Citizen soldier: a life of Harry S. Truman
Description
When Harry S. Truman left the White House in 1953, his reputation was in ruins. Tarred by corruption scandals and his controversial decision to drop nuclear bombs on Japan, he ended his second term with an abysmal approval rating, his presidency widely considered a failure. But this dim view of Truman ignores his crucial role in the 20th century and his enduring legacy, as celebrated historian Aida D. Donald explains in this incisive biography of the 33rd president.
In Citizen Soldier, Donald shows that, for all his failings, Truman deserves recognition as the principal architect of the American postwar world. The son of poor Missouri farmers, Truman overcame professional disaster and personal disillusionment to become something of a hero in the Missouri National Guard during World War I. His early years in politics were tainted by the corruption of his fellow Missouri Democrats, but Truman's hard work and scrupulous honesty eventually landed him a U.S. Senate seat and then the Vice-Presidency. When Franklin Roosevelt passed away in April 1945, Truman unexpectedly found himself at the helm of the American war effort—and in command of the atomic bomb, the most lethal weapon humanity had ever seen. Truman's decisive leadership during the remainder of World War II and the period that followed reshaped American politics, economics, and foreign relations; in the process, says Donald, Truman delineated the complex international order that would dominate global politics for the next four decades. Yet his accomplishments, such as the liberal reforms of the Fair Deal, have long been overshadowed by a second term marred by scandal.
Until we reevaluate Truman and his presidency, Donald argues, we cannot fully understand the world he helped create. A psychologically penetrating portrait, Citizen Soldier candidly weighs Truman's moments of astonishing greatness against his profound shortcomings, offering a balanced treatment of one of America's most consequential—and misunderstood—presidents.
In Citizen Soldier, Donald shows that, for all his failings, Truman deserves recognition as the principal architect of the American postwar world. The son of poor Missouri farmers, Truman overcame professional disaster and personal disillusionment to become something of a hero in the Missouri National Guard during World War I. His early years in politics were tainted by the corruption of his fellow Missouri Democrats, but Truman's hard work and scrupulous honesty eventually landed him a U.S. Senate seat and then the Vice-Presidency. When Franklin Roosevelt passed away in April 1945, Truman unexpectedly found himself at the helm of the American war effort—and in command of the atomic bomb, the most lethal weapon humanity had ever seen. Truman's decisive leadership during the remainder of World War II and the period that followed reshaped American politics, economics, and foreign relations; in the process, says Donald, Truman delineated the complex international order that would dominate global politics for the next four decades. Yet his accomplishments, such as the liberal reforms of the Fair Deal, have long been overshadowed by a second term marred by scandal.
Until we reevaluate Truman and his presidency, Donald argues, we cannot fully understand the world he helped create. A psychologically penetrating portrait, Citizen Soldier candidly weighs Truman's moments of astonishing greatness against his profound shortcomings, offering a balanced treatment of one of America's most consequential—and misunderstood—presidents.
More Details
ISBN:
9780465031207
Staff View
Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 85fb7466-e344-2487-61e3-f843c7827aba |
---|---|
Grouping Title | citizen soldier a life of harry s truman |
Grouping Author | aida dipace donald |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-04-26 18:56:58PM |
Last Indexed | 2024-05-03 04:54:16AM |
Solr Fields
accelerated_reader_point_value
0
accelerated_reader_reading_level
0
author
Donald, Aïda DiPace
author_display
Donald, Aïda DiPace
display_description
When Harry S. Truman left the White House in 1953, his reputation was in ruins. Tarred by corruption scandals and his controversial decision to drop nuclear bombs on Japan, he ended his second term with an abysmal approval rating, his presidency widely considered a failure. But this dim view of Truman ignores his crucial role in the 20th century and his enduring legacy, as celebrated historian Aida D. Donald explains in this incisive biography of the 33rd president.
format_category_mellen
Books
format_mellen
Book
id
85fb7466-e344-2487-61e3-f843c7827aba
isbn
9780465031207
itype_mellen
BOOK - HARDCOVER
last_indexed
2024-05-03T09:54:16.292Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
primary_isbn
9780465031207
publishDate
2012
publisher
Basic Books
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Biographies
Presidents -- United States -- Biography
Soldiers -- United States -- Biography
Truman, Harry S., -- 1884-1972
United States -- Politics and government -- 1945-1953
Presidents -- United States -- Biography
Soldiers -- United States -- Biography
Truman, Harry S., -- 1884-1972
United States -- Politics and government -- 1945-1953
title_display
Citizen soldier : a life of Harry S. Truman
title_full
Citizen soldier : a life of Harry S. Truman / Aida D. Donald
title_short
Citizen soldier
title_sub
a life of Harry S. Truman
topic_facet
Politics and government
Presidents
Soldiers
Truman, Harry S
Presidents
Soldiers
Truman, Harry S
Solr Details Tables
item_details
Bib Id | Item Id | Shelf Loc | Call Num | Format | Format Category | Num Copies | Is Order Item | Is eContent | eContent Source | eContent URL | Detailed Status | Last Checkin | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ils:.b18500997 | .i28835797 | Sayner Adult Nonfiction | 921 Truman | 1 | false | false | Available | Jul 07, 2018 | saanf |
record_details
Bib Id | Format | Format Category | Edition | Language | Publisher | Publication Date | Physical Description | Abridged |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ils:.b18500997 | Book | Books | English | Basic Books | [2012] | xvi, 265 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm |
scoping_details_mellen
Bib Id | Item Id | Grouped Status | Status | Locally Owned | Available | Holdable | Bookable | In Library Use Only | Library Owned | Holdable PTypes | Bookable PTypes | Local Url |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ils:.b18500997 | .i28835797 | On Shelf | Available | false | true | true | false | false | false | 9999 |