6 of 13

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

may yet reign in the area.

In this country, the big job he had to deal with was protection of the "New Deal" legislation signed into law by FDR. Was he successful here? Only in his health care and his economy, but his social programs he tried to get through congress made it. This has been explained that there were more Republicans in congress than in the days when FDR so aptly got his bills passed. The times were changing.

Although most of his bills did not get passed, his executive power saw to it that there were inroads into the civil rights dilemma. He desegregated he armed forces, racial discrimination was condemned in federal employment, and he created the Civil Rights Commission.

In his 1948 bid for re-election, he was widely thought to fail, but his determination to push onward sold him to the voters. His "Whistlestop" campaign was noteworthy and colorful. Crowds would line up at certain places along the railways to listen to his speeches. He has many critics and he has had many admirers but all of them agree that he was, as a president, a breath of fresh air.

In 1953 he and his wife, Bess, retired to Independence, Missouri where they saw to his library. He wrote his Memoirs, "Mr. Citizen" and he filled his remaining years with books, lecturing and "taking long daily walks". He died December 26, 1972 and she died October 18, 1982. They are buried side by side at the Truman Library, in Independence, Missouri.

Source:
www.ask.com
Merrian-Webster Collegiate Encyclopedia pp.1646

Learn more about this author, EMoore.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about The legacy of Harry Truman?
We want to hear your view. Write now!