Harry S. Truman: The Accidental President 

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“An honest public servant can’t become rich in politics. He can only attain greatness and satisfaction by service” Harry S. Truman

"I never did give them hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell." - Harry S. Truman

One thing that has sadly been left as a footnote that deserves to be part of Truman's legacy is the way he dealt with Japanese Americans. He ended internment policy enacted by FDR during the years before Truman became FDRs VP, sought to herald the 442nd division (the single most decorated division of the US Army which then was comprised mostly of second-generation Japanese Americans in WW2) as the dedicated and strong servicemen they were, and spoke about how such internment was done on the basis of racism and not any identifiable indication of Japanese people living in the US being of foreign loyalty. He tried to pass bills allowing compensation for those held in internment including one of the first civil rights bills to go into effect in the 20th century, though sadly little was actually put into effect, especially given the Democrats back then weren't on board that much. On domestic policy at least, Truman may well have been a bit too ahead of his time, given how many troubles he ran into enacting civil rights policy.

My father told me a Truman story: On his 80th birthday, Truman was out for his morning walk and some reporters joined him. One asked, "How old do you feel, Mr. President?" "80," Truman answered, dryly.

Eleanor Roosevelt:"You're a president, Harry!" Harry Truman: "I-I'm a what?"

I was a young man back in Independence assigned to guard his house and had the privilege to meet and dialogue with Mr. Truman. He was what you saw, a common man who never suffered from hubris. I still have a signed picture from him....by the way, Mr. Truman went to Washington broke and came back to Independence broke.

Something that sticks out to me about Truman is one single event that characterised Truman the man rather than Truman the President. Shortly after Truman became Vice President, Tom Pendergast died. Despite having shed the shadow of Pendergast's corruption quite some time before, he attended the man's funeral _knowing_ that he'd be lambasted for it. Inevitably, huge criticism followed his decision to be at the funeral but he replied in a manner that I think speaks volumes about just what type of person he was: "He was always my friend, and I was always his." That. That says it all for me about Harry Truman. To acknowledge the friendship and pay his respects _despite_ knowing the dark side of Pendergast and also knowing that it would risk his own popularity, he still attended... because that's what friends do. Says it all, really.

"My father was not a failure. After all, he was the father of a President of the United States!" -- Harry S Truman

“Why do I keep getting quoted?” ~Harry. S. Truman

When my grandfather was a kid growing up in Jefferson City Missouri, he happened to be riding on the same train as Truman, going to the state capital, for some reason or another. After Truman’s presidency, my grandfather wrote to him and recounted the story. Truman wrote a thoughtful letter back, and included a signed photograph. Just a class act

When Truman desegregated the troops he took an enormous amount of heat for that. He made sure there was a unit in the JAG office set up for the complaints, and was kept informed by the JAG office. Harry Truman was a force to be reckoned with. People didnt like him because he didnt play political ball.

I always considered him to be one of the presidents you could really respect . A person you could have a decent conversation and go fishing with .

This is without a doubt the most beautiful episode! We have him to thank for the fact we don’t talk from bunkers or in a perpetual war... he kept the peace at the cost of his own popularity and that’s the mark of a great man.

I grew up in Independence, Mo. I attended the same church as the Truman family. Spent many hours at the Truman Library. His daughter was at my confirmation. My favorite quote of Mr. Truman is...”You want a friend in Washington....get a dog.” Bravo Zulu sir on the video sir.

For the few times Truman met Roosevelt, Truman thought Rooseevelt the coldest person he ever met. He also recognized that Roosevelt was on death's door.

My grandfather worked closely with several United States Presidents 🇺🇸. To his dying day, he always said Harry Truman was his favorite President.

Footnote regards Berlin airlift, Truman cabled Stalin "If one of our unarmed planes is shot down Moscow will get very hot" that is Harry Truman in a nutshell.

My sister and I met Harry Truman when he was president. He was driving under escort through our hometown and had his car stop to greet my sister and me.

There’s something about Truman that I love. He nearly completely failed at 40 years old and now is one of the most famous faces in history. I relate a ton with him(not the presidential part and the historical popularity part). Although he did use racial slurs, it felt like he did care about civil rights in a time when that wasn’t really the focus yet. I find inspiration in myself now thanks to Truman.

Seeing Truman's story makes me cry, he never gave up even though the world was against him

In alot of ways you want a leader that doesnt really want to lead. The ones that have no interest in power but just want to help. Obviously there are other factors but not being power hungry is always a plus

This one hit me in the feels. I’m from Independence and he really is a big deal here. He was an ordinary an in extraordinary circumstances and this video does an excellent job of showing why we’re so proud of him here.

One good thing about quarantine is you have tons of time to watch biographics

Truman’s story might be my favorite of all the Presidents. He’s such an Everyman that the gravity of what he was handed is incredible to imagine.

This story is so inspiring, I've been kicked down by life one too many times in my young age of 24. This actually gives me a drive to keep going and strive for greatness, maybe i won't be a president but i will damn sure make something of my life.

Simon, Thank you! You expressed great respect for Harry Truman. He was a great man. One slight error. He was not an accidental president. The party bosses knew FDR was not well; would die in office shortly and they knew the VP they were about to select would soon become president. This is exactly why Truman was selected.

From a nobody to dropping the atomic bomb.... Geez. That's a different kind of stress and anxiety!

What Truman lacked in charisma, he made up for in integrity.

I can remember watching Harry on my folks old black & white Admiral TV in 1953 and what stuck me even back then was his honesty which I always felt was legitimate. The small plaque on his desk said it all: "The Buck Stops Here."

Truman's economic policies were really his strong point, particularly the expansion of the Treasury Department's authority and the GSA, Harry had the touch of the common man with the honesty of a clergyman, potent stuff back when Americans were smart enough to respect the truth.

The “Dewey defeats Truman” news papers reminds me of those “Madame president” books they made in 2016 thinking that Clinton had it in the bag. Never believe the polls.

I live in Independence,Mo and we are very proud of Truman

1:35 - Chapter 1 - The boy from nowhere 4:55 - Chapter 2 - Life during wartime 8:15 - Chapter 3 - The "senator from pendergast" 11:45 - Mid roll ads 13:30 - Chapter 4 - The day the stars fell 16:35 - Chapter 5 - A new war 20:00 - Chapter 6 - "Dewey defeat truman" 22:50 - Chapter 7 - And then there was Korea...

My grandfather was in the Pacific during WW2. He didn't talk much about the war, but we got a few stories from him. What stuck with me was his frustration and anger at people who questioned Truman's decision to use nuclear weapons on Japan. My grandfather was a kindly man, I don't recall ever seeing him angry or even raising his voice, so this response stood out. He served some time on Iwo Jima, and saw first-hand what the Japanese had done; he knew that to take Japan by force would be a slog through fierce resistance. While Japan's resolve was faltering at the end, had we been forced to invade it very likely would have rekindled their spirits. What we did was truly horrific, and I hope to never see nuclear weapons used again, but for my grandfather, who would likely have had to storm the beaches, it was the right decision.

Bravo! This was such an inspiring tribute to a late-bloomer who became one of our best presidents on record. Thank you for posting!

"Truman found out he was in the running to be VP and he did everything he could....., to wiggle out of it." 😂

As a Korean American, I owe my life in the States to Truman, MacArthur, and all the military personal who gave their lives for freedom to South Korea. It’s a crying shame the Korean War is nicknamed the Forgotten War.

You forgot to mention that he's the only President with a federally funded scholarship for college kids going into public service from every state and territory. Cheers to any other Truman Scholars who subscribe! I would assume it's pretty much all of us. Great biography of an great man.

Excellent video. Simon really captures the man and his times. I recommend any of the major biographies of this incredible American. Even the tomes with an agenda to attack him are important because the criticism actually highlights his virtues. Our nation was fortunate to have him as President and he continues to serves as a beacon of honesty and decency in public service.

22:48 Saying that the Korean War was pointless is quite a hot take. The outcome *wasn’t* that neither side won, so the borders went back to where they had started. The outcome *was* that the Soviet and Chinese-backed invasion of the south by the northern communists failed to conquer the whole of the Korean peninsula. A defensive war maintaining old boundaries is a victory for the defenders, and their continued sovereignty means a whole lot.

Legend has it that omeone once suggested to Bess Truman that she should teach her husband to say "fertilizer" instead of "manure". Her response: "It took me forty years to get him to say 'manure'!"

I got to shake Harry Truman's hand on my second grade field trip in 1962. We had toured the Truman Library and our bus stopped in front of his house. He came right out to greet us. That was a big deal to us wide eyed kids and I'll never forget it. I grew up in nearby Raytown.

I never realized how sympathetic a character Truman really was. I guess I have some reading to catch up on.

truman is all of us: just a regular person, buoyed by their relationships and propelled by circumstance. you're still capable of greatness, no matter how often it's eluded you so far

This biography was pretty well done over all. However, the only important thing to add was Harry Truman was a voracious reader of history and biographies of important men in history. Truman read a whole lot about Andrew Jackson and the presidents before Abraham Lincoln whom he called the five weak presidents before Lincoln. Anyway, Harry Truman had more than an equivalent four year degree in history. He also studied law for a time while the judge of Jackson County although he never got law degree. He still had strong foundations in history, law and biographies of important historical men. He also mastered much mathematics like logarithms, trigonometry and algebra used in artillery as a captain of artillery. Also, Harry Truman's musical training on the piano expanded his mind to be able think outside the box when necessary. His historical knowledge was self taught but Harry Truman did a damned good job of teaching himself history. This knowledge of history helped him become an expert judge of men. He quickly appreciated George Marshall but also Dean Acheson and other smart good men were kept on in his cabinet. Truman read his policy papers and policy books meeting with his staff in the Oval office and his private office in the White House 18 hours per day. This same work ethic had propelled him during his Senate committee days too. Harry Truman came in early and worked late. He was always well read, well prepared and proved to be an excellent administrator in foreign policy during a turbulent time forming the United Nations, Nato, the Berlin airlift, and the Marshall plan.

I grew up with Truman as President. I saw Douglas MacArthur speak in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas, and always thought as a child that Truman 'done him wrong". I finally learned the truth while in college in the mid 1960's and realized how very wrong I had been. I truly respected this man and feel he was one of the best Presidents we ever had. When I see the turd we have in the White House now doing his best to ruin the entire legacy of America, I grow very sad indeed.

I heard a Paul Harvey bit once that was about a couple of young fellas. One was a farm boy. He graduated high school and moved to the greater Kansas City area. He got a job at a local bank, as a teller trainee. The manager paired him up with a trusted, experienced teller for training. The job didn’t last long, as this farm boy from Abilene, Kansas was on his way to West Point. That farm boy was Dwight D Eisenhower. The trusted teller that became his friend for the rest of his life, who also passed on tips for success at another job, the Presidency, was Harry S Truman. Now you know, the REST of the story. Good...Day...

I was hoping you would add the conversation between elenor and harry after she told him fdr died. Elenor: Harry, the president is dead Harry: Oh my god, is there anything I can do for you? Elenor: The question is, is there anything I can do for YOU, because you're president now Harry:...Pray for me

That handshake at 15:49 says a great deal about how the person swearing in President Truman feels about who he’s swearing in. Watching it at .25 speed says even more

You know, I have watched damn near all your videos on your thousands of channels over the last 6 months and...this may be your best of them all. You really did old Harry proud here sir. Good on you. We could sure use a few like him these days over here.

Failed over and over and over again and still reminded everyone in his office that the “buck stops here”

When I was little, I was at a park & in the rocks of the playground, I found this Harry Truman coin. I’ve never seen a presidential coin like it & it definitely isn’t currency. It looks like it was just a collectable coin that was made after he died to honor him. It’s just a coin with his name & face & years he was president on the front & then on the back was a little biography of his presidency. I don’t remember who I was with (either my dad, mom or grandma) but I think I was with my dad cause I remember showing it to him & him be so astonished at what I’d found. He then had this sudden memory of the day Truman died & told it to me. He said he came home from school & found his mom crying because she’d just heard the news Truman had died. Apparently she had loved Truman & was devastated when he died. I still have that coin in a little collection of weird things I found as a kid lol it’s one thing I never want to lose & will never willingly give away unless it’s to my future children & even then I might not lol I love that coin. It was how I found out who Harry S Truman was cause when I found it, I didn’t know who he was, all I saw was the word president & I was like “oooooooooooo” 🤣 now Truman is one of my favorite presidents 😊

I only know of 2 US Presidents who were honest with the nation - Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter. Both had the nerve to tell America that the state of the union was not strong in dark times. Remember, also, that this is the man whom had super weapons to use at a whim. While the USSR's testing of a nuclear weapon probably played a role in his decision to not use the device, Truman must have realized the power he had. His decision to use the bombs in 1945 may have saved more lives than they took as did his decision in 1951 to not use the bombs.

At the end, showing his face for 20 seconds or so while giving him praise was a nice touch.

A couple of things I would like to point out Supposedly, While he was a judge in Missouri he was approached by the Klu Klux Klan to join. Becoming a member of the Klan would have secured him more votes in order to keep his job next election. He did sigh up, and paid a 10$ fee, but then when he was told he would have to disassociate himself from friends of his who he had fought with in WW1 because they were Irish-Catholic, as well as from his friend and former business partner Eddie Jacobson who was Jewish. He refused to join and demanded his 10$ back. Also, I would like to point out he desegregated the military 5 months before an election, knowing it could quite possible cost him the election, knowing it cost him the southern vote.

This was one of my favorite stories that you covered. Thank you, Simon, and all of the BioGraphics team, keep it up!!!!

Truman to Mrs. Roosevelt: Is there anything I can do for you? Mrs. Roosevelt: Is there anything I can do for you? You are the one in trouble now.

This story makes me proud to be an American. It is the American dream to make something out of nothing and his life story nearly brings tears to my eyes

Well done. The way you captured Truman's quiet greatness is a worthy tribute to him. Thank you.

I come from the small town of the Truman family farm in Grandview, MO. I am a true fan of Harry S. Truman. He was an amazing man. You did an amazing Bio of the man. Proud to know he is looked at as one of the most favorite president's in our history.

"The Buck Stops Here" we need more political figures to think that way.

The telegram was actually intercepted by the British but I must say I didn't know much about Truman and it's kind of cool to see that he basically came from nothing stuck to being honest and accidentally became president

“The best quality in a man with power is one who does not seek it”.... I was wondering where I heard that quote...IT WAS HERE lol

With the lockdowns happening again, it has given me a bit more time to brush up on some history. Thanks for doing this informative piece. I am proud to be a Harry.

I studied history back in college and have a degree to match but ended up in the IT industry. But I do remember American history as it pertains to Truman as having been very unfortunate. Thank you Simon for presenting Truman in this light! You are such an awesome storyteller!

I never like videos. I liked this video. This was a moving look at one of the best Americans to have held high office, and it was incredibly well done.

Suggestion for new video: Johan Cruijff, maybe an odd one, but he was a one of a kind genius who created the foundation of modern football while also influencing the independence of Barcelona under rule of Franco. His endless supply of one-liners are classic also, never a dull moment when Johan was speaking. RIP Johan.

I would have preferred "an accidental president" because, in my opinion, "the" accidental president was Gerald Ford; he was never elected to neither the vice-presidency nor the presidency.

I live in his hometown independence, Missouri. His granddaughter still gives tours of the house he went to after his presidency. He would walk around the town and enjoyed talking to the townspeople

“You can’t get rich in politics unless you’re a crook” -Harry S.Truman

You need to do SCOTT JOPLIN hands down the most influential songwriter in American history, first to sell 1 Million prints with his most famous song; Maple Leaf Rag (1899)

I’m a staunch Republican, and he is by far my favorite Democrat, and one of my overall favorites.

i had accidentally closed my tab after finishing this, but i just want to say, i re-opened it. watch the video again, and thumbed it up. i enjoyed that. and i learned something i did not know

Simon, you look like you’re about to cry in that last part there. That really touched me. Thank you.

David McCullough's biography, "Truman" is the definitive.

This is the Truman's show I had been looking forward

I think Truman was a good president he had to deal with WW2 and the Korea crisis.

I’m glad this video was made, it gives me hope for my own life. Thank you Biographics Team!

There's a good book about Truman's retirement years called 'Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure'. He and Bess decided to hop in the Chrysler and go on an extended road trip. Well worth reading.

Bravo, Simon. Having just recently fished reading his biography, you've summarized this man's amazing journey with a keen eye on detail while offering your characteristic and appropriate injection of humor...

Whoever scripted this video did a marvelous job! Very emotive finale! Simply great!

I enjoyed this. I always admired Truman. He seemed so honest

Be sure to watch James Whitmore portraying Truman in the play "Give 'Em Hell, Harry" featuring some of Truman's most memorable utterances. Perfection.

This is truly inspiring especially to those who are lonely.

That was SO GOOD! I love your commentary so much! You have a special gift of bringing to life these historical events, seemingly w/o looking like you try hard at it. You’re just a natural story teller, & I LOVE listening to your commentary’s. Yes, I’m spreading the word around to other history buffs about your account

"like a superhero accountant whose superpower is being really really really good at accounting"

Other political leaders who could get a bio; Alexander Hamilton, Sir John A Macdonald, Jean Chretien, and Magaret Thatcher. Awesome job as always Biographics Edit: please stop hating on political figures. Also Chretien is still alive, so he's not eligible yet for a bio, since they said only deceased individuals after I forgot when

G'day Simon, Thank you for an excellent look at Harry S. Truman; one of the handful of US Presidents I truly admire. I've read as much as I can find on Truman discovering that most political scholars, commentators and fellow politicians - from both sides of the house - agree that Truman was, perhaps, the last comprehensively honest politician to rise to the Presidency. Even experts who condemn him for ordering the use of atom bombs, concede that he firmly believed that more than half a million US soldiers, airmen and sailors would die taking the home islands of Japan. During his time chairing the Truman Committee he did sterling work rooting out corruption in every sphere of government and civilian contractors raking in taxpayers' dollars. ‘Honest Harry’ would have happily worked out his terms as a senator, behind the scenes where he knew, as others did, he was making a difference. Later, LBJ, another man who was often a stranger to truth, thought so much of Truman's social improvement programs, he built his own Presidential reputation by introducing Truman's work as his own. Politically, yes, Truman was held in low esteem but this didn't seem all too important because Truman himself made it crystal clear he had no higher aspirations. When fate decreed, he was to be President he could have caved in to any number of political kingpins who would have gladly been the power behind his 'throne'. Truman would have none of that. He confirmed everyone's worst fears and fiercely became, as he ever was, his own man and honest to the core. Ironically, his Presidency was 'killed off' because of his sacking of Douglas MacArthur, a thoroughly dishonest, even loathsome man. I discovered this in the course of my research of Australia's only Field Marshal, Sir Thomas Blamey, who worked, reluctantly, but closely with the US General in WW2. Truman, like Blamey, had the dirt on MacArthur and there was a lot of dirt to sift through. At the time, MacArthur's personal publicity machine, which was bigger than FDR's, primed the American people to believe MacArthur was almost godlike in his capacity to, once again in Korea, save the US, as he said he had done in WW2.Truman, rightly, stepped in and stopped this megalomaniac who intended to get Truman to OK his use of battlefield nukes against China. MacArthur was, clearly, insane and yet Truman paid the price for stopping this dangerous man. For anyone interested in Truman's motives and detailed history, it is well worth looking into MacArthur's personal history and his relationship with Truman and Blamey, many will find it astounding. Thanks again, Simon for another great yarn about a totally unique politician. Cheers, BH

Excellent video again, Simon. I was born in Missouri as was my Mother. When I was a little boy, President Truman was very much alive. Mother had been a switchboard operator for Bell at the time, she had placed a long distance call for him when he was in St. Louis where we lived. Mother always remarked how he stayed on the line and chatted with her while the call was placed. That man had the "common" touch because he was common as dirt and never lost that. Kudos to Bio. Great job! Oh, Simon it is a "bucket" dream for you to give a eulogy when I go. One stipulation though, you must bring your cheeky A game. LOL! Brilliant,Lad, brilliant. Cheers from Tennessee.

For more on this remarkable president, read David McCullough's "Truman". I can't think of any other book I have read that I was actually kind of sad when I got to the end and there was no more to read. Another great book is in his own words, "Where the Buck Stops". On that one, he directed his daughter Margaret not to have it published until after both he and Bess were gone. There is one entire chapter called, "Why I Don't Like Ike". There are other engaging chapters on the Founding, good and bad presidents, our treatment of the "Indians", and of course, dropping the atomic bombs. Simon Whistler and Biographics, another job well done!

I’ve waited for this one since I subscribed to y’all last year!!!

Truman took the nuclear option quite literally

You want to remember that at that time, and in this part of the country, being appointed a "judge", meant being appointed a county road commissioner, not what we ordinarily think of as a judge.

I'm surprised the story of how he defended his daughter in the press didn't make it into this video. It's a good one.

I never knew much about Truman. Thank you for this informative and well done video

My father always considered him a hero.

He ran for three terms but lost in the New Hampshire primary. Also, can you do your biography?

Cool video,one about King Carol the First of Romania should be interesting,his reign was the most longevive in romaniam history,47 years(1866-1914).

One of your very best videos, Simon. Thank you.