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Militaria and Political Auction
Lot 1318:
Harry S. Truman
Manu 8"’ × 12.5" 4 pp April 7, 1945
Buffalo, New York File Presidents
Thirty-third President (1945-1953). Truman was a Senator from Missouri and chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program during World War II. In 1944 Roosevelt selected Truman as his running mate and served only two months before Roosevelt died. He ordered the atomic bombings and helped create the United Nations. He also approved of the Marshall Plan for war-torn Europe, created the Truman Doctrine which assisted countries threatened by Communism, and backed the Korean War. At home, his Fair Deal extended some of the domestic reforms Roosevelt had started.
Important Truman document written 5 days before FDR’s death.
DESCRIPTION:
Manuscript signed "Best wishes to Erans Finnegan / from Harry Truman, "
‘ 5 pages, page one 8" x 3, pages two
through five 8" x 12.5". Buffalo, New York. April 7, 1945.
Waterstained, with edge wear, partial separations at folds, and internal tear. Completely legible with bold Truman signature. Good condition.
A scarce speech transcript from an address delivered to the Erie County Democratic Committee only five days before he would assume the Presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The transcript, entitled "The Job Ahead", is inscribed at the top of the first page: "Best wishes to Erans Finnegan from Harry Truman." Undoubtedly signed in the rare period based on the "now President U.S." inscription. The speech looks ahead to the state of the nation at and after World War II and reads in part: " Prosperity, like peace, is an elusive state of affairs, which can easily be lost by neglect…America will never again permit the callous indifference, the economic and political inaptitude of the late twenties and early thirties to return to political power. No depression will be allowed to grow, like a Frankenstein monster, ultimately threatening our entire social structure…We hear much about the problem of returning veterans. Well, this time there surely will be no Bonus Army! Already we have created the Veterans’ Bill of Rights, which contains a whole program for a modest repayment of our everlasting debt to thos to whom we owe our freedom… Fear has been expressed that when our fighting forces return these new workers might flood the labor market and threaten us with heavy unemployment…According to an official poll, after the war doubt one-fifth of our 18 million women employees will be anxious to return to their homes. These three and a half million women alone may provide sufficient jobs for most veterans seeking work.. in brief, about six million people may be expected to leave the nation’s labor force when victory comes, while there are only about four million veterans ready to step into their places. Modern scientific discoveries should give rise to new important industries.
Therefore, if our high production is maintained, or increased to meet the demands of peace, America may actually experience manpower shortages for some time in certain localities.
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