Thursday, May 23, 2013

May 23 - Independence, MO - Harry Truman



Welcome to Independence, Missouri home of Harry S Truman. He became 33rd president upon the death of FDR on April 12, 1945. Truman was faced with winning the war and rebuilding the economy.  He brought the war to an end with the atomic bomb.  Winning the peace meant settling labor disputes, integrating the Armed Forces, recognizing Israel as a country and helping to stabilize governments in Europe.  The Berlin Airlift, 277,000 flights, provided support to the people of Berlin cut off by Russia.



In 1948, Truman took his re-election campaign to the people on his Whistle Stop Tour.  Despite the newspaper headline, “Dewey Beats Truman”, Truman won re-election. The Cold War broke out in Korea in 1950.  UN forces under the command of General McArthur fought the conflict.


In 1952 Truman returned to Independence to begin his Library that opened in 1957.  By the way, the S in Harry S Truman stands for absolutely nothing.  Note the lack of a period after the S.





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