1948 by David Pietruza is a study of specifically the 48 election in which conventional wisdom said Truman would lose and the insanity of the race (which essentially broke four ways) it paints a pretty good picture of Trumans nadir as a president. Though it significantly downplays his corruption
Character_Low_9790 on
Truman by David McCullough
Sognatore24 on
This might sound obvious but have you checked out David McCullough’s biography Truman?
LoneWolfette on
The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World―A Fast-Paced Chronicle of Truman’s Tumultuous First Days Amidst World War II by AJ Baime
It doesn’t cover his full presidency but the period it does cover was critical.
AdamoMeFecit on
As others are saying, David McCullough’s Truman likely is where you will end up.
I also will suggest Harry Truman’s own 2 volume presidential memoir (Volume 1: Years of Decision; Volume 2: Years of Trial and Hope). Plainly and precisely written, thoroughly researched, and still highly relevant to domestic and foreign policy today.
Partisan? Yes. But he explains exactly why he landed in those positions in the first place, and ends up very competently drawing the full political map.
Excellent primary historical source, in other words.
Prestigious_Leg_7117 on
Truman or the The Acciidental President, both are good, but I think McCullough does a better job at carving out the formative years. He was not a man without flaws, but like so many other presidents- was naturally curious and a voracious reader of everything from the classics to current affaris. If only…
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1948 by David Pietruza is a study of specifically the 48 election in which conventional wisdom said Truman would lose and the insanity of the race (which essentially broke four ways) it paints a pretty good picture of Trumans nadir as a president. Though it significantly downplays his corruption
Truman by David McCullough
This might sound obvious but have you checked out David McCullough’s biography Truman?
The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World―A Fast-Paced Chronicle of Truman’s Tumultuous First Days Amidst World War II by AJ Baime
It doesn’t cover his full presidency but the period it does cover was critical.
As others are saying, David McCullough’s Truman likely is where you will end up.
I also will suggest Harry Truman’s own 2 volume presidential memoir (Volume 1: Years of Decision; Volume 2: Years of Trial and Hope). Plainly and precisely written, thoroughly researched, and still highly relevant to domestic and foreign policy today.
Partisan? Yes. But he explains exactly why he landed in those positions in the first place, and ends up very competently drawing the full political map.
Excellent primary historical source, in other words.
Truman or the The Acciidental President, both are good, but I think McCullough does a better job at carving out the formative years. He was not a man without flaws, but like so many other presidents- was naturally curious and a voracious reader of everything from the classics to current affaris. If only…