Harry S. Truman
also written Harry Truman in the book
Biography
An idol of Ethel and Floyd. Described as a haberdasher from Missouri, president when the A-bomb was dropped, and a noteworthy president who ended the war. Iris attributes to him “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” and “The buck stops here.”
Timeline
August 6, 1945
Bombing of Hiroshima and reactions at home
Iris recalls the USA dropping the A-bomb and the resulting debate at home. She says many opposed the devastation, while the majority and those fighting the Japanese supported it. She remembers Dad agreeing. Harry Truman was president.
Iris's Chapter
Stories mentioning Harry
- Remembering Roosevelt and Getting Out the VoteEthel and Floyd were lifelong strong Democrats who admired Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. They listened to Roosevelt's Fireside Chats and trusted that the war would be won. Ethel mourned Roosevelt's death in April 1945, and the family kept his picture in the living room for years. She worked with Virginia McFarland and Mrs. Welander to arrange rides and remind people to vote, stayed informed about candidates and issues, and never missed voting.
- Gathered Around the Radio: Music and Wartime NewsIris recalls the constantly playing radio and the Moline Daily Dispatch as the family's main news sources, including news that might affect Uncle Lloyd in New Guinea. The family mourned President Roosevelt around the radio, but also enjoyed singing and dancing to popular songs and big bands. She recounts Bill's description of overseas propaganda broadcasts mixing favorite music with frightening, specific military information; she attributes that information to spies within the U.S. government. She remembers divided reactions to the August 6, 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, her father's approval, and Harry Truman's presidency.
Referenced in
Family corrections
Notes sent in by the family and approved on review. They sit alongside the original record — the book's wording is never changed.
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