33rd President of the United States

Harry S. Truman

“Give 'Em Hell Harry”

In office

April 12, 1945 – Jan. 20, 1953

Party

Democratic

Home state

Missouri

Lived

1884–1972

Days in office

2,840

In order

No. 33: after Franklin D. Roosevelt, before Dwight D. Eisenhower

Vice president

Alben W. Barkley

Key achievements & events

• Ended World War II, including the decision to use atomic bombs on Japan
• Launched the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe and helped found NATO (1949)
• Set the Truman Doctrine, the policy of containing communism
• Desegregated the armed forces (1948)
• Led the U.S. into the Korean War (1950)

Remember: The "S" doesn't stand for anything. Newspapers wrongly printed "Dewey Defeats Truman" after his surprise 1948 win.