Dinner with Truman by Sophia

Dinner with Truman by Sophia - October 2017 Scholarship Essay

A controversial time in America’s history was towards the end of World War II. The perilous decision to use or not use the atomic bomb was at the hands of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and then was passed on to his successor, Harry Truman. Although when Truman ascended to the presidency, Germany had surrendered within a month, the Pacific front was still in a full-fledged war. Over some hors d’œuvres, I would love to discuss with Truman the thoughts raging through his head when he decided to use an atomic weapon, the first and last time in the history of the world. Did he know the extent of damage one atomic bomb could cause? Was he fully aware that people would be affected by the bomb for decades to come, or did the scientists that developed this lethal weapon keep the horrific truths a secret?

When the waiter brings our plates over, President Truman’s being a nice filet mignon and mine being lamb chops, the discussion would slowly drift on to after the war when America was beginning to advocate against communism. He’d start with saying how communists were bad and how the Soviet Union was trying to take over the world. My admiration for Truman lies with the fact that he tried to make amicable relations with the USSR after World War II was over. With each conference and each negotiation, Truman continued the trend of American peace rather than a war. As we enjoy our entrées, I would like to thank Truman for his commitment to try for peace and not try to start another war. I want to understand what was going through his mind during the Yalta Conference and the Potsdam Conference. What was Stalin demanding and did you see any red flags that warned you not to trust Stalin and the USSR? When our plates are almost empty, I would ask, him who really thought of the National Security Act? Did he think of unifying the three branches of the military in one department, or of creating the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to solve international cases, or did one of his cabinet members or a member of Congress draw up the act and Truman simple agree? Either way, without Truman signing off on the National Security Act, America’s military would not be as resilient or our nation would not be able to fight terrorism. I would tell Truman of all the good things that has come out of the National Security Act 70 years after its signing, such as the helping keep Americans safe during the ongoing War on Terror and the immense power the United States Military exhibits in the world such as aiding weaker countries thanks to each branch working together.

AS the night is ending and our desserts are being cherished, we would shift our conversation to lighter topics. It is easy to find the foreign and domestic policies of the presidents with advancements in technology. However, it is harder to understand the person behind those decisions. I want to know the little things about President Truman. Like the fact that his middle name is only the letter “S” because his parents compromised between the names of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young. Maybe we’d end the night with him playing the piano, because he thought about becoming a professional pianist instead of a politician. Sipping hot tea by the piano will be a perfect way to tend the night with President Truman.