President Roles

The time that President serves, they have many obligations to fill. Some of these obligations include: Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, Chief of State, Head of Political Party, and Leader of the Free World. Among all the Presidents that America has had, there is no one to be able to explain these obligations better than Harry S. Truman.

Chief Diplomat

• Truman’s presidency was eventful in foreign affairs, with the end of World War II and his decisions to use nuclear weapons in combat, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, the beginning of the Cold War, the creation of NATO, and the Korean War.

• One of Truman’s first major acts as president was dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. By doing so, he brought forth the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II.

Commander in Chief

• Secretary of State under Truman-E.R Stettinius, Jr.

James F. Byrnes, 1945

George C. Marshall, 1947

Dean Acheson, 1949

• North Atlantic Treaty- “By this treaty, we are not only seeking to establish freedom from aggression and from the use of force in the North Atlantic community, but we are also actively striving to promote and preserve peace throughout the world.”

Chief Executive

• Vetoed International Security Act- required registration with the Attorney General of the American Communist Party and affiliated organizations.

• Truman vetoes