Harry S. Truman
May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972
Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April. He set up the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe, established the Truman Doctrine and supported the founding of NATO.
Biography
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, from 1945 to 1953. A farmer and First World War artillery officer from Missouri, he entered politics through the Kansas City Democratic organization and became a senator in 1935.
He became vice president in January 1945 and president when Franklin Roosevelt died in April. He decided to use atomic bombs against Japan, which ended the Second World War, and backed the founding of the United Nations.
His administration set the course of the Cold War with the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift and NATO. He recognized Israel in 1948, ordered the desegregation of the armed forces, won a surprise election that year, and led the country into the Korean War.
Offices held
Henry A. Wallace Succeeded by
Alben W. Barkley
Franklin D. Roosevelt Succeeded by
Dwight D. Eisenhower
