Harry Truman was elected to Vice Presidency in 1944, serving under FDR. FDR died 3 months into his fourth presidency of a cerebral brain hemorrhage. Truman replaced him in office in April of 1945. During this first term he accomplished some great things. The first and second of which are the signings of Germany's and Japan's respective surrenders(V-E Day and V-J Day). Truman's first actions after the war ended were to immediately cut military spending, to transition from production of wartime good to production of peacetime good, and to find jobs for the returning veterans. Soon after this, Truman had to face massive strikes(including a coal, railroad, and steel strikes) and labor disputes. Also during his first presidency, Truman supported and helped create the United Nations. He also recognized the formation of Israel.
The 1948 presidential election is remembered for Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory. In the spring of 1948, Truman's public approval rating stood at 36%, and the president was nearly universally regarded as incapable of winning the general election. The "New Deal" operatives within the party tried to swing the Democratic nomination to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower refused, and Truman ended up winning the election.
In June of 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War. Truman called for a blockade of North Korea, but the Navy couldn't enforce this because of prior spending cuts. The UN, however, sent troops to help South Korea fight off the North. The war remained a frustrating stalemate for two years, with over 30,000 Americans killed, until an armistice ended the fighting in 1953.
In my opinion, President Truman was a great president, even though he was an unpopular president. The fact that he made the decisions he did, even though he knew they were unpopular make me like him. I'd say he was a pretty good president.
-president Truman
-Truman's and FDR's presidential propaganda
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Very well done Jacob!