The 1946 State of the Union Address was given by the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, on Monday, January 21, 1946, to the 79th United States Congress. It was written by Samuel Rosenman[1] and is notable for being the longest State of the Union message at the time: the written speech was sent to Congress, not orally given, and was 25,000 words long. The address combined Truman's economic report with state of the union information regrading returning to a peace economy after the end of World War Two, foreign policy in Europe and the admission of Hawaii into the United States.[2]

In the address, Truman stated, "At Moscow the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and Great Britain agreed to further this development by supporting the efforts of the national government and nongovernmental Chinese political elements in bringing about cessation of civil strife and in broadening the basis of representation in the Government. That is the policy which General Marshall is so ably executing today. It is the purpose of the Government of the United States to proceed as rapidly as is practicable toward the restoration of the sovereignty of Korea and the establishment of a democratic government by the free choice of the people of Korea."[3]

Truman also urged Congress to admit Hawaii into the United States, but cautioned them to wait on admitting Alaska until "it is certain that this is the desire of the people of that great territory".[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Schlesinger, Robert (2008). White House ghosts : presidents and their speechwriters (1st Simon & Schuster hardcover ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 41. ISBN 9781416565352.
  2. ^ Adams, Mark. "Analyzing Truman's State of the Union Messages". Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. Truman Library Institute. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  3. ^ "State of the Union Address: Harry S. Truman (January 21, 1946)". Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. ^ Whitehead, John S. (2004). Completing the union : Alaska, Hawai'i, and the battle for statehood. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. p. 201. ISBN 9780826336378.
Preceded by1945 State of the Union Address State of the Union addresses 1946 Succeeded by1947 State of the Union Address


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