Pres. Truman's State of the Union messages to Congress, 1947-1952

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Budget & Economy     Economic policy to avoid inflationary wage & price increases.     We need lower prices, higher wages, and more electricity.

Civil Rights     Committee on Civil Rights: equal protection under law.

Corporations     Vigorously enforce the anti-trust laws.     Business cycle is man-made; protect against "boom & bust".

Education     Department of health & education: schools for all citizens.

Energy & Oil     No US monopoly on atomic energy; but no military atomics.

Environment     Expand mineral discovery to avoid becoming "have not" nation.     Wise use of rivers, with non-private multiple-purpose dams.

Foreign Policy     Create moral & legal framework to avoid evil & war.     With tremendous strength comes tremendous responsibilities.

Free Trade     Join International Trade Organization & expand world trade.

Health Care     National health program: adequate care to all who need it.

Homeland Security     UN should control weapons of mass destruction.     Mobilize by extending draft & taxes to pay for defense.     Propose Soviet disarmament; but build up army to 3 million.

Jobs     Government should assist in free collective bargaining.

Principles & Values     The basic source of our national strength is spiritual.

Social Security     System is only half finished; extend to millions more.

Tax Reform     Establish a per-person cost-of-living tax credit.

War & Peace     Terminate hostilities from WWII and end emergency powers.     Aggression in Korea is part of Communist world conquest.     Oppose the menacing imperialism of the Soviet Union.     The threat of world war is still very real.

Welfare & Poverty     Maintain rent control, especially in metropolitan areas.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Harry S Truman