Truman

Rating:
Summary: Truman
Review: McCullough provides readers with an artful insigt into an underappreciated president. I commend McCullough's extensive research, but at times felt he downplayed, or could have given more discussion to certain events. For example, the Steel workers strike, one of the most controversial moments in Truman's presidency, was given very little space. However, I do commend his coverage of politcal machines, in regard to their extreme importance in the political age in which Truman lived. Definitely a must have for anyone interested in the Presidency.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing human
Review: As a child, I learned a bit about Harry S Truman by osmosis and had a generally good opinion of him. The basis of my opinion was derived solely from the down-to-earth nature assigned to him in the 1960's TV news sound bites and mini-historical reviews - "the buck stops here - "give 'em hell Harry", and the like. This book provided me with an incredibly indepth view of a common man, like any of us - no more, no less - who was tested again and again throughout his life. The circumstances through which he was thrust into the presidency were detailed and helped the reader understand Truman's sense of self. The writing is compelling - even when covering day-to-day details - and it helped the story of how Truman lived his life become, for me, a pattern that any reader might strive to emulate.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant storyteller who hides the warts
Review: When writing about this book, one has to distinguish between Truman the man, and Truman the book. It's very easy to get wrapped up in the life of the man, and confuse the value of his story with the value of the book.

As a story, Truman's is remarkable: small-town boy, through the Democratic machine in Missouri, makes his way purely by chance into the Federal government and thence into the presidency. No one really wanted him to be president, but he did a pretty good job of it while he was there. In the meantime, he oversaw one of the most terrifying epochs in world history: the reconstruction of Europe, the beginning of the arms race and the Cold War, the war in Korea, Joe McCarthy, and on and on. Surely this is a story worth telling.

In less capable hands, the story might never have come out. To read David McCullough, it seems that Truman has been systematically smeared out of the great-presidents pantheon over the years. During his life, McCullough suggests that his connection with the Pendergast political machine hounded him. After he left office, it sounds like history rewrote him as a crude little commoner.

If anything will erase this conception, it is McCullough's storytelling. McCullough is simply a master of yarn-spinning. The man knows exactly when to toss in a pithy little tale, an appropriate quote from someone's letters (of which McCullough appears to have scanned thousands), or a brilliant change of pace. It's a gripping story, even if you already know how it's going to end (e.g., the bomb will be dropped on Hiroshima). That McCullough can make history this exciting is proof of his skills as an author, and helps explain why his books sell so well.

On the other hand, I knew nothing about Truman coming in, and reading David McCullough is the last thing that a clean slate like me should do. He is forcing a story down my throat, and in the end that's my biggest problem with the book.

In both _Truman_ and _John Adams_, McCullough's obvious purpose is to elevate a man above the lowly station where history has placed him. Adams has played second fiddle to Jefferson in the two centuries following the founding of the U.S. Truman lies below FDR in most peoples' list of the greatest 20th-century presidents. McCullough wants to recognize these men, not only because he believes they were heroes, but also because he wants us to realize the power that individual people can have in shaping history.

The problem is that he's trying too hard to fix history's errors. George Will wrote in praise of _John Adams_ that ``McCullough does not write `pathographies.' ... [these] biographies portray their subjects not just warts and all, but as mostly warts ... [McCullough] abandoned writing a biography of Picasso because he could not stand to be so long in the company of such an unpleasant man." It's one thing to avoid needless butchery of your book's subject. It's quite another to avoid all criticism, which is exactly what McCullough does in _Truman_. His book is a literary manifestation of the portrait on its cover: Truman is all sunshine and Missouri farmland. There's no room in that portrait for a nuclear bomb, and the concept of ``Red baiting" doesn't fit well in a landscape.

In short, I repeatedly yelled at this book (literally) for its habit of blatently papering over Truman's flaws and blatently pounding into my head that ``Truman was a man of character." At least McCullough wears his biases on his sleeve; I'd just prefer that he wear fewer.

Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Bio of A Remarkable Man!
Review: Harry S. Truman did not graduate from college. He failed at every business he ever entered. He didn't marry his wife unti his mid-30's because he felt he could not support her. He entered politics more as a way to earn a living than for any other reason. He owed his political career to the corrupt Pendergast Machine in St. Louis yet was scrupulously honest. Despite such humble beginnings, Truman rose to the Presidency and became one of the greatest in American history. By way of full disclosure I will reveal that I am a big admirer of Harry Truman. So is David McCullough and it shows in this excellent biography. While the book is a little slow as it covers Truman's early life (which was actually quite dull and ordinary) It picks up steam as Truman rises from local judge to Missouri Senator to Vice President and then to the residency on Roosevelt's death. It is here that the book really comes to life because the era of the Truman presidency, from 4/45 through 12/52 was one of the liveliest and most remarkable eras in the 20th century. Upon taking office, Truman had to face decisions relating to the ending of the war. Although Germany surrendered within weeks, Japan was far from finished and the invasion was being planned. When Truman was told the atomic bomb was available and could end the war immediately, he never hesitated to order its use. McCullough makes a strong argument that this decision was not only justified but essentially unopposed by all relevant figures within the government. Truman's plainspoken folksiness comes through such as the time at the Potstdam conference when Soviet foreign minister Molotov, a Stalin lackey, told Truman no one had ever spoken to him like that in his entire life. "Keep your agreements and you won't be spoken to like that." Truman retorted. The rest of Truman's presidency was filled with momentous events and decisions. These include the breakdown of the wartime alliance and the beginning of the cold war with its first battle being the Soviet blockade of Berlin,
the momentous creation of the Marshall Plan, and the formation of NATO. Truman's first term concluded with his decision that the U.S. would support the partition of Palestine thereby creating the state of Israel. In insisting on this position, Truman opposed the position of the entire State Department, including George Marshall, a man he admired more than any other. Marshall threatened to resign over this issue. Truman refused to let him.
Of course the remarkable 48 election is chronicled in the book including Truman's insistence that the Party Platform include a civil rights plank, something Roosevelt would never agree to.
It led to the walkout of the southern delagation. Finally, Truman's second term was consumed by the Korean War, including his conflict with Douglas McArthur. Truman's flaws are not whitewashed yet this author is a clear admirer and properly so in my opinion. In today's world where political courage seems non-existent, Truman is an example we can all look back on with admiration. He made his mistakes but always did what he thought was right and never had any regrets. The nation is lucky he became vice-president in 1944 and McCullough's excellent book which won a Pulitzer Prize is a must read. His writing is straightforward but every fact is meticulously documented. There is no made up dialogue or imagined scenes ala Edmund Morris. All fans of American history must read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Truman - a lifetime of changes
Review: This was a very informative well written biography that presented his life from childhood through death. It added great insight into the private life of Truman and how he was percieved by those around him.

There was a great deal of detail on the various major periods in his life besides his presidency - childhood, world war 1, his post world war business failure, his move into politics, his brief vice-presidency and his life in Independence after the presidency.

The chapters on the major points of his presidency were also excellent. A real in-depth look at his feelings on the atom bomb, his race against Dewey and the Korean War were particulary interesting.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in seeing the evolution of a public figure over his entire lifetime.

Rating:
Summary: What more can be said?
Review: I can't say anymore than that what has already been said by others to proclaim this as a great book. I do not see it as a flawless book though, given McCullough's affinity for his character makes this read more like an autobiography than a biography, but it is one of my favorite biographies.

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Summary: Magnificent biography as well as work of general history.
Review: This review echoes many others concerning this book. It simply begs to be read from beginning to end. McCullough provides stunning insight in all periods of not only Trumans life, but the history surrounding it as well by providing pertinent background information that gives the reader a far greater appreciation for the decisions and unbelievable circumstances that influenced this period in history. The former sets this work apart from some others. McCullough attempts (and succeeds) in setting the record straight regarding later criticisms about Truman's personality, his decisions, his views, as well as about many individuals involved. The author in many instances tells both sides of particularly controversial issues and then drives home the truth by his impeccable research and evidence. Far from simply an apologetic though, we get a comprehensive overall look at the transition between times of the horse and carriage to atomic weapons. For anyone interested in history (which everyone should be, according to Truman) this book is absolutely essential reading. It represents a stunning work of history, and coupled with McCullough's gift of narration, a very enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece.
Review: McCullough is the finest writer of his genre today. If the amazing popularity of his John Adams' biography wasn't enough to convince you of his skill, this book certainly will. The research is impeccable, the detail intricate and the style so readable that the nearly 1,000 pages go by in far too short a time. I had read Hamby's Truman and nearly choked on it, but I am glad I gave HST another look, because his story, as told by (an admiring but balanced) McCullough makes a great case for the comment that Harry Truman was exactly the man the Founding Fathers had in mind when they put their faith in the future of our popular government.

Rating:
Summary: A True Biographical Masterpiece
Review: I wish I could give this book 10 stars. Although a large volume, I couldn't put this book down. McCullough's style flowed well, and the subject was engaging. I never thought I could have much praise for a Democrat, but I have to admit that by the end of the book, Truman had become a man that I now greatly respect. McCullough's treatment of his life is superb, and I found it a remarkable irony that a man of such integrity was supported by such a corrupt political machine. And with the transition from WWII to the Cold War, it became apparent how much Truman seemed to be just the right man for the job at that particular time. The book is remarkable. Well worth the time and money.

Rating:
Summary: A Touching Personal Portrait
Review: David McCullough worked 10 years on the research and writing of this comprehensive biography of America's president during the end of World War Two and our first leader during the crucial post-war period and the beginning of the Cold War, winning a highly deserved Pulitzer Prize for his effort. The breadth of McCullough's research was so thorough and his presentation so affecting that the reader concludes by feeling that he or she knew Harry Truman personally.

McCullough traces Truman's roots in rural Missouri. He cites as a Truman milestone the World War One period when a bookish young man with notably poor vision distinguished himself as Captain of a National Guard unit. Ultimately Truman would rise to become a county judge. From there it was on to the U.S. Senate, the vice-presidency, and the assumption of the presidency upon Franklin Delano Roosevelt's death. McCullough reveals Truman's strong independence and unflinching courage. He had been a protege of Missouri political boss Tom Pendergast, who ultimately spent time in prison and was a highly controversial figure. When Pendergast died Truman attended his funeral, despite advice to the contrary, explaining that the former boss had always been helpful to him and that their relationship was absent of even a taint of corruption. Truman was tapped by FDR for the vice-presidency after achieving national attention as an independent investigator who uncovered government waste in chairing the Truman Committee.

A major element of Truman's storybook life was what pundits refer to as the greatest upset in presidential politics, the incumbent president's stunning victory over Governor Thomas E. Dewey in 1948. McCullough colorfully recounts the train stop toward the end of Truman's whistlestop campaign when adviser Clark Clifford left the train and bought the latest news magazines, which carried predictions of leading political experts throughout the country. When a crestfallen Clifford observed that every political writer consulted predicted a Dewey victory, the adviser sought to keep the news from Truman, who shrewdly recognized what his adviser was doing. Instead of becoming gloomy or upset, Truman, after reading the predictions, replied crisply, "I never thought those guys knew what they were talking about." Truman's confidence proved infectious as he scored a brilliant victory, proving the so-called experts wrong. McCullough captures Truman's uniqueness and stern mettle. Under his administration the UN came into being, NATO was created, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan became reality, the U.S. headed a UN coalition fighting Communist aggression in Korea, and the Berlin Airlift was successfully achieved. It was a period of abundant foreign policy accomplishments achieved under the plain spoken man from Independence, Missouri.