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On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb in world history was dropped over the city of Hiroshima, changing not only that city, but also the entire world forever. A decision of such magnitude certainly had to involve a number of important political and military leaders who devoted much of their time and attention to the project. However, as President Harry S. Truman, who quickly became the central figure in the decision, was fond of saying, "The buck stops here." Thus, it is "here," or with the President’s thoughts, that one needs to begin to understand the decision that took place.
Historians have covered the decision in many different ways. Some have focused on whether Truman made the correct decision. Others have focused on the influence of Truman’s advisors had on his decision. Another aspect of Truman that has not been examined with as much detail is Truman’s morality.
Connecting religious beliefs with action requires a basic understanding of theology, history, as well as psychology to determine how an individual will put into action the faith he or she has in his or her heart and mind. This understanding is of even greater interest today than ever before. How religious backgrounds affect decisions is very prevalent today with the impeachment of President Clinton in December 1998. An article titled, "Sex, Sin and Salvation" appeared in Newsweek on November 2, 1998 discussing how Clinton’s Baptist upbringing left room for experimentation while he was growing up and still today, even as the President of the United States. Thus, it is of great interest to look at Truman’s religious background and attempt to answer the grand question of how much, if any, his beliefs affected his decision to drop the atomic bomb.
The first attempts to look at Truman and his religious background were simply survey of many different presidents lumped into one book. Some of these include Religion and the Presidency by Berton Dulce and Edward J. Richter and So Help Me God: Religion and the Presidency, Wilson to Nixon written by Robert S. Alley. Both of these studies simply scratched the surface of Truman’s religious views. Neither discussed Truman at much length.
Another historian that discussed Truman’s morality is Margaret Truman, Harry’s only child. Margaret Truman offers many explanations to why Truman made the decision to drop the bomb on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Of her arguments that supported Truman’s decision, the idea that Truman was of noble character is the most prominent. She also stresses that her father didn’t completely know all the facts behind the bomb until a few days after he became president. However, even after considering the other options available to him – dropping it on an island in the Pacific Ocean, dropping it in an uninhabited part of Japan, or blockading Japan - Margaret Truman argues that her father chose the best available option.
More recent works focusing on Truman and his morality include God in the White House: How Religion Has Changed the Modern Presidency by Richard G. Hutcheson, Jr. and a journal article titled "President Harry S. Truman; Independent Baptist from Independence" by Robert Bolt. Both of these take a much closer look into Truman’s religious beliefs and backgrounds. Hutcheson portrays a picture of Truman understanding the people’s desire to incorporate all of life into a bigger picture, and Christianity provided a model for this. Bolt looked mostly into his particular Baptist beliefs, revealing Truman’s strong religious history and faith.
A current historian, who has focused many of his articles and books on this subject, is Gar Alperovitz. His book, The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb, considers several different angles, which had previously not been considered in depth. He devotes much of his time to the advice Truman received, both from his close advisors, such as Stimson and Byrnes, as well as from his non-advisors such as Eisenhower, a key figure in the war at hand. According to Alperovitz, it is Stimson and Byrnes who influenced Truman the most to drop the bomb. However, interestingly enough the reasons his advisors gave him to use the bomb were particularly concerned with the morality of the decision. On July 2, 1945, Stimson told Truman that the United States would be able to win the war for six reasons. The six reasons were as follows: Japan has no allies, their navy is destroyed, they are vulnerable to air attack, they are fighting against Anglo-Americans, the rising Chinese, and the threat of Russia, industrial resources are in our favor, and we have great moral superiority. The idea of moral superiority would prove to be a large contributing factor in Truman’s own decision. How Truman came to this conclusion of moral superiority, what that meant to him, and how that would be applied in the decision to drop the bomb will be shown through an argument supported by studies conducted by scholars and historians along with Biblical teachings.
The final historian to consider concerning Truman and his morals is David McCullough. McCullough is credited as moving the focus of Truman from his policies to his personal side. McCullough examined Truman’s love of the Bible and his morality. He read the Bible twice by age twelve; his favorite passage was the Sermon on the Mount found in chapters five, six, and seven of the gospel of Matthew. McCullough also demonstrated by the testimony of several first-hand witnesses that Truman was a man of strong beliefs.
Although McCullough didn’t attempt to connect Truman’s religious beliefs with the decision to drop the bomb, he did connect those beliefs with his decision to formally recognize the nation of Israel. He used the thoughts of Clark Clifford, one of Truman’s closest friends during his presidency, to demonstrate this fact.
And his own reading of ancient history and the Bible made him a supporter of the
idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine [Clifford remembered], even when others
who were sympathetic to the plight of the Jews were talking of sending them to
places like Brazil. He did not need to be convinced by Zionists. In fact, he had to
work hard to avoid the appearance of yielding to Zionist pressure . . . I remember
him talking once about the problems of displaced persons. "Everyone else who’s
been dragged from his country has someplace to go back to," he said. "But the
Jews have no place to go."
There are several passages found particularly in the Old Testament describing God’s relationship to the nation of Israel, also known as the Jews. God is quoted as calling them"my people." Another passage describes the "Lord’s eternal love for Israel". A final passage tells about what would occur in the end concerning Israel: "Israel will bud and blossom." Probably the verse which stood out most for Truman, as it did and still does for other Christian believers, is found in Ephesians 3:6. It says, "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Jesus Christ." As was preached in Christian churches, this verse not only signified the unity between the early Jews and the Gentiles, but also the connection between God’s chosen people and those who would become Christians. Another reference made concerning the Jews is what will happen in the end of the world. Revelation 7:4 describes "those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel," referring to the Jews.
As these historians have shown thus far, Truman was indeed a moral man. His decision to drop the bomb included several factors, including input from advisors, as well as Roosevelt’s prior policy. Among some of Truman’s key issues: he had to come to peace with the decision. Thus, his religious beliefs played a vital part. Truman’s training in church, particularly the Presbyterian and Baptist church, influenced him to make the decision to drop the atomic bomb on the island of Japan, killing thousands. Without attempting to delve into the topic of whether Truman was morally right or wrong, this paper will look at how the specific teachings of his denominational background influenced his decision to use that powerful weapon at the time and place he chose to do so.
In order to understand the influence of his denomination background, one must first note of what that background consists. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 9, 1884. When he was six, the family moved to Independence, where he spent much of his life. Upon moving into Independence, his parents decided their children should start attending Sunday school. The nearest Protestant church happened to be First Presbyterian, which the Trumans attended regularly every Sunday while living in Independence. Since his parents and his grandparents had been raised Baptist, this was unusual for the Truman family.
It was at that Baptist church in Independence where Truman would first lay eyes on his future wife, Bess Wallace, as she and her family attended the same Presbyterian church.
The Truman family moved into Kansas City in 1903. It was here, at age eighteen, that Truman became a member of the Benton Boulevard Baptist Church in Kansas City. Truman willingly chose the Baptist faith to be his own. Like the Trumans, Bess and the rest of the Wallace family would also abandon the Presbyterian church. However, unlike the Trumans, they would stray in favor of the Episcopal church, an even more conservative branch in practice but more liberal in doctrine. Even though Bess and later Margaret chose to be Episcopalian, he later explained why he felt Baptist was the best fit for him.
I’m a Baptist because I think that sect gives the common man the shortest and
most direct approach to God. I’ve never thought the Almighty is greatly interested in pomp and circumstance, because if He is, He wouldn’t be interested in ‘the sparrow’ alluded to in St. Matthew’s Gospel. Religious stuffed shirts are just as bad or worse than political ones in my opinion.
In 1906, Truman’s father, John, purchased a six hundred-acre farm near Grandview, Missouri. During his twenties, Truman lived and helped his father by working on the farm. He attended the local Baptist church when he could. But as he explained to Mrs. Wallace, attempting to win her favor, he was only a reasonably good Baptist, as the term was used in Grandview. On November 2, 1914, after struggling for several months with a severe hernia causing an intestinal block, his father John passed away leaving the farm to his mother, his sister, and to him. Ironically, this was the best time he ever had in his life. He simply loved the hard work. Finally, in 1916, with his values solidified, Truman became a member of the Grandview Baptist Church in Grandview, Missouri, where he would remain for the rest of his life.
Later, when Truman was President, he would faithfully attend First Baptist Church in Washington. The reason he chose that particular church was the simple fact that they didn’t make a big show of him coming. Truman explained, "The preacher [Pruden] always treats me as a church member and not as the head of a circus. That’s the reason I go to the 1st Baptist Church." Though he attended the First Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., he declined the Pastor’s proposal to transfer his membership, explaining that he had been a member of the Grandview Church
for thirty odd years or more and I don’t feel like moving it [my membership]
now. . . . Another thing I am particularly interested in is the fact that if I became a
regular attendant, your regular membership would be pushed aside by curiosity
seekers and sightseers. That is what happened to [Woodrow] Wilson’s Church
and that is what happened to [Calvin] Collidge’s Church so I think it would be
better for both of us to follow the present procedure.
Values of the general community also played a large part in Truman’s religious development. In the Midwest during the early twentieth century, it was the Protestant churches that dominated the morals of the community, both in the small towns and even in larger cities. Thus, Truman received plenty of Protestant doctrine, both in school as well as church. Some of these values simply were ones that were good for the community, such as work hard, make yourself useful, and "honesty is always the best policy." However, others reflected great Biblical teachings such as "Honor your father and mother," and "Do unto your neighbor what you would have him do unto you."
Along with his communal values he received while growing up were those specific to his church. In this case, his church the Presbyterian church, until he reached the age of eighteen. These teachings would be derived from Sunday school lessons as well as sermons over the years that he was part of that church. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand some of the specific teachings of the Presbyterian church, which would later be influential as Truman considered the morality of dropping the bomb.
Some of the basic history of the Presbyterian church is important in order to understand from where Presbyterian beliefs are derived as well as to explain the changes in their beliefs over time. It also is worthy of noting how long it took Presbyterianism to establish in America. This will help in determining how the development was patriotic in nature.
According to a pamphlet titled, "The History of the Presbyterian Church," Presbyterians claim John Calvin as "The father of Presbyterianism." The distinction of Calvin and Luther is the fact that Calvin, unlike Luther, believed in the literal translation of Ephesians 1:5 which states in the King James Version, "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." This distinction will be important for Truman’s life. Calvin established a congregation in Switzerland. Then, John Knox learned from Calvin and took the message to Scotland in 1559. It then proceeded to spread throughout England, France, and the Netherlands.
Presbyterian history in the United States is rich as well, dating back to 1706 when the first American Presbytery was established in Philadelphia. Thus, the Presbyterian church was established well before America became the United States. As a result, the teachings in America will also reflect that patriotism on which Truman would later wholeheartedly adopt.
The Presbyterians adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms in 1729 as their basic statements of faith. In the 1780s, they amended these statements of faith to form what they currently hold to, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism, and the Westminster Directory for the Worship of God. In Westminster’s Shorter Catechism in Modern English, a summary of the faith is given. The statement of faith is written in a series of questions and answers, thus making it easy for a member of the faith to seek and find the answers desired.
The very first question asked, thus signifying its great importance is "What is man’s primary purpose?" This would indicate how one should live their life on a daily basis. The answer given is that "Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." This signifies man’s needs to worship the Lord at all times, and to seek him always. Truman, though not a theologian, would have understood this principle. He knew that he was instructed to glorify God "forever." Though it became difficult to find the privacy he needed, he tried to apply this publicly and privately. "It was difficult to have privacy in church while I was President, and I guess I should not have expected to avoid curiosity in church when I came home," explained Truman on the differences between worship as a Senator and President.
Another important teaching defines God’s involvement in day-to-day events. The teaching states, "God’s providence is His completely holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing every creature and every action." The ramification from this teaching compels one to believe that God is involved in every action. Thus, it is easier to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." This results from knowing that God is involved in every action and "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
According to the Presbyterians, those who were "called according to his purpose" had been distinctly chosen beforehand, or predestined. This teaching of predestination was derived from its historical roots of Calvinism. Predestination means "to decide beforehand" in its original Greek text. As originally taught by Calvin, this means that God has already chosen those who will be believers. The elect need to live holy lives to show others how to live. This leads people to be very secure or insecure in their salvation, depending on which side of the ledger they believed they fell. As a result, divisions quickly are made between the elect and the non-elect. Naturally, the elect were those in the Presbyterian church, thus they had no reason for worry.
Concerning the grand scale of predestination, Presbyterians and Truman could justify in their own minds that God chose America while He did not choose Japan. However, contrary to what would normally be expected by one who adheres to beliefs of predestination, Truman did not create the distinction by religious beliefs solely. This may largely be due in part to the teachings of Baptist doctrine that he was subject to later in life.
In an address in Chicago to Swedish Pioneer Centennial Association on June 4, 1948, Truman defined Americanism as "diverse."
We are a diverse people, and in this diversity we have great strength. We have room for
differences and room for disagreement. Part of our respect for the dignity of the human
being is the respect for his right to be different. That means different in background
different in his beliefs, different in his customs, different in his name, and different in
his religion. That is true Americanism; that is true democracy. It is the source of our
strength. It is the basis of our faith in the future. It is our hope, and it is the hope of the
world.
Truman did make a distinction between his country and others. Rather than basing it on Christianity versus other religions, Truman made the distinction by types of governments. Truman clearly thought that democracy was superior, and as a result, God-given. Truman oftentimes criticized other governments such as dictatorships because they "enslave the minds and the characters of the people over whom they rule." However, in explaining the unity of the nation to the Conference of the Federal Council of Churches on March 6, 1946, Truman said that it lay in freedom. "We are a people who worship God in different ways. But we are all bound together in a single unity – the unity of individual freedom in a democracy." Understanding that "no government is perfect," Truman took on a social Darwinian belief of governments, applying the principle of survival of the fittest. "One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes and can be pointed out and corrected."
With this division in mind, Truman could make his decision with less worry. If God has already chosen certain people, then whether you live or die, you will go to heaven if you have been chosen. Truman found himself in a situation during his first evening as President where it seemed as if dropping the atomic bomb would be inevitable. According to his early Presbyterian beliefs, he must have considered that as a result of God’s mighty hand. Therefore, he would feel that it was God who made the decision, not himself. As a result, he would not have felt as guilty about the decision.
Even though Truman was clearly open to other religions, he still felt that Christianity was best. He felt that Christian morals were the best ones in creating a moral nation.
There are many moral and religious codes in the world. In my opinion, the moral code
of the Christian religion is about as good as there is. The Muslims have a code based
closely on the Christian precepts, and the Buddhists have a moral code that is excellent,
as do the Confucians.
Even though Truman clearly believed that Christianity and democracy were superior, he oftentimes pushed for ideas attempting to achieve world peace. After World War II, he was a strong advocate of the United Nations as an attempt to end war. Concerning the possibility of attaining world peace, Truman made remarks on July 11, 1946 to members of the Conference on Emergency Problems in Higher Education.
It would be easy to create a world peace if everybody in the world spoke the same
language and read the same newspapers, and had a code of morals based on the
necessity for people to live together. Unless we have a code of morals which respects
the other fellow’s interest, you never can maintain peace."
However, in a statement on April 10, 1949, concerning the atomic bomb, Truman said, "If a (decision to use the bomb) had to be made for the welfare of the United States and the democracies of the world, I wouldn’t hesitate to make it again."
This seems to make Truman a little bit more complex. He understood apathy for other religions and cultures; however, he truly believed in democracy as a God-given way, and would do whatever was necessary in order to protect its institution, even if that meant dropping the atomic bomb again, for which he was severely criticized by several Christian groups.
The beliefs of Darwinism intermingled with predestination seem to permeate throughout Truman’s belief system. Why is this significant? It seems that if combining survival of the fittest with the idea of "God’s chosen" leads to the belief that democracy is superior to any other form of government. This has already been demonstrated: Consider Truman’s own thoughts on the subject as well as the fact that democracy, both in the United States and in France, originated after a failing repressive monarchy. Truman’s argument would even be stronger today with the fall of communism in Russia in 1991. However, what has yet to be shown is how this leads to the dropping of the bomb. As Truman pointed out himself, he was not scared to use the bomb to protect his "American boys" or his democratic government. As a result of American being "chosen" by God, Truman could easily deduce that in light of the circumstances, the bomb must be dropped to save democracy.
A final teaching from the catechism conveys the importance of the Ten Commandments. The catechism declares that "The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments." Thus, the Ten Commandments become vitally important to obey. Anything found in them would therefore be important for Truman to follow. Truman greatly admired the Ten Commandments later in his life. In his swearing in ceremony, he had Chief Justice Sloan turn the Bible to the twentieth chapter of Exodus, where the commandments are found. Truman believed, "The Old Testament and the New Will give you a way of life that will cause you to live happily."
It must be noted that Truman was not a theologian. He would not have had the catechisms memorized. However, the teachings from and the implications of them would have been ingrained into his mind, as has already been demonstrated through some of his actions and thoughts. In fact, critic Robert S. Alley even pointed out that "in all his actions, Mr. Truman had a unique way of injecting religion into policy. From the earliest period of his administration he had requested prayer for his office." There is no doubt this resulted from his religious upbringing.
Another important Presbyterian belief involves war. In an oral interview, Pastor Marty Thomas of St. Charles Presbyterian Church in St. Charles, Missouri stated, "The shorter catechism doesn’t specifically name war, but it does convey the idea of good and evil and the need for good to combat evil and overcome it." This teaching would compel Truman even more so to justifying his decision. It was Truman’s responsibility, as being one of the good and being one of the elected, to combat the evil forces in Japan and win. This teaching alone could justify Truman’s decision.
Truman’s history with the Baptist church began formally at age eighteen, but its roots extend much deeper. As Truman explained in his own book, Mr. Citizen, not only had he been a long time member of the Baptist Church, but so had his Grandfather Truman, Grandmother Truman, and Grandmother Young. In addition to the religious training he had received up to this point in his career, it is clear to see why a young man so enthralled with history would choose the faith of his forefathers. Thus, it is of great interest to note some of the Baptist beliefs that became very influential in Truman’s great decision.
The Baptists have a strong belief in morality among their members. Reverend E.Y. Mullins, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the leading seminary among the Southern Baptists, wrote a book titled Baptist Beliefs. He wrote the book in 1912, about the time of Truman’s conversion. Concerning Baptists members, he said, "Members of our churches should stand for all forms of righteousness, not only in their own personal life, but in public life as well."
The first Baptist teaching that becomes an issue in Truman’s life concerning the decision is what the Baptists define as "all forms of righteousness." The New Hampshire Declaration of Faith was passed in 1742 to proclaim the beliefs of Baptists publicly. Point XVII, titled "of the Righteous and the Wicked," declared:
[We believe] that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous
and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his
esteem; while all such as continue in unrepentance and unbelief are in his sight
wicked, and under the curse; and this distinction holds among men both in and
after death.
Therefore, according to Baptist doctrine there is a great distinction between the righteous, or saved, and the wicked, or unsaved. This is slightly contradictory to the Presbyterian beliefs that Truman grew up with. Nonetheless, Truman accepted the Baptist view of salvation.
At this point, it is important to grasp some understanding of Japan’s religion, particularly in the perspective of a Baptist during the forties. Two religions are necessary to mention. At the time of World War II, Buddhism and Shintoism were nearly equal as the dominant religions in Japan. Shinto religion had thirteen sects with a total of 110,437 Shinto shrines, while Buddhism had twelve sects with a total of 106,634 Buddhist temples. There was no State religion and all faiths were tolerated, but there were only 2,104 Christian churches. Rather than one god, as in Christianity, Shinto has eight million Nature gods; this accounts for one of the great differences between the two religions. To the Americans, Shinto and Buddhism seemed to present fundamental contradictions. Shinto was considered conservative, with the idea of the emperor as god-like, while Buddhism was associated with social progress and advances in education, arts, and crafts. These two religions didn’t seem to fit together in the minds of Westerners.
Believing in the idea of one God, as declared in Ephesians 4:6, "one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all," Baptists were strongly against the idea of Shinto or Buddhism. Presbyterians believed strongly that the code of morality was written in the Ten Commandments. With his background in both religious cultures, Truman must have been somewhat distressed by the Japanese religious culture. Note the first three of the Ten Commandments:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down
thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.
The significance of this resounds around the fact that Baptists don’t see any morality in having other gods. This, of course, is vastly different than what the Shinto religion believes. Thus, Christians are immediately at odds with the Japanese. Therefore, the conflict of religions allowed Truman to come one step closer to making his decision.
However, as noted, Truman didn’t seem too concerned with the different gods, at least in America. Rather than making a clear-cut distinction in the two nations over the issue of religions, it was more the government that Truman was concerned with.
Along with this idea of differences between the wicked and the good, is the Judgment. The end result is where the distinction among different religions is most clearly made. For this reason and because the Baptists had a linear view of history, it is important to understand what Truman and other Baptists hoped to gain in the end.
According to Reverend Mullins, all men will have to appear before the judgement seat and be discriminated according to moral character. This is a result of conditions previously existing. The idea of "conditions which had previously existed" is valuable in this instance. It would help Truman in his decision by allowing him to understand that these conditions already existed, thus they are not likely to change. Thus, according to Baptist beliefs, the Japanese who worship these other religions would not likely to be saved anyway.
Another important teaching for Truman was the Baptists’ belief of history. It should be noted that Truman’s favorite subject in school was history. His favorite teacher in high school was his history teacher, Miss Margaret Phelps. This was also the class he most enjoyed, as well as the subject in which he excelled. Truman’s decision for his religious preference came from his love for history, and as a result, his choice of religions affected his decision to drop the bomb.
According to the Baptist beliefs, the Bible presents history from the linear approach rather than the cyclic. This linear approach has an ultimate end that God determines. This was also taught by the Presbyterians. As a result, Truman like other Baptists believed that events are directed by God and moving linearly toward a purpose. Considering the situation that Truman steps into, it is clear why this proves to be important in his decision making process.
Another Baptist doctrine of Baptists that affected Truman’s decision making is that of education. This indicates Truman’s strong belief in knowledge of the Bible. The Baptists place a high value on Christian education in order to foster a regenerate life in which "all the powers of man are alive and demand satisfaction," met only through education. Christian education must be fostered. In order to foster such education, the first place to start is the Holy Bible. Because of such a belief, even today Baptists teach their children to read the Bible and memorize it. This is key in Truman’s development as a person. Reading and knowing the Bible played a great role in his decision to drop the atomic bomb as well as other decisions he faced as President, notably the decision to recognize the nation of Israel.
The most important teaching of the Baptists is found in The Baptist Faith and Message. It should be noted that this statement was adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1962, many years after World War II. However, many of these same teachings were found in various forms in the Baptist church, though not so clearly defined. Much of the statement simply restated what the New Hampshire Confession said, put it into modern language and added a few new points.
One of the new and last points, titled, "Peace and War," states,
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of
righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should
do all in their power to put an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of
the world is the acceptance of His teachings in al the affairs of men and nations,
and the practical application of His law of love.
The key statement in this declaration is that Christians should "do all in their power to put an end to war." This was a foundational point that Truman put into action by his decision to drop the bomb on Japan.
More important than what the church or denomination teaches is what each individual takes out of those teachings and way that person applies them to his or her life. However, it is in this application of the basic teachings of the church that slight differences are created in the final, internal belief system of each human being. The reason is simply due to the individuality of each person in the church congregation.
Interpreting and applying correctly was how Truman saw things. Concerning the interpretation, he believed "a lot of the world’s troubles have been caused by the interpretation of the Gospels and the controversies between sects and creeds." It was applying it though that Truman felt most strongly about. He thought religion was "something to live by and not talk about."
One area of application, subject to differing degrees, is the education principle taught by the Baptist doctrine. Being the only president of the twentieth century not to attend college seems somewhat ironic considering this facet. While heavy emphasis is put on education, Truman was not as educated as most in his position of leadership. However, Truman was self-taught. Reading was an enjoyable experience for Truman. "It was just something you did," Truman explained later. His parents, John and Martha Ellen, affectionately called Matt or Mattie, encouraged him to read, which he did constantly. He read everything from Plutarch to Shakespeare to the Bible twice, all by age twelve. Not only did Truman read through the Bible twice by the time he was twelve, he would bragged about reading it three times through by the time he was thirteen or fourteen. The Bible was one of the Baptist doctrines his parents had learned as children, they in turn expressed its importance to their children. Again, its easy to see how some of his parents’ Baptist beliefs influenced Harry’s life.
As a young child, equipped with the knowledge of the Bible, he experienced disappointment in the way people behaved. Early in the morning, oftentimes, Truman would see the "good church members" come in for drinks of whiskey, check the peep hole to make sure no one was around, then depart as if nothing had happened. These incidents, along with other experiences in his life, would cause him to have a very pessimistic view of humans and their ability to live holy lives.
Since childhood at my mother’s knee, I have believed in honor, ethics and right
living as its own reward. I find a very small minority who agree with me on that
premise. For instance, I picked a West Pointer, son of an honorable father, a man
who should have had Washington, Lee, Jackson, Gustavus Adolphus for his
ideals, to associate with me in carrying out a program and I got – a dud, a
weakling, no ideals, no nothing. He’d use his office for his own enrichment, he’s
not true to his wife ( and a man not honorable in his marital relations is not
usually honorable in any other). He’d sell me or anyone else he’s associated with
out for his own gain . . .
Truman puts forth several powerful principles in this excerpt. First of all, he was one who read the Bible from an early age; therefore, he knew the ideals inside the Bible. He also knew that people didn’t always live by those ideals, as the distinction is made once again of the distinction between the wicked and the good, a teaching derived from his Presbyterian roots, as well as his Baptist beliefs.
Truman was one to take to heart what he was taught and not get caught up in the denominationalism of everything. In trying to convince his strict future mother-in-law that he was a good Christian, he said, "I am by religion like everything else. I think there’s more in acting than in talking." To be able to fully appreciate Truman’s comment, one must look back to the personal history between the two. In Mrs. Madge Wallace’s eyes, Truman was never good enough for her daughter, even after he became President. Nonetheless, Harry continued to pursue his childhood sweetheart, Bess.
At the time when Truman made this statement, he had already converted to the Baptist church. However, the Wallace family had also abandoned the Presbyterian church, converting to the Episcopal Church. It was there, the Episcopal Church, that both Bess and later Margaret attended services.
Truman believed strongly in religious practices. He was a faithful attendee at Grandview Baptist Church in Independence, and when in Washington, First Baptist Church. He even went so far as to memorize a prayer that he would often recite.
Oh Almighty and Everlasting God, Creator of Heaven, Earth and the Universe –
Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right; make me truthful,
honest and honorable in all things, make me intellectually honest for the sake of
right and honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be
charitable, forgiving and patient with my fellowmen – help me to understand their
motives and their shortcomings – even as Thou understandest mine!
Memorizing a prayer of this magnitude indicates some religious dedication. Truman desired to do "what is right, because it is right." This was one of Truman’s greatest hopes, to simply do what was right, not for a reward, but simply because it was right.
The first true national public declaration of his Christian stances on issues came after World War II began. On October 29, 1939, on a Moral Rearmament radio program, the Senator from Missouri debated with several other well respected leaders of the time including Dr. Frank N.D. Backman, Rear Admiral Richards Byrnd, and Herbert Elvin. During the session, he expounded Christian virtues of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love, which form the bedrock of national character, and which enlist the citizens of a democracy in constructive national service. He expounded these ideals for the whole nation, believing that all Americans should live by this code. He strongly believed in the moral code of Christianity as the way for happy living.
Concerning his views on education, Truman reflected the Baptists’ strong beliefs in its importance. In 1942, he said, "I didn’t want the young men years from now doing what our young men are doing now." Truman’s religious background is once again seen being put into practice. Though seemingly insignificant, the Baptists’ teaching on education is vitally important because it has been demonstrated that Truman reflected the beliefs of this particular denomination, thus demonstrating the application of the teachings in his life and the general influence of the Baptist denomination on his life.
Several people close to Truman as well as historians have noted Truman’s moral character. Historian Eric Sevareid, who observed much of Truman’s history close up said, "I am not sure he was right about the atomic bomb, or even Korea. But, remembering him reminds people what a man in that office ought to be like. It’s character, just character. He stands like a rock in memory now."
During the time Truman served in World War I, he distinguished himself by his character. First Lieutenant Edgar Hinde of Independence would remember, "I never saw him do anything out of the way that would be questionable in the way of a moral situation. He was clean all the way through. I always admired him for that quality and you know when a man’s in the Army, why his morals get a pretty good test."
In discussing what type of a moral man Truman was, it is important to consider both sides of the story. It has been well documented by several historians, including in Truman’s own Memoirs, that he was not considered to be the perfect Christian. One story that has been told a number of times concerns Truman’s language. One particular distinguished lady, upset by Truman using the phrase "a bunch of horse manure," brought the complaint to Bess Truman who calmly responded, "You don’t know how many years it took me to tone it down to that." He would oftentimes slip in "hell" or "damn" into some of his public utterances, therefore tarnishing his Christian character.
It must be noted that part of the Baptist doctrines includes a call to "sanctification." The "fundamental laws" of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the leading Baptist seminary of the time, surely would have produced many of Truman’s pastors, and thus had an impact on his view of theology. According to the "fundamental laws," sanctification is described as "progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in corial obedience to all Christ’s commands." To truly understand this statement, we must turn our attention to Point VIII. In which regeneration is defined.
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the
dead in trespasses and sins enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to
understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love
and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
Turning to the Bible to find some of the lessons that Truman violated will demonstrate some of Truman's failures. This is key in trying to understand just how important it is going to be for Truman, when making such a decision, to consult the Bible or God through prayer. In the King James Version, Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." As was demonstrated above, Truman didn’t follow that teaching completely as taught by the Baptist doctrine.
The attempt here is not to sift through the entire Bible teaching by teaching pointing out Truman’s short-comings, but simply to try to make a point that is key to understanding Truman. According to the Baptists’ definition of sanctification, Truman had not reached the level of perfection, which is a continual process. This argument shows that Truman was unable to live the perfect Baptist life. Critics have argued that because of this fact, Truman didn’t rely on the Bible or his morality when confronting the decision. However, it is clear from above statements that Truman did desire to do what is right for the simple satisfaction of doing the right thing. Thus, according to Truman’s own definition of the moral code, he did rely on the Bible as his guide.
The next concept to take into account is the situation that Truman, upon taking the oath of the presidency, finds himself in and the historical development of the decision prior to this occasion. This will be vitally important in understanding the impact of Truman’s religious background along the decision process.
Truman’s knowledge of the atomic bomb began when he was a senator with his first encounter of the Manhatten Project in 1943. He was chair of the Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, which soon became known as the Truman Committee. He called the Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, inquiring about a project he had vaguely heard of, which was costing the government a lot of money. Their phone conversation didn’t provide a whole lot of information, but gave Truman an introduction to a monumental weapon being created. Upon being told by Stimson that it was a part of a very important secret development, Truman heard all that he needed to here. Trusting Stimson to be a man of his word, he simply responded, "Well, all right then." Truman’s first encounter with the project would prove to be useless, as will later be observed.
Odd as though it may seem, Truman was primarily kept in the dark during his time as vice president concerning the Manhatten Project. This was due in part to President Roosevelt’s leadership style. He chose to keep only a few people in his inner ring of knowledge about this "important secret development." Thus, his next encounter with the project with was the night he became President. After being sworn into office by Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone, he called a special cabinet meeting to set things in order for the new administration. During this meeting held at the Blair House, where the Vice President and his family lived, Truman told them that he planned on following Roosevelt’s foreign and domestic policies. He also stated that he was going to be "President in my own right." He went on to tell them that he wanted their advice, but he would be the one making the final decisions. In other words, as he would be famous for saying, "The buck stops here." This leadership style was a key feature of the decision process, as Truman tried to determine what his policy would be concerning the bomb. This respect for leaders is also a result of his religious teachings. He would have received this teaching not only from his Baptist Church and his Presbyterian childhood, but also from the community at large and the public school system. In 1 Peter 2:17, it says, "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." Jesus also declared, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s." Truman took these basic concepts and confronted the issue of how to follow in Roosevelt’s footsteps. He felt very inclined to respect Roosevelt. The greatest honor one can give a man is to follow in a man’s steps. Truman would later speak of the situation Roosevelt had left him with.
When President Roosevelt authorized the vast undertaking to develop an atomic bomb,
he had but one purpose – to hasten the winning of a war that had been forced on us. We
were in a frenzied race with Nazi Germany to be the first to produce an atomic weapon.
At that time the Germans were believed to be ahead of us. We knew that if Hitler were
the first to succeed, our allies and we would find us in a hopeless position.
Truman had great respect for Roosevelt; Truman wanted to immolate what Roosevelt would have done.
It is what occurs after the meeting and subsequent weeks thereafter that will prove most important in Truman’s decision making process. After the meeting Stimson stayed after, requesting to talk with Truman privately. During this brief time of explanation, Stimson, wanting to keep the project secret, didn’t use the term "atomic bomb," which in turned confused Truman more than inform him. Truman would later describe that encounter. After being asked if that was the first time he knew of the atomic bomb, he answered that he had no idea what Byrnes or Stimson told him that night. Though it appears nothing significant amounted from these first few encounters, it is important to recognize the short time-span that Truman had in attempting to correctly make possibly the largest decision of the century.
Truman would meet with Stimson several times over the month. His next meeting would take place on April 26. In order to avoid the media speculation, General Leslie Groves, who was in charge of the Manhatten Project, joined the other two arriving later through the back door of the White House. During this meeting, Stimson made it clear to Truman the bomb’s possible devastating effects. He handed him a memorandum that said, "Within four months we shall in all probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human history, one bomb that could destroy a whole city." When Groves arrived, he had a twenty-four-page report of his own predicting that the bomb could be tested in the middle of July. Truman quickly took action, selecting an Interim Committee to look into the decision he would most certainly face. He made Stimson chairman of the committee, along with several other respected people such as James Bryant Conant, President of Harvard and Chairman of the National Defense Research Committee, Karl Compton, president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vannevear Bush, President of Carnage Institute in Washington and Director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, Ralph Bad, Under Secretary of the Navy, William Clapton, Assistant Secretary of State of Economic Affairs, George Harrison, President of the New York Life Insurance Company, and finally Secretary of State James Byrnes, who served as Truman’s personal representative. After four meetings, they concluded that the bomb should be used against Japan "as soon as possible, against war plants surrounded by hoses and without warning."
On July 18, with the Potsdam Conference freshly underway, Stimson received a memo of the terribly devastating effects of the bomb after testing it in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Upon being told, Truman, immediately requested a full-detailed report which Groves and Brigadier General Thomas F. Farrell provided July 16, after working on it two days and two nights.
This was the setting with which President Truman was confronted. Having been thrown into the situation, he consulted his religious beliefs of respect and honor of all, weighing all the pros, cons, along with all of the advice and his own personal convictions. According to Truman’s beliefs, he heavily valued character. He wanted to be a man of moral character. He believed that "a person has to be guided in the proper direction under a moral code" and that "the Christian religion is about as good as there is." According to his pastor, Welbern Bowman, prayer was a part of Truman’s life. Thus, it can be safely assumed that Truman clearly sought out the Almighty in the most trying time of his life.
Another historian agrees with this assessment. Richard Lawrence Miller in his book titled Truman: The Rise to Power, declared that "Harry’s spiritual knowledge guided his conduct. Harry referred to certain biblical passages again and again which were the foundations of his public policies." According to his daughter Margaret, the decision to use the bomb was one that Truman thought over extensively. "Dad had been wrestling with the atom bomb and the plans to end the Japanese war almost continuously since his April conference with Secretary of War Stimson." By Combining Miller’s statement with that of Margaret Truman, a conclusion can be drawn that Truman oftentimes needed to consult the Bible and God through prayer, as was his custom. This was his way of life. This is how he and all Baptists were taught to make decisions, by prayer and reading of the Word.
However, it is vitally important that we understand his thinking at the time. Having to reflect on the decision and its aftermath, Truman was asked, "Did you ever have second thoughts on dropping the bomb?" He answered,
It was a question of saving hundreds of thousands of American lives. I don’t
mind telling you that you don’t feel normal when you have to plan hundreds of
thousands of complete final deaths of American boys who are alive and joking
and having fun while you are doing your planning. You break your heart and
your head trying to figure out a way to save one life.
The name given our invasion plan was Olympic, but I saw nothing godly about
the killing of all the people that would be necessary to make that invasion. The
casualty estimated called for 750,000 Americans – 250,000 killed; 500,000
maimed for life.
I could not worry about what history would say about my personal morality. I
made the only decision I ever knew how to make. I did what I thought was
right.
What Truman thought was "right" was a combination of Presbyterian and Baptist beliefs of the early twentieth century and his application to his personal life. Thus, as the teachings fit well together into making the decision possible, it is evident to see the tremendous impact of such religious teachings.
It must be noted that not all Christians agreed with Truman’s decision. Three days after the bombing on Hiroshima, Samuel McCrea Cavert, General Secretary of the Federal Council of Churches, sent a telegram to Truman expressing that "many Christians are deeply disturbed over the use of atomic bombs against Japanese cities . . . because their use sets an extremely dangerous precedent for the future of mankind." Truman replied, stating,
Nobody is more disturbed over the use of Atomic bombs than I am but I was greatly
disturbed over the unwarranted attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and their murder
of our prisoners of war. The only language they seem to understand is the one we have
been using to bombard them.
When you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him as a beast. It is most
regrettable, but nevertheless true.
Several notions must be understood. The Presbyterian and Baptist teachings must be identified and understood to gain insight into Truman’s inner thoughts. Even more importantly are his personal religious views. Because of the distinction being made between wicked and righteous, it makes it possible for someone from those religious backgrounds to label the Japanese as wicked, thus justification for the decision to use the bomb. Also, Truman’s love and belief in democracy must clearly be understood. He placed democracy far above any other government. It also must be understood that the decision was not completely made as a result of Truman’s religious values, but rather these beliefs played a large factor in the final decision.
Being thrown into the fire causes one to rely on what they know best. In this case, Truman didn’t know a lot about foreign affairs. Upon being inaugurated, he told his first postmaster general, "I know nothing of foreign affairs, and I must acquaint myself with them at once." Thus, he had to rely on his knowledge of morality. When making such a grand decision, we all want to consult as many sources as possible, but when it comes down to it, it has to sit well within our own souls.