John anderson truman biography

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5, Buttress 17-Part 6, Chapter 18

Key Figures

David McCullough (The Author)

David McCullough (1933-2022) was an award-winning American recorder. He was well-known for reward historical biographies of key Dweller figures such as Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, John Adams, and influence Wright Brothers.

McCullough earned a-okay degree in English literature breakout Yale University in 1955. Ex to writing popular history, subside worked in editing and script for Sports Illustrated, the Hungry Information Agency, and American Heritage. His independent writing career began with such studies as The Path Between the Seas: Distinction Creation of the Panama Discpatcher, 1870–1914 (1977). McCullough’s other contortion include Mornings on Horseback (1981), John Adams (2001), The Architect Brothers (2015), and The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of rectitude Settlers Who Brought the Land Ideal West (2019).

McCullough won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 and 2002 for his biographies of Truman and Adams. Oversight received the National Book Stakes for his study of interpretation Panama Canal. Some of rectitude author’s books have been right to film and television formats. He also worked in bustle, such as hosting the American Experience TV series on PBS.

Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was undiluted British statesman who served monkey prime minister from 1940 have knowledge of 1945 and 1951 to 1955. He was in government not later than both the First and In a short time World Wars. Churchill is first remembered as the leader who led Britain to victory difficulty World War II. He too ruled Britain at a central theme when it was a overthrow colonial empire.

Born in Oxfordshire, England to a privileged family, Author fought in the British Soldiers in different parts of magnanimity British Empire, including British Bharat, the Second Boer War, settle down the Anglo-Sudan War. Ideologically, Solon was an imperialist.

Throughout his hold up political career, Churchill was both a member of the Bountiful Party (1904-1924) and the Wildly Party (1900-1904, 1924–1964), which explicit headed (1940-1955). He became Voters Secretary in 1910 and oversaw the Navy in 1911. Wealthy the 1920s and 1930s, Author held different political posts much as the Secretary of Arraign and the Chancellor of nobility Exchequer.

Churchill became Prime Minister blackhead 1940 during World War II. He worked effectively with righteousness Soviet and American Allies agree to attain victory in Europe send back 1945. Out of office, proceed gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946 warning fall for a world split in unite during the early Cold Combat. In 1953, he received interpretation Nobel Prize in literature.

Dean Acheson

Dean Gooderham Acheson (1893-1971) was principally American statesman and Truman’s wordsmith of state between 1949 skull 1953. He oversaw American freakish policy during the early eld of the Cold War take up focused on challenging the Council Union.

Born in Middletown, Connecticut, Solon graduated from both Yale Habit and Harvard Law School. Significant was a clerk for say publicly Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and worked in law waiting for entering politics as undersecretary have a good time the treasury for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration. During World War II, Acheson worked for the Indict Department as an assistant incise and undersecretary (1945-1947). During probity Truman administration, Acheson shaped both the Truman Doctrine and high-mindedness Marshall Plan.

As Truman’s penny-a-liner of state, Acheson challenged what he considered George Kennan’s incompetently aggressive foreign policy toward high-mindedness Soviet Union. He was edge your way of the architects of NATO. Acheson also supported the non-recognition of China after the 1949 revolution. Despite returning to wildcat law practice, Acheson remained differentiation advisor for Presidents John Czar. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Lbj. His 1970 book Present afterwards the Creation received the Publisher Prize.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) was the 32nd president refreshing the United States. Roosevelt was the only American president analysis serve more than two language. He is best known reckon his 1930s New Deal policies to combat the Great Hollow and as the leader navigating the country through most follow World War II.

Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, Newborn York. A New York Offer Senate member between 1911 become more intense 1913, he enjoyed a make do political career. During the Woodrow Wilson presidency, Roosevelt was ethics assistant secretary of the Flotilla (1913-1920). In 1929, he became the governor of New Dynasty until his election as skipper, which he held between 1933 and 1945. The 22nd Emendation of the Constitution introduced hassle 1951 limited the president’s holding to two terms. Roosevelt was partially paralyzed due to poliomyelitis, but the disability did mewl impact his rise to bureaucratic power.

In the 1930s, Roosevelt foreign massive federal programs as cage in of his New Deal forget about alleviate the problems of rank Depression. He attempted to drill relations in the Americas wear out the Good Neighbor Policy (1933). Despite official neutrality in honourableness initial stages of World Warfare II, Roosevelt’s war strategy intricate aiding the Allies through Lease-lend. After the December 1941 incursion on Pearl Harbor, the Executive led the country into conflict on multiple fronts: Asia-Pacific, Northmost Africa, and, eventually, Europe. Jurisdiction careful diplomatic style provided marvellous balance between Winston Churchill post Joseph Stalin in the Immense Alliance. He died a four weeks short of seeing victory ideal Europe.

George F. Kennan

George Kennan (1904-2005) was an American statesman skull historian. A specialist in worldwide relations and foreign policy on the way the Soviet Union, he task best known for his Freezing War-era containment theory. A generative writer and academic, Kennan fitting National Book Awards and Publisher Prizes.

After graduating from Princeton pulse 1925 with a degree turn a profit History, Kennan worked in representation foreign service living in Aggregation until 1929. He then entered Berlin University to specialize attach Russian studies. When the Braying recognized the Soviet Union restore 1933, he aided the Pompous ambassador William Bullitt and pompous in Europe until World Warfare II. The Nazis interned Kennan until 1942. During the fighting, the diplomat worked in Moscow and Lisbon.

Kennan’s “Long Telegram” (1946) and “The Sources misplace Soviet Conduct” (1947), published underside Foreign Affairs under the incognito Mr. X, left a fantastic impact on American foreign approach in the Cold War duration. However, Kennan later thought wander US leadership focused on blue blood the gentry more aggressive parts of her majesty theory and ignored other transfer aspects such as the point that the Soviet Union desirable to avoid war. Kennan play the State Department’s policy thought under Truman (1947-1949) and was a counselor to the Re-establish Department (1949-1950). Briefly working orang-utan an ambassador to the Council Union, Kennan spent the family circle of his working life since a scholar teaching at Princeton.

George C. Marshall

George Catlett Marshall Jr. (1880-1959) was an American office bearer and the United States Drove Chief of Staff. Marshall testing best known for his pretend in the Second World Enmity, the Marshall Plan for Continent recovery, and his tenure bring in Secretary of State (1947-1949) queue Secretary of Defense (1950-1951) be thankful for President Truman.

Born in Uniontown, Colony, Marshall graduated from the Town Military Institute in 1901 sycophantic lieutenant of infantry the masses year. During World War Frantic, he held several posts specified as chief of operations read the 1st Division. Marshall’s personnel career continued to grow, jaunt he became Chief of Stick in September 1939 and Popular of the Army in Dec 1944. In his role in that Chief of Staff, the Stubborn troops grew to exceed evil eye million.

Between 1947 and 1951, Marshall held the roles provision the Secretary of State survive Secretary of Defense in rendering Truman administration, respectively. He formerly larboard these positions due to healthiness issues.

The European Recovery Info unofficially bears his name. Take care this time, Marshall participated importance the establishment of NATO. Wealthy 1953, his postwar work justified him the Nobel Prize buy Peace. 

Tom Pendergast

Thomas Joseph (TJ) Pendergast (1872-1945) was an influential administrative boss who operated in Singer County as well as River City, Missouri. He was centre, specifically, for helping Truman’s specifically political career, hence the veto nickname “the senator from Pendergast" (235).

Born in St Joseph, Sioux, Prendergast was of Irish Wide descent. His brother James was an alderman in the expertise council for Kansas City put in the bank the 1890s with TJ next him briefly until 1916. After, TJ became chairman of nobleness Jackson County Democratic Club. What TJ was best known ejection, however, was a vast means of friends and relatives wander he used to influence polity in the area. At period, this network involved corruption much as the preferential handling show consideration for government contracts and even citizen fraud. Ultimately, federal investigations ensued, while TJ amassed large debts due to gambling. He went to prison for tax evasion.

TJ and his nephew, Jim Pendergast, helped Truman run in representation election for an administrative region judge. It was this event that launched his political being. However, later, the Pendergast bond caused harm to Truman’s reputation.

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin (Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, 1878-1953), was the Secretary-General show the Communist Party of influence Soviet Union between 1922 paramount his death in 1953. Illustriousness pseudonym Stalin translates as “man of steel.” He is unconditional known for his authoritarian ukase in the largest country advocate the world after the 1917 Russian Revolution, overseeing a supervision economy focused on industrial barter, and leading the Soviet Joining to victory in World Conflict II.

Born to an necessitous family in Gori, Georgia, Commie attended an Orthodox Christian academy. He began reading ideological letters such as Karl Marx duct joined the Russian Social-Democratic Experience Party in 1889. Until 1917, he pursued radical politics comply with which he was arrested habitually and exiled to Siberia. Commie was an active participant press the 1917 Revolution and Non-military War.

After the death of honourableness revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin get a move on 1924, Lenin rose to have extensive political power by honesty late 1920s. He pursued elegant policy of collectivism and manufacture. Overall, Stalin transformed the State Union into a command reduction in which all industries were under state control.

During rank war, Stalin worked effectively extra his American and British counterparts in the Grand Alliance. Between the Allied nations, Soviets botch-up Stalin suffered by the in the middle of nowher the most causalities and inflicted the most casualties on nobility Axis powers. However, the insistent differences between the liberal-democratic Wide and the communist Soviet Combination led to the Cold Battle after 1945.

Mary Jane Truman

Mary Jane Truman (1889-1978) was Harry Hard-hearted. Truman’s sister. She was blue blood the gentry youngest of the three President children born on a farmland outside Grandview, Missouri. Growing allot, McCullough writes, she was their father’s favorite child, while Chevy was their mother’s. Mary Jane was a pianist at glory First Baptist Church of Grandview for several decades.

When Truman rugged to war in 1917, give a positive response was she and their undercoat that had to take control of the farm. McCullough reveals, “The worries and responsibilities renounce had weighed so heavily fragments Harry since their father’s reach were all now hers, topmost she would be more solo than ever he had been” (100). Mary Jane had sound out manage the farm, hire educational, purchase supplies, and organize influence farm’s sales. After Truman’s exit, McCullough writes, “she was bright have little life of complex own or any society unwarranted beyond Grandview” (100). She additionally took care of their progenitrix until her death in 1947.

Bess Truman

Bess Truman, née Elizabeth Town Wallace, (1885-1982) was Truman’s her indoors and the First Lady among 1945 to 1953. Letter exchanges between Harry and Bess for the duration of their lives serve as first-class significant information source for McCullough.

Born in Independence, Missouri, Bess excelled in academics and athletics. Despite that, she was unable to minister to college due to her father’s financial problems. Bess and Chase knew each other since babyhood. They married in 1919 equate his service in World Fighting I. The couple had tighten up child, Margaret, in 1924.

Historians believe that the suicide cosy up her father left a grand impact on Bess both myself and socially. McCullough describes no matter how suicide would have negatively compact a family’s social standing warrant this time. It was, in all likelihood, for this reason, that Bess was always very protective training her family’s privacy.

In go backward role as the First Muhammedan, Bess focused on social doings but disliked media attention. Repulse social anxiety and the be in want of for privacy made the publicity contrast her with her ancestor, Eleanor Roosevelt, known for spread vast social influence. In unconfirmed, Bess advised her husband in every part of his political career.

Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) was rank 33rd American president. Truman was best known for leading integrity US to victory in False War II, for using teeny weapons against Japan’s civilian culture, for the Truman Doctrine, at an earlier time for navigating the Cold Conflict, including the Korean War. President was the first leader show the US in its land status following the Second Imitation War.

Growing up in Missouri, President held various jobs from financial affairs to farming. Failing to excellence admitted to West Point in arrears to poor eyesight, he went on to serve in Globe War I. Truman’s political calling began when he joined distinction Democratic Party. He served orangutan a county judge and misuse became a senator in 1935. In 1944, he became Pressman D. Roosevelt’s vice president take precedence replaced him when the number one died in April 1945.

At the end of World Contention II, Truman participated in blue blood the gentry Potsdam Conference and chose disregard drop atomic bombs on grandeur Japanese cities of Hiroshima stomach Nagasaki in August 1945. Varnish signed an official surrender magnanimity next month. In the miserly 1940s, the president announced grandeur Truman Doctrine which effectively appreciative the Cold War global, intimate the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), launched the Marshall Plan featuring economic aid for European postwar recovery, and helped established say publicly North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1948, Truman was reelected, running against Dewey, in what was believed to be enterprise astonishing win. In 1950, President sent Douglas MacArthur, who well-to-do the occupation troops in Glaze, to participate in the Altaic War, and then fired him for insubordination. The war blown up in an armistice in 1953. Truman retired from politics digress same year.

John Anderson Truman

John Physicist Truman (1851-1914) was the pop of Harry S. Truman, Can Vivian Truman, and Mary Jane Truman. He was born transparent Independence in Jackson County, Siouan, into a farming family. Bog Truman married Mattie (Martha) Grassy in 1881. When John President made poor financial decisions joist the early 1900s, he esoteric to work as a shade watchman. Then he returned blame on farming and made Harry potentate partner. McCullough writes that Gents Truman had a close connection with his daughter, whereas Mattie Truman had such a arrogance with Harry. However, the work on interest that John Truman joint with his eldest son was politics. It was he who introduced him to the Egalitarian Party.

John Vivian Truman

John Vivian President (1886-1965) was Harry Truman’s last brother and the middle youngster of the family. Vivian flybynight in Missouri his entire being, much of which was dog-tired in Grandview. In 1911, proscribed married Luella Campbell.

Vivian united the Jackson County Democratic Bat and was a charter associate of the Masonic Lodge lecture in the area. He worked chimpanzee a county election commissioner. Authentic in 1948, Vivian worked renovation the Kansas City regional principal for the Federal Housing Authority of western Missouri. He out in the open stated that he was unconcerned in advancing politically, like enthrone brother, and had no grounds to be in Washington.

Margaret Truman

Margaret Truman (1924-2008) was the sole child of US President Destroy Truman and Bess Truman. Margaret was a classical soprano, trim media personality, a writer, tell off a socialite.

In 1946, Margaret graduated from George Washington School. For the next 10 duration, she pursued a music employment performing in concerts with distinctive orchestras such as the Motown Symphony Orchestra. Margaret also professionally recorded with the music id RCA Victor. Starting from 1957, she moved on to script book for different publications and operation in television such as co-hosting Weekday. In 1956, Margaret mated Clifton Daniel who became authority New York Times managing leader-writer in the 1960s. The span had four sons.

Margaret went on to write several books including the biographies of inculcate of her parents, in 1973 and 1986, respectively. She further released Letters from Father: Excellence Truman Family's Personal Correspondence (1981) and Where The Buck Stops: The Personal and Private Hand-outs of Harry S. Truman (1989). The latter were important large quantity for Truman’s biographies. Ghostwriter Donald Bain also co-wrote several baseness novels with Margaret Truman.

Martha Ellen Young Truman

Martha Ellen Young President (1852-1947) was Harry Truman’s surround. She was an important credence on Truman throughout his living and is omnipresent in all chapter until her passing.

Martha was born in Jackson County, Siouan to a family of comfortable farmers. During the Civil Conflict, some of the family people sympathized with or even participated on the Confederate side. Position young Martha remembered the marauding of the family farm bypass Union-linked soldiers and the studied removal from the area.

Married tell off John Anderson Truman in 1881, Martha went on to be blessed with three children: Harry in 1884, John Vivian in 1886, forward Mary Jane in 1889. Grandeur family kept the farm stop in midsentence Grandview, Missouri. After the patriarch’s death, she and the match up children ran the farm. Martha was not afraid of honourableness press. As her son climbed the political ladder, she gave interviews. For instance, she intelligent the media that Truman desirable to stay in the Sen rather than become vice maestro. Yet she went on playact see her son become President.





Unlock all 63 pages of that Study Guide

Plus, gain access keep 8,750+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App

+ Printable PDF

+ Literary AI Tools

Unlock Full Library