Harry S. Truman Timeline

Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, is remembered as a decisive and pragmatic leader who guided the nation through some of its most challenging moments.

From his humble beginnings in Missouri to his unexpected rise to the presidency following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death, Truman’s life was marked by resilience, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to public service.

His presidency saw the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, and transformative domestic policies that laid the groundwork for civil rights and economic reform.

This timeline explores the key moments in Truman’s extraordinary journey, highlighting the pivotal decisions and events that defined his legacy.

DateEvent
1884May 8: Harry S. Truman is born in Lamar, Missouri, to John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman.
1890The Truman family moves to Independence, Missouri, where Harry spends most of his childhood.
1901Graduates from Independence High School. Truman does not attend college due to financial constraints.
1905–1906Serves briefly in the Missouri National Guard, an experience that introduces him to military life.
1906–1917Works a variety of jobs, including as a timekeeper for the Santa Fe Railroad, a farmer on his family’s land, and a bank clerk.
1917–1919Re-enlists in the National Guard after the U.S. enters World War I. Truman is sent to France as an artillery officer and rises to the rank of captain. His leadership earns him respect among his men.
1919Returns to Missouri and marries Bess Wallace on June 28. Opens a men’s clothing store in Kansas City with a friend, Eddie Jacobson. The store eventually fails during the recession of 1921.
1922Enters politics with the help of Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast. Truman is elected as a Jackson County judge (a position akin to a county commissioner).
1926–1934Serves as presiding judge of Jackson County, overseeing infrastructure improvements, including roads and public buildings.
1934Elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from Missouri, largely due to Pendergast’s political machine.
1935–1941Serves on committees and focuses on infrastructure, transportation, and economic issues. Initially considered a minor figure in the Senate.
1941Gains national attention as the chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (the “Truman Committee”), which exposes waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts, saving the government millions of dollars.
1944Selected as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s running mate for his fourth term, replacing Vice President Henry Wallace. Truman is seen as a safe and moderate choice.
1945January 20: Sworn in as vice president. April 12: Becomes the 33rd President of the United States after Roosevelt dies suddenly.
1945Oversees the final stages of World War II. July 16–August 2: Attends the Potsdam Conference with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin to discuss postwar Europe. August 6 and 9: Authorizes the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender on August 15.
1947Signs the Truman Doctrine, pledging U.S. support to countries resisting communism, particularly Greece and Turkey. Supports the Marshall Plan, which provides economic aid to rebuild war-torn Europe.
1948Desegregates the U.S. armed forces through Executive Order 9981. Wins a stunning re-election against Republican Thomas Dewey despite widespread predictions of his defeat.
1949Introduces the Fair Deal, an ambitious domestic agenda to expand social programs and civil rights, though much of it is blocked by Congress.
1950June 25: Korean War begins. Truman commits U.S. forces to support South Korea under the banner of the United Nations. Faces criticism for firing General Douglas MacArthur in 1951 over disagreements about Korean War strategy.
1952Chooses not to seek re-election. Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower wins the presidency.
1953–1960sRetires to Independence, Missouri, and writes his memoirs. Establishes the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, the first of its kind.
1965Attends the signing of the Medicare Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the first to receive a Medicare card.
1972December 26: Dies at age 88 in Kansas City, Missouri, after a period of declining health.

Timeline of Harry S. Truman

1884

Harry S. Truman was born on May 8 in Lamar, Missouri. He was the eldest of three children born to John Anderson Truman, a farmer and livestock trader, and Martha Ellen Young Truman. His family moved frequently in his early years as his father sought better farming opportunities.

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1890

The Truman family settled in Independence, Missouri, where Harry spent much of his childhood. Independence would become the town he considered home for the rest of his life. Here, he developed a love for history, reading voraciously from the local library.

Harry S. Truman

1901

Harry graduated from Independence High School. Despite his academic promise and interest in attending college, his family could not afford higher education. Instead, he remained at home and supported the family.

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1905–1906

Truman joined the Missouri National Guard, fulfilling a childhood dream of military service. He served for about a year before leaving, but this experience laid the groundwork for his leadership skills and respect for military discipline.

1906–1917

For over a decade, Truman worked various jobs. He started as a timekeeper for the Santa Fe Railroad, where he worked alongside laborers. Later, he farmed on his family’s land, gaining firsthand experience in agricultural work. He also worked as a bank clerk, developing a reputation for his attention to detail.

1917–1919

After the United States entered World War I, Truman reenlisted in the National Guard. He served as an artillery officer in France and was promoted to the rank of captain. His strong leadership and fair treatment of his men earned him their loyalty and respect. This period was transformative for Truman, giving him confidence in his abilities.

1919

After the war, Truman returned to Missouri and married Bess Wallace, whom he had courted for years. They were married on June 28. Truman and his friend Eddie Jacobson opened a men’s clothing store in Kansas City, but the business failed during the economic downturn of 1921.

1922

Truman entered politics with the support of Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast. He was elected as a Jackson County judge, a position that involved administrative duties rather than judicial ones. This marked the beginning of his political career.

Harry S. Truman

1926–1934

Truman became the presiding judge of Jackson County. In this role, he oversaw major infrastructure projects, including road improvements and public building construction. His reputation for honesty and hard work grew during this time.

1934

Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from Missouri. His election was largely attributed to the influence of the Pendergast political machine. Once in the Senate, Truman worked on transportation and infrastructure issues.

1935–1941

As a senator, Truman initially gained little national attention. However, he focused on issues important to Missouri, including transportation and public works. He worked diligently to represent his constituents and gained respect among his colleagues.

1941

Truman gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. This committee, later known as the Truman Committee, exposed waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts, saving the government millions of dollars and earning him widespread acclaim.

1944

Truman was selected as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s running mate during Roosevelt’s campaign for a fourth term. His selection was seen as a safe and moderate choice, appealing to both the Democratic Party’s conservative and liberal wings.

1945

Truman was sworn in as vice president on January 20. Following Roosevelt’s sudden death on April 12, Truman became the 33rd President of the United States. He faced immediate challenges, including the final stages of World War II.

In August, he authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which led to Japan’s surrender and the end of the war.

Harry S. Truman

1947

Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, pledging U.S. support to nations resisting communism. This marked the beginning of the Cold War. He also supported the Marshall Plan, a massive economic aid program that helped rebuild war-torn Europe and strengthen alliances.

1948

Truman issued Executive Order 9981, desegregating the U.S. armed forces and signaling his commitment to civil rights. Despite predictions of his defeat, he won re-election in a stunning upset against Republican Thomas Dewey.

1949

Truman proposed the Fair Deal, a series of domestic policies aimed at expanding social welfare programs, promoting civil rights, and improving housing. While Congress blocked much of his agenda, he succeeded in raising the minimum wage and expanding Social Security.

1950

The Korean War broke out on June 25, prompting Truman to send U.S. forces to support South Korea under a United Nations mandate. His decision to fire General Douglas MacArthur in 1951 over disagreements about war strategy sparked controversy but underscored civilian control over the military.

Harry S. Truman

1952

Truman decided not to seek re-election, citing fatigue and his declining popularity. Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower won the presidency, ending two decades of Democratic control of the White House.

1953–1960s

Truman retired to Independence, Missouri, where he wrote his memoirs and remained active in public life. He established the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, which became the first presidential library in the United States.

1965

Truman attended the signing of the Medicare Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson. He and his wife, Bess, received the first Medicare cards in recognition of his efforts to champion health care reform.

1972

Harry S. Truman died on December 26 at the age of 88 in Kansas City, Missouri. His legacy as a decisive leader during pivotal moments in American history remains a subject of study and admiration.