biography entitled “The Accidental President,” which concentrates on the four months between FDR’s death and VJ Day. I enjoyed it immensely. Before heading back to tackle the final 450 page of McCullough’s Truman, I thought that I’d step back to get an overview and I turned to Robert Dallek’s contribution to the American Presidents Series simply entitled “Harry S. Truman.” Dallek is probably best known for “An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917 – 1963.” His Truman biography is less of a literary triumph.
In his defense, The American Presidents Series is intended to offer a summary rather than in-depth coverage of the Presidents. I’ve probably read a dozen of them (each by a different author) and I’ve found them to be helpful, albeit frustratingly uneven in quality. In this case, I felt that Dallek’s portrayal of Truman was exceedingly two-dimensional. It’s more of a biographical sketch of his presidency than a true biography. The key events in Truman’s life are covered (although he’s already in the U.S. Senate at age 50 by the time you get 12 pages into the book). Dallek is far more interested in Truman the President than he is in Truman the person who became the President. This is unfortunate since Truman’s greatest strength was, in fact, his humanity.
I’m not sorry that I read this book, but I think it qualifies for a subtitle based on Dallek’s more prominent work. I’d title it “Harry S. Truman: An Unfinished Life!” I’m headed back to McCullough for the rest of the story.
In his defense, The American Presidents Series is intended to offer a summary rather than in-depth coverage of the Presidents. I’ve probably read a dozen of them (each by a different author) and I’ve found them to be helpful, albeit frustratingly uneven in quality. In this case, I felt that Dallek’s portrayal of Truman was exceedingly two-dimensional. It’s more of a biographical sketch of his presidency than a true biography. The key events in Truman’s life are covered (although he’s already in the U.S. Senate at age 50 by the time you get 12 pages into the book). Dallek is far more interested in Truman the President than he is in Truman the person who became the President. This is unfortunate since Truman’s greatest strength was, in fact, his humanity.
I’m not sorry that I read this book, but I think it qualifies for a subtitle based on Dallek’s more prominent work. I’d title it “Harry S. Truman: An Unfinished Life!” I’m headed back to McCullough for the rest of the story.
October 29, 2019
Harry S. Truman is the thirtieth-second book in The American Presidents series – a biographical series chronicling the Presidents of the United States. Robert Dallek wrote this particular installment and edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. and Sean Wilentz.
Harry S. Truman was the thirty-third president of the United States from 1945–1953, succeeding upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt after serving as vice president. He implemented the Marshall Plan to rebuild the economy of Western Europe, and established the Truman Doctrine and NATO.
In brisk prose and with the confidence of his vast knowledge of the era, Dallek interprets the life of the simple man who, having unexpectedly and with little experience assumed the presidency when Franklin D. Roosevelt died, surprised everyone by so skillfully shouldering huge burdens. In his day, that meant ending the war with Japan, ordering American troops to repel the invasion of Korea, firing Douglas MacArthur and facing down the Soviets. It also meant protecting the New Deal from erosion, dealing with striking labor and taking unprecedented steps to desegregate the government and armed forces. Just listing these achievements makes clear why Dallek, like other historians, places Truman high on the list of American presidents.
All in all, Harry S. Truman is a good, albeit brief biography of the thirtieth-third President and it is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.
Harry S. Truman was the thirty-third president of the United States from 1945–1953, succeeding upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt after serving as vice president. He implemented the Marshall Plan to rebuild the economy of Western Europe, and established the Truman Doctrine and NATO.
In brisk prose and with the confidence of his vast knowledge of the era, Dallek interprets the life of the simple man who, having unexpectedly and with little experience assumed the presidency when Franklin D. Roosevelt died, surprised everyone by so skillfully shouldering huge burdens. In his day, that meant ending the war with Japan, ordering American troops to repel the invasion of Korea, firing Douglas MacArthur and facing down the Soviets. It also meant protecting the New Deal from erosion, dealing with striking labor and taking unprecedented steps to desegregate the government and armed forces. Just listing these achievements makes clear why Dallek, like other historians, places Truman high on the list of American presidents.
All in all, Harry S. Truman is a good, albeit brief biography of the thirtieth-third President and it is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.
February 4, 2024
I was a big fan of Robert Dallek's excellent and comprehensive biography of FDR, so I was excited to read this biography of Harry Truman. Unfortunately, this biography lacks the detail and enthusiasm that one gets from his life of Roosevelt.
Dallek's work gives a brief overview of Truman's life before the Vice-Presidency, with an account of his rise from Missouri to the Senate and then the presidency. His time as President makes up the great bulk of the book, unsurprisingly, starting with his sudden accession and then his decision to use the atom bomb on Japan. Dallek does well to trace the transition Truman went through, from worrying that the job was beyond him to finding his confidence and mission.
Dallek highlights Truman's commitment to civil rights and the troubling atmosphere of labor unrest and anti-communist paranoia that characterised the post-war years. What also comes across well is how figures like Nixon and McCarthy thrived in this atmosphere and rose to become national figures. The scramble by both parties to attract the attention of Eisenhower makes for interesting reading, as likewise does Truman's relationship with the military during the Korean War.
Nonetheless, there are mere pages dedicated to Truman's life after the Presidency, and in general there was a lot of room for Dallek to go into the kind of detail that he gives to FDR and other Presidents. It leaves the rather short biography feeling like an addendum to the author's other works, rather than a meaningful work of history in its own right.
Dallek's work gives a brief overview of Truman's life before the Vice-Presidency, with an account of his rise from Missouri to the Senate and then the presidency. His time as President makes up the great bulk of the book, unsurprisingly, starting with his sudden accession and then his decision to use the atom bomb on Japan. Dallek does well to trace the transition Truman went through, from worrying that the job was beyond him to finding his confidence and mission.
Dallek highlights Truman's commitment to civil rights and the troubling atmosphere of labor unrest and anti-communist paranoia that characterised the post-war years. What also comes across well is how figures like Nixon and McCarthy thrived in this atmosphere and rose to become national figures. The scramble by both parties to attract the attention of Eisenhower makes for interesting reading, as likewise does Truman's relationship with the military during the Korean War.
Nonetheless, there are mere pages dedicated to Truman's life after the Presidency, and in general there was a lot of room for Dallek to go into the kind of detail that he gives to FDR and other Presidents. It leaves the rather short biography feeling like an addendum to the author's other works, rather than a meaningful work of history in its own right.
February 25, 2017
For the first three-quarters of this book, I considered to be the worst of the American Presidents series to this point. There was very little information about "Truman the man", instead focusing almost exclusively on administration procedures and almost a rote timeline of historical events.
But then, the Cold War (and Korean War) material really got interesting and saved this book from the utter doldrums. I don't know anything about author Robert Dallek, but I wonder if perhaps one of his specialties is Cold War research, as he does it so well. From that point on (although unfortunately only about 40 pages), this book becomes much more interesting and insightful about President Truman.
Overall, then, I would tend to steer people away from this Truman bio on the whole. It covers the Cold War and Communism portions of his presidency quite well, but other than that it doesn't do anything for Truman's early political career or his ending of World War II.
But then, the Cold War (and Korean War) material really got interesting and saved this book from the utter doldrums. I don't know anything about author Robert Dallek, but I wonder if perhaps one of his specialties is Cold War research, as he does it so well. From that point on (although unfortunately only about 40 pages), this book becomes much more interesting and insightful about President Truman.
Overall, then, I would tend to steer people away from this Truman bio on the whole. It covers the Cold War and Communism portions of his presidency quite well, but other than that it doesn't do anything for Truman's early political career or his ending of World War II.
June 26, 2018
Borish, nearly partisan approach from this book that insisted from the start that Truman was one of our great presidents of the 20th Century. I lost interest early on and never gained it back. While there were historically accurate portrayals of events, there were also expository points that I couldn't get past. Mostly, though, I just lost interest. I did, however, force myself to finish, in hopes that I would gain some level of understanding as to the pre-Eisenhower years of presidential policy, seeing how the Korean War is finally drawing to a close now in 2018. I'm sure I could've found a better representation of the reasoning behind the war, but at least I gained some insight from a perspective I wouldn't have otherwise known. I do find myself with less respect for Truman than before I read this book, which I don't believe was the author's point.
March 28, 2018
Robert Dallek offers fledgling historians an enticing glimpse into the presidency of Harry S. Truman. Marred by corruption and Communism allegations during the tensions of the Cold War, Truman's single term culminated in massive voter disapproval. On the bright side, Truman acted meticulously in a time of constant exigency and trepidation, when Americans were dubious of foreigners but also lustful for an efficacious commander in chief. His foibles notwithstanding, Harry S. Truman, dubbed "The Ordinary Man," exited the White House with a ruptured confidence but admirable obstinacy. His uncontested stubbornness delineates him as one of the most hardcore presidents, and the development of the atomic bomb may be a firm indicator of that pervasive sentiment....
November 12, 2022
Concise biography which gives you the facts in roughly chronological order - but often not enough of the context.
Oddly, Dallek assures us in both the introduction and the epilogue that Truman has been held in high esteem as one of the great or at least near-great 20th century presidents, but his own account presents him rather as a middling chief executive whose great, but rare triumphs (particularly during the fateful year of 1947) are outweighed by the plethora of failures. Whence this contradiction - does Dallek think that Truman is near-great despite all his failures, or does he disagree with the common assessment of Truman but doesn't explicitly tell us?
Overall, not as good as the Truman chapter in Leuchtenburg's The American President (which is about as long).
Oddly, Dallek assures us in both the introduction and the epilogue that Truman has been held in high esteem as one of the great or at least near-great 20th century presidents, but his own account presents him rather as a middling chief executive whose great, but rare triumphs (particularly during the fateful year of 1947) are outweighed by the plethora of failures. Whence this contradiction - does Dallek think that Truman is near-great despite all his failures, or does he disagree with the common assessment of Truman but doesn't explicitly tell us?
Overall, not as good as the Truman chapter in Leuchtenburg's The American President (which is about as long).
September 15, 2017
I enjoyed this book immensely. I found it very readable and it taught me so much about Truman, WW II and the Korean War. Call me ignorant, but it wasn’t in my conscientiousness that it was Truman who made the decision to drop the nuclear bombs on Japan. Truman wasn’t supposed to ever be president and is often called the “accidental president”. My response is that the US was accidentally exceptionally lucky to have him as president.
Truman didn’t have the training or experience to be president, yet he behaved well, doing what he thought was right, without worrying about being “in” with others’ thinking.
I highly recommend this book.
Truman didn’t have the training or experience to be president, yet he behaved well, doing what he thought was right, without worrying about being “in” with others’ thinking.
I highly recommend this book.
October 30, 2023
I did not know much about President Truman, before I read this book. Mr. Dallek presents a great account of President Truman’s struggles after he takes office after President Roosevelt died. Not having any administrative experience, he is thrown into office toward the end of WW2. The decisions he had to make during that time had to be daunting. This 150 page book explains the challenges President Truman had to face after WW2, and the challenges he had to face during his second term. This book challenged me to read more about President Truman. I have started reading David McCullough’s book, Truman.
September 19, 2017
This book provides a concise, ungarbled, and unabridged narration of President Harry S. Truman's public service - challenges, fights, and accomplishments from young age, then as US senator, and President.
Even there are not much dive into President Truman personality or family life, yet you can get a sense of who Harry Truman was.
To know President Harry S. Truman and his Presidency better, curious readers can take this book as an appetizer, engaging yet not too satisfying, nutritious yet not too fulfilling.
Even there are not much dive into President Truman personality or family life, yet you can get a sense of who Harry Truman was.
To know President Harry S. Truman and his Presidency better, curious readers can take this book as an appetizer, engaging yet not too satisfying, nutritious yet not too fulfilling.
June 11, 2020
Pretty cool dude! He was unexpectedly thrown into the presidency at the death of FDR, but still managed to be officially elected into office in 1948. Although his presidency ended in what seemed like failure, he has grown to be more popular as the years went by. His and down-to-earth attitude grew in popularity with the years. Truman had to drop some a-bombs, deal with the beginning of the Cold War, and endure the Korean War. This book is short and sweet—perfect if you want a brief overview of his presidency.
July 17, 2020
Enjoyed yet another book in The American Presidents series. Overall I the book was good. Although it left me feeling very meh towards Truman. He made some interesting choices that the book exposed to me that I would say I ultimately didn't agree with. Overall a good, concise read of Truman's presidency. I would definitely recommend if you're not looking to go super deep but want an overarching view of Truman's presidency.
October 10, 2023
I enjoyed this book very much. It didn't spend a lot of attention of the little things while hitting on the most important things.
The most interesting part was learning why Truman was considered such a "bad" president back in the day due to his perceived failure in dealing with communism. Yet many years later, Truman was shown to be correct in his belief that communism would fail over time rather than take the advice of having an all-out war that McArthur wanted.
The most interesting part was learning why Truman was considered such a "bad" president back in the day due to his perceived failure in dealing with communism. Yet many years later, Truman was shown to be correct in his belief that communism would fail over time rather than take the advice of having an all-out war that McArthur wanted.
April 13, 2022
If you have you have never read anything about this President, it's not a bad read. Although it is not as entertaining and compelling as the interview at the end of the book in the audio version. The book is factual and lacked the passion I heard in the interview. So I will give it an average rating lacking the significant entertainment value I would have hoped for in the writing style.
November 4, 2017
Truman was not as bad a president as some would have you believe. I don't think he gets enough credit for what he was able to accomplish. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.
November 4, 2017
The book describes Truman's presidency, but perhaps due to its brevity it does not give a good explanation of what made him a near great President. It does, however, describe his mistakes and the reasons for his unpopularity better than many much longer biographies.
March 14, 2022
I don’t like history that is written with an agenda. Dallek can’t help himself. He’s an apologist for Truman and the liberal platform to the extent that he cannot see value in any other view. If you want something more than just a timeline, this isn’t your answer.
May 29, 2018
The life of Harry Truman
November 19, 2018
When I was a kid I saw him speak at a dam in Arkansas.
May 25, 2019
An even handed though brief biography of the 33rd United States President. Dallek's description of Truman's spot in history during the end of World War II and the Korean conflict is insightful.
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