Harry S Truman

The 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. He was the final presidential running mate of Franklin D. Roosevelt and succeeded to the presidency in 1945. Truman successfully completed WWII, but in the aftermath tensions with the Soviet Union increased and the Cold War started.
Truman served in combat in France in WWI and after the war he joined the Democratic Party. He was elected to public office as a county officer and in 1935 became a U.S. senator. He was the head of the wartime Truman Committee and exposed waste, corruption and fraud in wartime contracts.
Germany surrendered a few weeks after Truman became President. In order to cease war with Japan, Truman ordered the use of atomic weapons to force surrender. His decision still remains controversial. During Truman's presidency the nation supported international foreign policy with European allies. The United Nations was founded during his term and he passed the $13 billion Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. Truman oversaw the creation of NATO in 1949 and the Berlin Airlift in 1948. North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950 and he sent in U.S. troops and received UN approval for the Korean War. He successfully lifted America through post-war economic challenges and started racial integration of the military.
In 1948 Truman recognized the State of Israel and alienated Arab nations. In 1948 Truman won the presidential election in a come from behind victory. He had a public approval rating of 36% and was not expected to win the general election. His 1949 inauguration was the first televised ceremony. His second term was marked with foreign policy challenges and atomic bomb scares. Truman's term was also challenge by assassination attempt ad White House renovations, steel and coal strikes, plus scandals and controversies.
On December 5, 1972 Truman was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. He died on December 26 at the age of 88. He was married to Bess Wallace and they had one daughter, Margaret.