ASIA
01 January 2025
Remembering President Harry Truman
Harry Truman created many elements of the rules-based world order which is now under threat from Donald Trump, writes John West.
With Donald Trump on the verge of unravelling the rules-based world order, David L. Roll’s new book, “Ascent to Power”, offers great insights into how US President Harry Truman emerged from Franklin D. Roosevelt's shadow and created many of the key elements of that world order.
Truman became Roosevelt’s vice president for his fourth presidential term, beginning in January 1945. In fact, Truman was Roosevelt’s third vice president, the others being John Nance Garner (1933–1941) and Henry A. Wallace (1941–1945).
Truman was an unlikely choice as vice-president. He was a relatively unknown senator from Missouri. He was chosen as vice-presidential candidate by Democratic Party power brokers, rather than Roosevelt, basically through a process of elimination. Other candidates were jettisoned due to their political shortcomings.
Truman was Roosevelt’s most important vice president in that it was an open secret in Washington that Roosevelt was in very poor health and was unlikely to survive his fourth presidency. Roosevelt’s doctor gave him this same advice, but this did not stop Roosevelt from running for a fourth term. In the event, Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, just 82 days after beginning his fourth term. Thus, Truman was not an accidental president, his presidency was well anticipated.
There have been a number of cases of vice presidents inheriting the presidency following the death of the president. For example, Theodore Roosevelt became president following the assassination of William McKinley. Calvin Coolidge took over following the death of Warren G. Harding. And Lyndon B. Johnson inherited the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
But Truman arguably inherited the presidency in more complex circumstances than any previous vice-president. The US was still in the midst of a world war. Fighting with Germany was ongoing, though tapering off, and the Pacific War was still underway. And work on the atomic bomb was also underway, and a decision would have to be made about whether to use it.
Truman had received very little preparation for his new responsibilities. He only had one serious meeting with Roosevelt after being chosen for the vice-presidency. In contrast to much received wisdom, Truman was aware of the work on an atomic bomb through the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (“Truman Committee”). In addition, Roosevelt had also mentioned the bomb programme to Truman. In fact, even Joseph Stalin knew of work on the bomb, thanks to his spies.
At the same time, Truman curiously made no effort to become informed of America’s foreign policy challenges. He could have hired advisors or gone to the State Department for briefings, but did not. Truman would however quickly get up to speed thanks in large part to his excellent team – George Marshall (Secretary of State), Dean Acheson (Truman's main foreign policy advisor from 1945 to 1947), Clark Clifford (policy advisor), and William Clayton.
Truman and Marshall also worked hand-in-hand with Republican Senator Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg, who was head of the Foreign Relations Committee. Vandenberg is best known for leading the Republican Party from a foreign policy of isolationism to one of internationalism, and supporting the Marshall Plan, NATO, and the Truman Doctrine.
Truman’s achievements were numerous. The Marshall Plan was designed to aid in Europe’s economic recovery after World War II and secure US geopolitical influence over Western Europe. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was created as a political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America which are committed to protecting each other from the communist threat.
Under the Truman Doctrine, the US committed to provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. This was instigated by the threat that the Soviet Union posed to Greece and Turkey. In a way, the Truman Doctrine has remained at the heart of US foreign policy until today. Truman also had to navigate the emerging Cold War with an increasingly hostile Soviet Union.
Truman also took the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan. For him the decision was clear. It was worth bringing the war to an end and saving the lives of American soldiers. But according to Roll, Truman was still operating under the shadow of Roosevelt, and felt obliged to not change direction on this issue. He regarded the bomb as Roosevelt’s unspoken legacy.
Truman also had to manage the “Berlin Airlift”, a crisis which started on June 24, 1948, when Soviet forces blockaded rail, road, and water access to Allied-controlled areas of Berlin. The United States and United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany.
A major turning point in Truman’s presidency was when the Democrats lost both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the midterm elections of 1946, the first time they had lost Congress since 1928. Ironically, after this disastrous defeat Truman felt like a free, transformed man, and then began pushing ahead on issues of no interest to Roosevelt, notably civil rights.
When Truman took over the presidency, the US had a whole generation of folks who only knew Roosevelt as president. Under this shadow, it seemed that Truman had little hope of winning the 1948 presidential elections. But Truman pulled off a stunning victory against all the odds.
How did he do it? One important factor was his “whistle stop” tour by which he campaigned around the US. While he lost the northeast industrial states, he won over the black vote and the farming states, many of which he visited. He also saved much of his criticisms for the Republican dominated Congress, rather than his main contestant, Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York.
Roll regards Truman’s presidency as a most consequential one, a big historical departure, which would have had George Washington turning in his grave in light of his fear of foreign entanglements. It was remarkable to achieve in just a few years the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO, detonation of the atomic bomb, and the Berlin Airlift. Further, the US did what virtually no other conqueror had done in history, namely, transform the former enemies of Germany and Japan into economic powerhouses and security bases in the emerging Cold War.
In sum, Harry Truman, the unlikely US president, was an extraordinary president who can stand alongside Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt. He believed quite rightly that American internationalism was in the country’s national interests in the emerging Cold War. It was not just an act of generosity on America’s behalf.
Truman became Roosevelt’s vice president for his fourth presidential term, beginning in January 1945. In fact, Truman was Roosevelt’s third vice president, the others being John Nance Garner (1933–1941) and Henry A. Wallace (1941–1945).
Truman was an unlikely choice as vice-president. He was a relatively unknown senator from Missouri. He was chosen as vice-presidential candidate by Democratic Party power brokers, rather than Roosevelt, basically through a process of elimination. Other candidates were jettisoned due to their political shortcomings.
Truman was Roosevelt’s most important vice president in that it was an open secret in Washington that Roosevelt was in very poor health and was unlikely to survive his fourth presidency. Roosevelt’s doctor gave him this same advice, but this did not stop Roosevelt from running for a fourth term. In the event, Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, just 82 days after beginning his fourth term. Thus, Truman was not an accidental president, his presidency was well anticipated.
There have been a number of cases of vice presidents inheriting the presidency following the death of the president. For example, Theodore Roosevelt became president following the assassination of William McKinley. Calvin Coolidge took over following the death of Warren G. Harding. And Lyndon B. Johnson inherited the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
But Truman arguably inherited the presidency in more complex circumstances than any previous vice-president. The US was still in the midst of a world war. Fighting with Germany was ongoing, though tapering off, and the Pacific War was still underway. And work on the atomic bomb was also underway, and a decision would have to be made about whether to use it.
Truman had received very little preparation for his new responsibilities. He only had one serious meeting with Roosevelt after being chosen for the vice-presidency. In contrast to much received wisdom, Truman was aware of the work on an atomic bomb through the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (“Truman Committee”). In addition, Roosevelt had also mentioned the bomb programme to Truman. In fact, even Joseph Stalin knew of work on the bomb, thanks to his spies.
At the same time, Truman curiously made no effort to become informed of America’s foreign policy challenges. He could have hired advisors or gone to the State Department for briefings, but did not. Truman would however quickly get up to speed thanks in large part to his excellent team – George Marshall (Secretary of State), Dean Acheson (Truman's main foreign policy advisor from 1945 to 1947), Clark Clifford (policy advisor), and William Clayton.
Truman and Marshall also worked hand-in-hand with Republican Senator Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg, who was head of the Foreign Relations Committee. Vandenberg is best known for leading the Republican Party from a foreign policy of isolationism to one of internationalism, and supporting the Marshall Plan, NATO, and the Truman Doctrine.
Truman’s achievements were numerous. The Marshall Plan was designed to aid in Europe’s economic recovery after World War II and secure US geopolitical influence over Western Europe. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was created as a political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America which are committed to protecting each other from the communist threat.
Under the Truman Doctrine, the US committed to provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. This was instigated by the threat that the Soviet Union posed to Greece and Turkey. In a way, the Truman Doctrine has remained at the heart of US foreign policy until today. Truman also had to navigate the emerging Cold War with an increasingly hostile Soviet Union.
Truman also took the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan. For him the decision was clear. It was worth bringing the war to an end and saving the lives of American soldiers. But according to Roll, Truman was still operating under the shadow of Roosevelt, and felt obliged to not change direction on this issue. He regarded the bomb as Roosevelt’s unspoken legacy.
Truman also had to manage the “Berlin Airlift”, a crisis which started on June 24, 1948, when Soviet forces blockaded rail, road, and water access to Allied-controlled areas of Berlin. The United States and United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany.
A major turning point in Truman’s presidency was when the Democrats lost both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the midterm elections of 1946, the first time they had lost Congress since 1928. Ironically, after this disastrous defeat Truman felt like a free, transformed man, and then began pushing ahead on issues of no interest to Roosevelt, notably civil rights.
When Truman took over the presidency, the US had a whole generation of folks who only knew Roosevelt as president. Under this shadow, it seemed that Truman had little hope of winning the 1948 presidential elections. But Truman pulled off a stunning victory against all the odds.
How did he do it? One important factor was his “whistle stop” tour by which he campaigned around the US. While he lost the northeast industrial states, he won over the black vote and the farming states, many of which he visited. He also saved much of his criticisms for the Republican dominated Congress, rather than his main contestant, Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York.
Roll regards Truman’s presidency as a most consequential one, a big historical departure, which would have had George Washington turning in his grave in light of his fear of foreign entanglements. It was remarkable to achieve in just a few years the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO, detonation of the atomic bomb, and the Berlin Airlift. Further, the US did what virtually no other conqueror had done in history, namely, transform the former enemies of Germany and Japan into economic powerhouses and security bases in the emerging Cold War.
In sum, Harry Truman, the unlikely US president, was an extraordinary president who can stand alongside Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt. He believed quite rightly that American internationalism was in the country’s national interests in the emerging Cold War. It was not just an act of generosity on America’s behalf.