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

I very much enjoyed the first four chapters regarding how Harry S Truman (HST) became the 33rd president of the United States. Some of this information author A. J. Baime reveals I had not been exposed to previously. Most especially the physicians intervention and interaction in Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)'s death at Warm Springs, Georgia. Very interesting minutes prior to his death, he was still smoking after a year before his physician told him to "distance himself from cigarettes." The book makes light of the Annals of Internal Medicine case report regarding FDR's medical history. Part two is the political education of HST. It is ripe with many interesting facts regarding his life from farmer to president of the USA. Especially interesting, is the 1944 Democratic Chicago Convention in which the Democratic National Committee (DNC) maneuvers to obtain HST on the ticket as vice president. Shades of 2024. Part three is the beginning of the four-month span of HST "baptism of fire" as the replacement of FDR after his passing. Here the reader obtains an eyewitness look into his demeaner and personality with his family and the surrounds. This period is the countdown to the July 1945 Potsdam Tripartite Meeting and the uncertainty of the atomic bomb effectiveness. Part four provides the reader with the ongoings to arrival at the "Big Three Potsdam Meeting" and views of HST during and while the waiting for the test results of the Trinity plutonium bomb test. Many do not realize this was really the testing of the Nagasaki weapon which material was obtained from the reactor in Hanford, Washington. To really appreciate the final part of the book the reader should view the recent film "Oppenheimer" to understand what is happening parallel to the Potsdam meeting. Here The Manhattan District Program is pushed to completion to provide HST with the information to negotiate the finality of the second world war. The book is very interesting and easy to read. However, the contrast of the paperback print can cause asthenopia over time. It is highly informative and sophisticated even for the historian. It is composed of five parts with thirty-eight chapters, an epilogue, B&W photos, notes, and a helpful index. Using personal letters, communiques, diaries, and newspaper articles the author has crafted a significant contribution to the historical record. All interested in this period should purchase this book.

I found this book hard to put down and was amazed at how much of what we learned in our American history text books in school happened in such a brief period of time. The author does a fine job of giving just enough details and behind-the-scenes information so as to be compelling and yet not bog down the story of Truman and the events of the time. Highly recommend.

The problem with some history books is that they include too many paragraph-long quotes that just slow down the flow of the historical narrative. No such problem here. I thought this book was a smooth, coherent, easy read. About the first 20% of the book covered Truman’s life leading up to the moment he became President. It was interesting (and necessary) background material for the rest of the book, which was devoted exclusively to Truman’s just first four months in office. That means the book was focused on: - Truman’s getting up to speed on essentially everything (given his zero contact with Roosevelt while serving as VP) - The transitioning of Presidential leadership from an Eastern Elite (Roosevelt) to a “plain-spoken” Common Man - The end of the war in Europe (and the resulting Iron Curtain falling down across Eastern Europe) - Truman’s communications & interactions with Churchill and Stalin (including the Potsdam meeting – the final meeting between these 3 leaders). - The plans for the continuing war with Japan - The development, testing and deployment of the atomic bomb. Basically, President Truman was suddenly faced with a myriad of important, high-stakes challenges with no prior opportunity (while Vice President) to be involved in any of the decision making concerning those challenges. Ultimately, though, it turned out to be a case of the right man rising to the challenges that suddenly faced him. Due to keeping the focus on Truman’s first 4 months, there is little discussion on: - The Korean War - Rebuilding Europe (and the Marshall Plan) - Truman’s 1948 election turnaround.

Readable

Interesting because I got this book to read out of the blue for pure curiosity around the motives to drop the atomic bombs over Japan. Maybe it would shed some light on this matter... For my great pleasure, the book has more than that. It covers the end of the FDR era and the beginning of a new one: Harry S Truman as the first President coming from the common people to rule the world and set eternal development for all humankind (UN, NATO). Glad to understand a little bit more about the ’40s political environment, specially USSR (Stalin) and Great Britain (W. Churchill the last official meet before his term was over). I am not American and probably because of that I never had heard the lend-lease doctrine (program), where the Americans taxpayers were called to support (finance) the battle against Hitler and the rebuild of a devastated Europe. Thanks For That. Excellent book, five stars for sure.

Espléndida descripción de los primeros meses de la presidencia de Truman, aunque yo habría deseado, a tenor del nombre del libro, una mayor extension sobre el resto de su presidencia, de la misma manera que dedica bastantes páginas a sus años previos a ña misma

The paper and print quality is so bad... Brown paper with such a light print that it's so hard to read. The print is also not at all clear. Regret buying. Returned immediately. These Indian editions are unfortunately made with such poor quality. How do these publishers get away with this?

Bought as a gift for later in the year. Should be well appreciated