Harry S. Truman: Fundamental Americanism in foreign policy speechmaking, 1945–1946

Abstract

During his first year as President, Harry S. Truman had to deal with concluding World War II and the postwar problem of seeking world peace. Thus, foreign policy was his primary consideration. Truman built a foreign policy on the foundation of “fundamental Americanism,” i.e., his commitment to the traditional American dream. This policy, as revealed in his early Presidential speeches, is fundamental to understanding American foreign policy rhetoric during the cold war era.