The Historian Evaluations of the Harry Truman Administration
Alonzo Hamby
Alonzo Hamby is a Professor of History at Ohio University, and a prominent Truman historian. He states in his article, How do Historians Evaluate the Administration of Truman?, that despite Truman's controversial administration, it is clear that his domestic achievements had a significant and substantial impact on both civil rights and other social matters. Hamby continues by stating that Truman was also very successful in preserving the liberal-internationalist identity of the Democratic party. Hamby also implies that Truman's controversial administration might have been due, to some extent, to the public opinions of Truman. The public during the time of Truman's presidency assumed that Truman was a quick-tempered man who made rash decisions without much consultation or advice. Their support for this claim came from multiple issues, for example dropping atomic bombs on Japan. But, in fact Truman would spend weeks deciding on matters of great importance. He careful calculated everything he did in order to insure that his plans would be accomplished to the fullest extent possible. When considering the circumstances of the time, it is impressive that anything was accomplished at all.
Donald R. McCoy
Donald McCoy describes President Truman as: "tough, concerned, direct, occasionally vulgar, and often partisan", in his book The Presidency of Harry S. Truman. McCoy also states that Truman would never completely come out of the shadow of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as FDR was one of the most popular presidents in United States history. Yet Truman was the successful executor of Roosevelt's remarkable policies. The Truman administration, along with that of FDR, constituted the most important turning point in recent U.S. history. During the Roosevelt administration the American state system had changed dramatically: the federal government had rapidly become ascendant over state and local governments, and the executive branch--particularly the presidency--had become a repository of vast power. But, McCoy continues by stating that after 1945, the changes Roosevelt made allowed for Truman to make the new American state system a permanent feature and to define its role on the world scene. Donald McCoy also presents the claim that Truman's overall goals were clear from the beginning of his presidency, and he pursued them without much hesitation, leading to the assertion that President Truman, despite some difficulties was ultimately a successful president.