Where the Buck Stops: The Personal and Private Writings of Harry S. Truman

President Harry Truman wrote this book, then gave the manuscript to his daughter with the understanding that she not publish it until after he and Bess had passed away. The former president was interested in American history and has done a good deal of research about all our presidents starting with George Washington. The last president he critiques is Dwight Eisenhower. He was quite blunt and honest in his assessment and I'm left to wonder what he would have to say about some of our more current presidents. He did do a good job of keeping his focus on their successes and failures as a president and very little on their personal lives. As is expected of Harry Truman, he's quite blunt with what he has to say, he minces no words, but he does give you his well thought out reasons for his opinions. One thing that surprised me is the frequent use of duels to settle a dispute. Not all combatants died, but still, it was a shock to me to learn of their frequency. He includes information on presidential races and who all the contestants were. The election of a vice president was totally different years ago than the process we use now. He provides numbers on ballots cast and electoral votes divvied out at each election. I learned a good deal about American history in the process of reading this book. Truman includes a chapter on his own shift into the presidency after the death of FDR. His own presidential race and the war he was left to deal with. Harry Truman indeed lives up to his "Give 'em Hell, Harry" reputation. I'd consider reading this book a second time just to absorb and refresh all that I learned. It was that interesting.

We are accustomed to read biographies of important personalities by various writers, but when the writer is a president writing about other presidents we tend to get more interested . After all , who could be more knowledgeable about presidential life and work than another president. These thoughts and writings collected here by Margret Truman, the President's daughter, reflect a variety of subjects including the Constitution, the Government , History, the media and others... But the largest part of the book, and by far the most interesting, deals with the President's views about other presidents.Truman has been known for his simple, direct, no-nonsense approach. Ronald Reagan called his style "blunt and succinct". This certainly is evident in this book. He feels that presidents can be grouped into three categories: very good, good and good-for-nothing. However, he sets no specific criteria or point system for judging but depends on his general knowledge of the president and his achievements. Thus Andrew Jackson is very good, but Eisenhower is no good. President Harding's performance is poor but Jefferson's is superior. Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce and Buchanan were "do-nothing " presidents. Calvin Coolidge, like Eisenhower, was a "sit-still" president. An so on.It is evident that judging others can be a sensitive issue especially if one resorts to scathing remarks and harsh expressions; this approach is further aggravated if the criticised president is generally admired by the public, like Eisenhower or Harding. Was that perhaps the reason why Truman instructed his daughter not have this book published until he and Mrs.Truman had passed away? In the epilogue, even Margaret herself expresses concern about whether the public would find her father's harsh remarks rather offensive to many people.From another angle it seems obvious that passing judgement on others can be a reflection on the nature of the person who is judging. For instance, implicit in Truman's criticisms of others is that he was a "very good" president himself. This may be generally true within the United States. In the rest of the world, and judging by others' writings, he was viewed as the President who dropped the bomb annihilating two large cities with their entire populations. With regards to foreign policy, which he regards as essential, he was not as wise and diplomatic as, for example, Jimmy Carter, who through patience and diplomacy brought peace to a troubled Middle East. Such expressions by Truman, as "I don't give a damn what the Arabs like..." don't reflect wisdom and patience on the part of a great leader in dealing with the outside world.All in all, however, the reader must give credit to Truman and his daughter Margaret, for a good coverage of such a vast subject. The facts, opinions and anecdotes about every president, although highly opinionated, are amusing and entertaining and make for a good reading.

I had often heard that Harry Truman was a straight forward person who spoke plainly and clearly. This book certainly authenticates that. I was clearly impressed with his understanding of leadership and the qualities one needs to be a leader. Truman was definitely a Democrat and perhaps a liberal one, but I wonder what he would think of the Democratic Party these days and their platform. I love his style of writing and his practicality which comes through in this book. He had to make some tough decisions, but I think he made the right choices. His comments on several past presidents shows he was a real historian who could interpret past events and human nature well. He’s a president I’m proud of and although the book doesn’t make that assessment it’s one that follows from reading it. It is well worth reading.

Not particularly surprised that Mr. Truman found nothing praise worthy in the records and personalities of some very well thought of Republican Presidents. What President ordered battleships lined up like sitting ducks in Pearl Harbor, knowing full well that the Japanese were coming to attack that first week of December? What President abandoned tens of thousands of our personnel to their forced-marching deaths in the Philippines? It was Mr. Truman’s favorite President, the one who according to him could do no wrong. I am extremely thankful that Mr. Truman subjected himself to second guessing, roars of disapproval and shame blaming for his decision regarding the use of the atom bomb: Conservative estimates are that one million allied lives were saved. But, I have had this book for three months and am tired of Mr. Truman, I have better books to read: 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Everything that Give 'em hell, Harry' said rang true. In my lifetime the almost unique voice of a truly honest man. Everyone has faults of some sort and I don't doubt that Truman was not completely perfect. I rate Churchill up there with Truman on many points, although I think that the former had more faults than the latter. This is compiled from the writings of a man who was also a historian, so the comments about previous Presidents are elucidating. However, even when very young I found something 'not right' about Eisenhower as a President and Truman's justifiable criticism of the man rings true - and sheds an interesting light on the mindset of a man who had successful military career but when Presdient, unlike Truman, was sadly lacking in guts and loyalty to those who had furthered it . I have seven books about Truman's life and was very pleased to add this to the collection.

This is an engaging book as much for its candour as for its opinions. On one level it is a potted history of the USA and how it evolved to its position the world today. From tentative immigrants, looking for a life free from religious and political manipulation, through assertive domination of a new world canvass, to a leading world power. On another level,Truman’s assessment of all the Presidents before him, divided into Great, good and waste of space is really worth savouring. His natural modesty is a shame as I was hoping for more detail about his own presidency and the many difficult decisions he had to make. That is obviously to be found in a different book.

I read it to find out more of America's history, but don't find Truman a very fluent writer at times., His take on various Presidents is interesting,, and I actually learnt more of the country's past. Actually, didn't know how much of the country they bought off others, such as Spain. Was wanting to read it to gain insight into the election of Trump! Wonder what Truman would have thought of him! Glad that Truman thinks the Indians were treated very badly. Now looks like Trump okaying the pipeline will take part of Indian reserve and burial grounds, which was why it was put on hold by Obama, and he is provoking China. He would be on Truman' bad president list at once.

Really tried to read this to the end but it is so badly put together I couldn't.It meanders about and repeats itself so much as to be almost unreadable

Bitty and not very interesting.