Public Papers of President Harry S. Truman
President Harry S. Truman. Source: Truman Library. President Harry S. Truman. Source: Truman Library.   The Public Papers of Harry S. Truman contain most of President Truman's public messages, statements, speeches, and news conference remarks. Documents such as Proclamations, Executive Orders, and similar documents that are published in the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations, as required by law, are usually not included. The documents within the Public Papers are arranged in chronological order. President Truman delivered the remarks or addresses from Washington, D. C., unless otherwise indicated. The White House in Washington issued statements, messages, and letters unless noted otherwise. (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Harry S. Truman, 1945-1953. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1966)

The Public Papers contain items such as the Statement by the President Announcing the Use of the A-Bomb at Hiroshima (August 6, 1945), the Special Message to the Congress on Greece and Turkey: The Truman Doctrine (March 12, 1947), the White House Statement Announcing Recognition of the Government of Israel (January 31, 1949), the Statement and Order by the President on Relieving General MacArthur of His Commands (April 11, 1951), and The President's Farewell Address to the American People (January 15, 1953).

View by Month and Year
Search the Public Papers
Enter keyword:
AND OR NOT
Limit by Year
From:
To    :
Limit results per page
Instructions
You can search the Public Papers in two ways:

1. Search by Keyword and Year
You can search by keyword and choose the range of years within your search by filling out the boxes under Search the Public Papers.

2. View by Month and/or Year
Select the month and/or year you would like information about and press View Public Papers. Then choose a Public Paper and the page will load for you.

Provided courtesy of The American Presidency Project.  John Woolley and Gerhard Peters. University of California, Santa Barbara.
 
109.  Veto of Bill To Establish an Army Optometry Corps
May 9, 1946

To the House of Representatives:

I return herewith, without my approval, H.R. 3755, the purpose of which is to establish an Optometry Corps in the Medical Department of the Army. In my opinion a separate Optometry Corps would be out of harmony not only with the present structure of the Medical Corps, but also with the contemplated organization of the Medical Department of the postwar Army.

During the course of the war, the Army has utilized optometrists to the maximum extent consistent with sound medical practice. The Medical Department of the postwar Army will likewise utilize optometrists to the maximum extent practicable. It is contemplated that they, together with the other professional and scientific groups included in modern medical service, will constitute a Medical Service Corps, with appropriate commissioned rank. However, our military personnel are entitled to the best medical care available; and the creation of additional separate corps will, in my opinion, hinder rather than facilitate the accomplishment of this aim. Medical care must be directed and coordinated by officers professionally trained and competent to recognize pathological conditions and assume complete responsibility for adequate care.

Furthermore, H.R. 3755 would establish a promotion plan providing more rapid advancement for optometrists than for most other branches of the Army and no persuasive reason is apparent why this particular group should be afforded more favorable treatment than others similarly situated.
HARRY S. TRUMAN
 
 

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is one of twelve Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

500 W. US Hwy. 24. Independence MO 64050
truman.library@nara.gov;
Phone: 816-268-8200 or 1-800-833-1225;
Fax: 816-268-8295.