American Experience

In "Quotes"

Below are quotations from the speeches and writings of Harry Truman. Each is followed by a series of questions you may want to raise with your students.

"The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know."

Questions to Consider:

• What does Truman mean by this?
• Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."

Questions to Consider:

• Why is freedom of information important in a democracy?
• Are there situations or issues that should remain secret?
• What might happen when a government is not obligated to disclose its actions to its citizens?
• How does the sentiment expressed in this quotation contrast with Truman's creation of the CIA?

"Most of the problems a president has to face have their roots in the past."

Questions to Consider:

• Why do you think Truman, especially, felt this way?
• What "problems" might he have been referring to?
• Can you think of other presidents who faced problems they had inherited from a predecessor? What were the problems? How were they handled?
• Why might a president pass a problem on to a successor?

"When Kansas and Colorado have a quarrel over the water in the Arkansas River they don't call out the National Guard in each state and go to war over it. They bring a suit in the Supreme Court of the United States and abide by the decision. There isn't any reason in the world why we cannot do that internationally."

Questions to Consider:

• What does this statement show about Truman's personality?
• Do you agree that international differences should be solved in the way he suggests?
• How effective has the United Nations been since it was established?
• Has it been effective or ineffective in maintaining peace and/or preventing war?

"The presidency of the United States carries with it a responsibility so personal as to be without parallel... No one can make decisions for [the president]. No one can know all the processes and stages of his thinking in making important decisions... To be president of the United States is to be lonely, very lonely at times of great decisions."

Questions to Consider:

• How does this quotation reflect Truman's experience?
• Does a president always have to be "lonely" in his decision making?
• Do you feel that's the way things should be? Why or why not?