Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

The 33rd president of the United States (1945-51), Harry S. Truman is known for his New Deal reforms and committed the nation to the containment of Soviet power. His policies shaped American politics and diplomacy for a generation. Born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Mo., he spent his early life in Independence, Mo. After serving in France during World War I, Truman failed in a business venture and entered politics, winning election to the Jackson County Court (county commission) in 1922. Defeated in 1924, he was elected presiding judge in 1926 and held the office for eight years.