Truman Overview
From small-town Missouri to the Oval Office, President Harry S. Truman’s improbable rise and his iconic 1948 “Give ’Em Hell, Harry!” campaign are preserved in this rare political button. Originally distributed during the legendary Whistle-Stop Tour, this collectible pin symbolizes one of America’s greatest electoral upsets.
As a collector of multi-partisan campaign memorabilia, Matthew Rosenbaum presents this button along with the compelling history of Truman’s presidency, from his wartime decisions and the dawn of the Cold War to the political landscape of post-war America.
The 1948 Whistle-Stop Campaign Button That Defied the Polls
From Farm Boy to President: The Unlikely Rise of Harry S. Truman
Born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884, Harry S. Truman never attended college. He worked the family farm, served in World War I as an artillery captain, and ran a haberdashery that failed during the 1921 recession. His political career began in 1922 as a county judge, backed by the Pendergast machine. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1934, he gained national attention chairing the Truman Committee, saving billions in wartime waste.
April 12, 1945: Thrust Into Power
When Franklin D. Roosevelt died, Truman had been Vice President for just 82 days. He was unaware of the Manhattan Project until briefed on the atomic bomb.
Did You Know? Truman met J. Robert Oppenheimer in October 1945. When Oppenheimer said, “Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands,” Truman replied that he never wanted to see him again.
The Decision That Ended World War II
Facing a planned invasion of Japan that could cost 1 million Allied lives, Truman authorized atomic bombs on Hiroshima (Aug 6) and Nagasaki (Aug 9), 1945. Japan surrendered on August 14.Post-War Challenges & The Fair Deal
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- Converted wartime economy → labor strikes
- Desegregated the military (Executive Order 9981)
- Proposed national health insurance (blocked by Congress)
The Cold War Begins: Truman’s Legacy in Containment
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- 1947: Truman Doctrine – U.S. will support nations resisting communism (Greece & Turkey first)
- 1948: Marshall Plan – $13 billion to rebuild Western Europe
- 1948–49: Berlin Airlift – 278,000 flights delivered 2.3 million tons of supplies
- 1949: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded under Truman’s leadership
The 1948 Election: “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”
Polls predicted defeat. The Chicago Tribune printed “Dewey Defeats Truman”. Southern Democrats bolted over civil rights. But Truman crisscrossed America on his Whistle-Stop Tour, giving 356 speeches in 31 states. He won 303 electoral votes to Dewey’s 189.
Written by Matthew Rosenbaum, Rochester attorney and collector of multi-partisan political buttons. Featured at DNC, RNC, and APIC National conventions.
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