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Harry Truman, a poor farm boy in Missouri making it all the way to the White House is the stuff of legends, indeed. There was something about the way he spoke his mind, the way he didn't hedge on making decisions that had to be made that endeared him to the People of the United States of America. You either liked him or you didn't. He and his gruff manner was enough to get him voted in for a second term as president in 1948. The people knew he was genuine and they did not mind that he spoke his mind.

In his first term, he was the vice-president when Franklin Delano Roosevelt died of a Cerebral Hemorrhage in 1995, only about a year into his fourth term. (Incidentally, FDR hold the record for getting elected for four terms of office.) He had been appointed by the president to be his running mate in 1944.

At that time, Truman, as a congressman was involved in an effort known by the other committee members as The Truman Committee. He and the others worked to see that defense contractors did not overcharge for their goods and services. Apparently much of this had been going on.

In the first year as president, he described the time as the year of decisions. And indeed it was. The war ended, and prior to the Pacific part of the war ending, he had to say yes to the two bombs that were dropped on Japan August 6, 1945. The war here ended August 14, 1945. The United Nations set up shop, and the Soviet Union and the United States and their allies began to growl at each other. Communism was gaining ground and as you can see, Truman was a busy man seeing that it was recognized for what it was,an abstacle to peace. He needed to find ways to stop its menace.

Some of the programs of his administration, either directly or indirectly involving him were The Truman Doctrine, The Marshall Plan, and NATO.
The Truman Doctrine was about controlling communism; The Marshall Plan was an assistance program for European countries; and NATO, (National Atlantic Treaty Organization) was a military organization to prevent the Soviet Union from advancing into others territory.

Once during his seven years of office, he declared war. This was in direct relation to the NATO, which was against any communist country taking over or dictating to non-communist countries. North Korea in June 1950 declared war on South Korea. The aftermath of that conflict still reverberate today. Only recently have we heard optimistic signs that peace may yet reign in the area.

In this country, the big job he had to deal with

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