Thursday, September 17, 2009

1949 Harry Truman.

• First, "we will continue to give unfaltering support to the United Nations and related agencies, and we will continue to search for ways to strengthen their authority and increase their effectiveness."
• Second, "we will continue our programs for world economic recovery."
• Third, "we will strengthen freedom-loving nations against the dangers of aggression."
• Fourth, "we must embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas."

So, I googled Harry Truman 1949 and found out that this was the year he was inaugurated. And apparently he gave a really important speech that politicians (especially democrats) align themselves with.

So to sum it up, supporting the UN, programs to help the world recover from WWII, help freedom-loving nations from aggression, continue to work towards scientific and industrial advances.

Some general info about Truman:

He fought in WWI (only US president to see combat during this war). He was known for the Whistle Stop Tour which helped him become elected. It was his executive order to desegregate the US armed forces. It was his decision to drop the bomb on Japan. He dismissed many communists from public office. During his time, the UN, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe was started, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, and NATO were created. It was during his term that the Korean war occurred.

He was the president famous for the idea (and a sign he kept on his desk) of the buck stops here. Passing the buck means passing blame. This was somewhat in reference to Europe in passing the buck to other countries rather than deal with growing threat of Germany in WWII. Most historians consider him the most important US president.

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