A Companion to Harry S. Truman

Acceding to the US presidency on the death of the much-loved Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Truman faced a huge array of intractable problems as World War II was reaching its destructive denouement. Truman quickly became a key architect of the post-war era, laying the foundations for America’s attempt at global hegemony during the formative period of the Cold War.

This companion offers a wide-ranging presentation of the many different interpretations of the Truman presidency and its significance in American and world history. Authored by a selection of the most accomplished scholars in the field, the essays focus on essential historiographic themes and questions. The content maintains a disciplined emphasis on Truman as a person and politician, on his administration, and on the long term impact of his policies during his administration. Eschewing any one methodology or approach, it explores the varying views of Truman as a historical figure of great complexity, changeability, and continuing fascination.