Biography (1994)

Sub-Genres - Biography, Politics & Government  |   Run Time - 60 min.  |   Countries - United Kingdom  |  
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Synopsis by John Patrick Sheehan

Part of the Biographytelevision series from (@A & E), this documentary reviews the life of former president Harry S. Truman. The video chronicles the farm boy who could not afford college, but was commissioned a lieutenant with the National Guard when he went off to France to fight in World War I. He then was elected to the US Senate (1935--45). Captured is his personal integrity which helped him get reelected in 1940. He came to national attention heading what was called the Truman Committee, which investigated government wartime production and saved taxpayers millions. That prominence brought him to office as Franklin D Roosevelt's new vice-president in 1944. When Roosevelt died the next April, Truman became president; he would go on to win a close election in 1948. The documentary also covers the decision to drop the first atomic bombs on Japan; the Marshall Plan to aid postwar Europe; the "Truman Doctrine" of Communist containment and support for free peoples; organizing the Berlin Airlift; ordering the desegregation of the armed forces; establishing NATO; sending US troops to deal with the Communist invasion of South Korea; and dismissing the popular General MacArthur for insubordination in Korea. The documentary ends with Truman declining to run in 1952 and settling in Independence, Mo, for a long retirement of writing and speaking his mind.

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