Harry Truman And The Cold War Essay

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Harry Truman During his presidential terms Harry Truman showed resilience when faced with the many foreign affairs he faced. Events that would highlight Truman’s characteristics as an admirable leader include the hardships he faced during World War II, and his efforts for the containment of communism during the Cold War tensions. Truman fell into office after Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage, he was sworn into office on April 12, 1845 therefore becoming the 33rd president of the United States. Within a month of Truman’s position in office, World War II in Europe had nearly concluded, within a month Hitler had committed suicide and Germany were throwing up the white flag, however the war in the Pacific with Japan had escalated. Military planners advocated an Allied invasion of Japan, which Truman contradicted that this strategy would prolong the war another year and result in many American soldier casualties. Truman knew a second option existed through the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb, while attending the Potsdam Conference, which discussed on how to make Japan surrender, Truman was informed that a test of the atomic bomb had been successful, his efforts for an earlier conclusion of the war were in action. Truman approved to drop the atomic bomb on Japan; then on August 6, 1945 the B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the first bomb on Hiroshima. Estimates of the casualties are severe but upwards of 100,000 civilians perished instantly. Japan had not surrendered yet and then the second bomb was dropped on August 9th on Nagasaki, five days later the Japanese surrendered thus on September 2nd 1945, World War II had finally concluded. ` Although this war was over, the Cold War was just b... ... middle of paper ... ...the controversy of the dropping of the atomic bomb being considered inhumane and racist by the American public. In addition, his handling of the early Cold War tension would be considered impressive by a president who claimed he was not very experienced in foreign affairs; he still pulled through with the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan which contributed towards future containment policies during the Cold War. A leader is someone who takes initiative no matter how inexperienced or unsophisticated they may be, this is noticeable in Truman because he did not ask to be President of the United States, the title was just bestowed on him and he took action. Handling every situation to the best of his abilities despite the hardships and circumstances. Truman was a great leader in a time where his country needed him the most, and he planned to serve his county well.

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