The 33rd President of the United States came to power at a crucial, transitional time for the Nation. Harry S. Truman succeeded to the presidency during the final months of the World War II. Truman had to guide the Nation through the end of the war, the atomic bomb, and the beginning of the Cold War. Throughout his first and second terms, he faced crucial decisions that were detrimental for the future of the American foreign policy and that would leave a legacy.
Harry S. Truman was born into a humble farm family in Missouri. He was an intelligent boy, who was eager to learn, but did not have the opportunity to go to college or to enroll in the U.S. Military Academy due to his poor sight. He became involved in a variety of jobs until he decided to go back to farming and joined the National Guard. He was 33 …show more content…
Roosevelt was president during two of the biggest crises in U.S. history: the Great Depression and World War II. Meanwhile, Truman had to deal with the aftermath of the World War and new events which were mentioned earlier. Roosevelt implemented the Good Neighbor Policy, which consisted of “withdrawing American forces from Latin American Countries and respecting their sovereignty” (“President…” 1). Roosevelt did not believe that the way to improve relationships with Latin American Countries was through military force, but instead through emphasizing cooperation and trade. After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt decided to involve the U.S. in World War II. In order to defeat the Axis powers, Roosevelt got involved in talks with Churchill and Stalin. At the time of meeting those powerful men, Roosevelt already had a long run at being president; therefore, he had knowledge of how to deal with these figures. Truman, on the contrary, did not have the same expertise, but was still able to contend those European leaders and even military
Harry S. Truman was born into a humble farm family in Missouri. He was an intelligent boy, who was eager to learn, but did not have the opportunity to go to college or to enroll in the U.S. Military Academy due to his poor sight. He became involved in a variety of jobs until he decided to go back to farming and joined the National Guard. He was 33 …show more content…
Roosevelt was president during two of the biggest crises in U.S. history: the Great Depression and World War II. Meanwhile, Truman had to deal with the aftermath of the World War and new events which were mentioned earlier. Roosevelt implemented the Good Neighbor Policy, which consisted of “withdrawing American forces from Latin American Countries and respecting their sovereignty” (“President…” 1). Roosevelt did not believe that the way to improve relationships with Latin American Countries was through military force, but instead through emphasizing cooperation and trade. After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt decided to involve the U.S. in World War II. In order to defeat the Axis powers, Roosevelt got involved in talks with Churchill and Stalin. At the time of meeting those powerful men, Roosevelt already had a long run at being president; therefore, he had knowledge of how to deal with these figures. Truman, on the contrary, did not have the same expertise, but was still able to contend those European leaders and even military