President Harry Truman’s Entire 1952 State of the Union Address, Signed

On the verge of declining to run for reelection, he makes his case to history

 

The speech focused on his policies, America’s allies, the Cold War, steps the free world was taking to halt Communist aggression, and also on domestic matters such labor, housing, education and health services

Harry Truman’s popularity dropped during his final years in office. The frustrations of the Korean War, the President’s inability to enact much of his domestic program, and scandals involving some of his staff (though not him) led many to label him ineffective. In February 1952 he would decline to run for reelection, and by 1953, when he left office, he stood below 30% approval in the polls.

In January 1952, at the height of the Korean War, Truman delivered his State of the Union address to Congress. The vast majority of Truman’s speech focused on steps that the free world was taking to halt Soviet and Chinese Communist aggression, and other Cold War issues such as military preparedness, civil defense, armaments and foreign relations. He also discussed domestic matters such as the labor, decent housing and good working conditions for workers, conservation, and better schools and health services, among other things. Throughout, he reviewed the accomplishments of his Administration and made his case to history.

Document signed, Washington, January 9, 1952, being a signed copy of President Truman’s 1952 State of the Union Address, in the form of a press release. An uncommon and desirable document, this being our first.

This is a small portion of the fascinating speech. The entire text can be found online at www.presidency.ucsb.edu.

“At the outset, I should like to speak of the necessity for putting first things first as we work together this year for the good of our country. The United States and the whole free world are passing through a period of grave danger. Every action you take here in Congress, and every action that I take as President, must be measured against the test of whether it helps to meet that danger…

“When everything is said and done, all of us–Republicans and Democrats alike–all of us are Americans; and we are all going to sink or swim together. We are moving through a perilous time. Faced with a terrible threat of aggression, our Nation has embarked upon a great effort to help establish the kind of world in which peace shall be secure. Peace is our goal-not peace at any price, but a peace based on freedom and justice. We are now in the midst of our effort to reach that goal. On the whole, we have been doing very well…

“This year, 1952, is a critical year in the defense effort of the whole free world. If we falter we can lose all the gains we have made. If we drive ahead, with courage and vigor and determination, we can by the end of 1952 be in a position of much greater security…

“In Korea the forces of the United Nations turned back the Chinese Communist invasion-and did it without widening the area of conflict. The action of the United Nations in Korea has been a powerful deterrent to a third world war…

“The United Nations, the world’s greatest hope for peace, has come through a year of trial stronger and more useful than ever. The free nations have stood together in blocking Communist attempts to tear up the charter…

“Nevertheless, the grim fact remains that the Soviet Union is increasing its armed might. It is still producing more war planes than the free nations. It has set off two more atomic explosions. The world still walks in the shadow of another world war. And here at home, our defense preparations are far from complete…Taking the good and bad together, we have made real progress this last year along the road to peace. We have increased the power and unity of the free world. And while we were doing this, we have avoided world war on the one hand, and appeasement on the other. This is a hard road to follow, but the events of the last year show that it is the right road to peace.Now, let us take a look at the things we have to do.

“The thing that is uppermost in the minds of all of us is the situation in Korea. We must, and we will, keep up the fight there until we get the kind of armistice that will put an end to the aggression and protect the safety of our forces and the security of the Republic of Korea. Beyond that we shall continue to work for a settlement in Korea that upholds the principles of the United Nations. We went into Korea because we knew that Communist aggression had to be met firmly if freedom was to be preserved in the world. We went into the fight to save the Republic of Korea, a free country, established under the United Nations. These are our aims. We will not give up until we attain them…Meanwhile, we must continue to strengthen the forces of freedom throughout the world.

“This Government of ours–the Congress and the executive both–must keep on working to bring about a fair deal for all the American people. Some people will say that we haven’t the time or the money this year for measures for the welfare of the people. But if we want to win the fight for peace, this is a part of the job we cannot ignore…We are engaged in a great undertaking at home and abroad–the greatest, in fact, that any nation has ever been privileged to embark upon. We are working night and day to bring peace to the world and to spread the democratic ideals of justice and self-government to all people. Our accomplishments are already remarkable. We ought to be full of pride in what we are doing, and full of confidence and hope in the outcome. No nation ever had greater resources, or greater energy, or nobler traditions to inspire it.

“Let us prove, again, that we are not merely sunshine patriots and summer soldiers. Let us go forward, trusting in the God of Peace, to win the goals we seek.”