President Harry S. Truman: Enormous Responsibilities in a Time of Crisis

In April 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt would die of a stroke at Warm Springs, Georgia. This was an incredible crisis for the United States. Our nation was clearly in grief for the fallen President. Many younger Americans could remember no other President in their life. This nation had survived the great depression but in 1945 we were still deeply involved in world war. Hitler's war machine was in its last days and before the month was over, Hitler too would be dead. However, the Pacific war was less certain. The Japanese had been in retreat but many people believed they would continue the fight even after their homeland was invaded and many civilians paid their greatest price. It was during this setting that Harry Truman would have the heavy responsibility of the Presidency thrust upon him.

Upon being summoned, Vice President Truman rushed to the White House. There, he met First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. He asked her if there was anything he could do? She replied, "Is there anything we can do for you. For you are the one in trouble now". Truman took the oath of office. He told reporters how he felt about becoming President. He asked them to pray for him and said he felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets had fallen on him. Truman spoke to the nation and told them that many Americans were far better qualified than he to be their President. But he understood it was his responsibility. His acceptance of that responsibility was most clearly signified in his phrase, "the buck stops here". President Truman would rise the the enormous responsibility of the Presidency during our nation's greatest peril. His strong perseverance would be demonstrated in another favorite phrase, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen".