The Presidency of Harry S. Truman: William Leuchtenburg in conversation with Richard Pious

The Presidency of Harry S. Truman: William Leuchtenburg in conversation with Richard Pious
Historian William E. Leuchtenburg speaks about the life and legacy of President Harry Truman. He reviews the particular challenges of Truman’s presidency, starting with his sudden ascension following the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. According to Leuchtenburg, Truman “treated his elevation as a disaster that had befallen him” and faced scorn and distrust from politicians and the public who had become accustomed to the leadership of FDR. Leuchtenburg also discusses Truman’s notable accomplishments, including the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, and a small but unprecedented recognition of civil rights. He also reflects on “Trumania”: the retrospective view of Truman as one of the nation’s “near-great presidents.” Following the lecture, political scientist Richard Pious moderates a discussion with Leuchtenburg, including questions from the audience.
Recorded Oct. 2, 1984 at 92nd Street Y, New York.
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