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Essay / Harry Truman: The 33rd President of the United States of America
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States of America. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in the farming community of Lamar, Missouri. His father John Truman was a cattle trader and his mother was Martha Ellen (Young) Truman. Harry was the first of three children born to his parents. He had a brother named Vivian and a sister named Mary Jane. According to the biography of Harry S. Truman (2009), Harry was named for his maternal uncle, Harrison Young, but his parents could not decide on a middle name. They decided to use the letter "S" in homage to both his maternal grandfather, Solomon Young, and his paternal grandfather, Anderson Shipp Truman. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the Original Essay Harry and his family settled in Independence, Missouri, where he attended school and was a good student. At school, Harry had to wear thick glasses due to poor vision, and his doctor told him he should not play sports to avoid breaking them. He had hoped to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, but because of his eyesight he was unable to gain admission. Truman graduated from high school in 1901, but his family could not afford to allow him to attend college. After high school, he worked as a timekeeper for a railroad construction company, then as a clerk and bookkeeper at two separate Kansas City banks. Five years later, Truman returned to Grandview, Missouri, to help his father manage their family. During this time, he also served in the Missouri National Guard. In 1917, America entered World War I where Truman reenlisted in the National Guard and was sent to France. Returning from the war in 1919, he married Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace. Together they had a daughter, Mary Margaret Truman, who became a professional singer and author. Truman was elected one of three judges of the Jackson County Court in 1922. He was defeated for re-election in 1924, but later won election as presiding judge and then was re-elected in 1930. 1934, Truman was elected to the United States Senate. . As a senator, he supported President Roosevelt's New Deal programs to help the nation emerge from the Great Depression that began in 1929. Harry later served two terms as a senator, then Franklin D. Roosevelt had to choose a vice presidential candidate for his 1944 presidential election. Together they were elected in November 1944, and Truman was sworn in on January 20, 1945. Truman only served as vice president for 82 days before Roosevelt died of a serious stroke. He was sworn in as president on April 12, 1945. Thomas Pendergast greatly influenced Truman and was probably the reason he became president. Perdergast appointed Truman to oversee highways, then chose him to run for one of three Jackson County judgeships. This was the beginning of Truman's political career. President Harry Truman served two terms as president from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953. Truman was part of the Democratic Party. Alben W. Barkley was Truman's second-term vice president. Truman called his first year as president a "year of decisions," according to Harry S. Truman Presidential Library Museum (n.d.). During his first months in office, Truman was named commander in chief and charged with ending the presidency. Second World War. During World War II, Truman was the president who approved the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945. During his first 6.