Should Harry S. Truman Have Dropped the Atomic Bomb?
“I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.” Harry S. Truman, our thirty-third president of the United States, spoke this on April 12, 1945. This was a significant day in which two major things happened; President Franklin D. Roosevelt died unexpectedly, and Harry S. Truman was sworn in as president. Henry L. Stimson, Roosevelt’s secretary of war, who later became Truman’s, reintroduced the proposal of the Manhattan Project and its person in charge, Major General Leslie Groves. There was a secret meeting held at the White House at which Harry Truman was informed that the terrible and powerful weapon was almost complete. (Truman 204).
After, the Interim Committee was formed, including Truman’s secretary of state, the president of Harvard, the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the head of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Its purpose was to aid president Truman in deciding whether or not to use the atomic bomb. The committee also heard from many scientists who gave them information and suggestions. (Truman 204-5).
May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered, but there were still controversies with Japan. President Truman pleaded with the Japanese government to surrender like Germany did, but they were stubborn and loyal to their country. The Japanese were formidable because they would rather die than admit defeat. As a result, Truman met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on June 28, hoping to determine the decision on whether or not to use to bomb. Truman had a bit of a wake up call when he was told how many American soldiers would die as a cause of not using the bomb and made up his mind to use it. Many ideas were brought up in the meeting, but it was finally agreed upon to use four atomic bombs on four different targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Nagasaki, and Niigata. (Truman 206).
President Truman, Secretary of State Byrnes, Secretary of War Stimson, Army Chief of Staff Marshall, and a few others, contributed to
After, the Interim Committee was formed, including Truman’s secretary of state, the president of Harvard, the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the head of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Its purpose was to aid president Truman in deciding whether or not to use the atomic bomb. The committee also heard from many scientists who gave them information and suggestions. (Truman 204-5).
May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered, but there were still controversies with Japan. President Truman pleaded with the Japanese government to surrender like Germany did, but they were stubborn and loyal to their country. The Japanese were formidable because they would rather die than admit defeat. As a result, Truman met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on June 28, hoping to determine the decision on whether or not to use to bomb. Truman had a bit of a wake up call when he was told how many American soldiers would die as a cause of not using the bomb and made up his mind to use it. Many ideas were brought up in the meeting, but it was finally agreed upon to use four atomic bombs on four different targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Nagasaki, and Niigata. (Truman 206).
President Truman, Secretary of State Byrnes, Secretary of War Stimson, Army Chief of Staff Marshall, and a few others, contributed to