I-1: The Accidental President

1. Harry Truman- “The Accidental
President” (Dem.) - Missouri
1945-1953

2. Truman Biography
• Born-Lamar, Missouri
• No College Experience
▫ UMKC Law School (2 Years)
• WWI Artilleryman
• Married in 1919 (Bess Wallace)
• Haberdasher in 1921 (Failed)
• Jackson County Judge in 1922
• Elected Senator in 1934 (2 terms)
▫ “Investigator Truman”
• Nominated for the Vice-
Presidency in 1944 (Henry A.
Wallace)

3. Truman Bio 2
• Truman was VP for only 82
days when FDR died
• Only had 2 meetings with FDR
as VP
• Eleanor Roosevelt- “Is there
anything that we can do for
you? For you are the one in
trouble now.
• "Boys, if you ever pray, pray
for me now….but when they
told me what happened
yesterday, I felt like the moon,
the stars, and all the planets
had fallen on me."

4. Truman Bio cont.
• Approval Rating
▫ 3rd Highest Ever
▫87%
▫ (June 1945)
▫ Lowest Ever
▫22%
▫ (February 1952)

5. Personal Stories
"Miss Truman is a unique
American phenomenon with a
pleasant voice of little size and fair
quality (she) cannot sing very well
is flat a good deal of the timemore
last night than at any time we have
heard her in past years
Mr. Hume:
It seems to me that you are a
frustrated old man who wishes he
could have been successful. When
you write such poppy-cock as was
in the back section of the paper you
work for it shows conclusively that
you're off the beam and at least
four of your ulcers are at work.
Some day I hope to meet you.
When that happens you'll need a
new nose, a lot of beefsteak for
black eyes, and perhaps a
supporter below!
H.S.T.