Presidents of the 1940s
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only United States President to serve more than two terms. Because he was elected to serve a fourth term, he not only was president during the 1930's but also for until he died in 1945. FDR was replaced by his vice president, fellow democrat Harry S Truman. The 1940's was a decade of war, hard decisions, and reconstruction that put enormous pressure onto the Presidents. WWII continued until 1945, when President Harry S Truman approved the use of Atomic Weapons on Japan and forced them to surrender, saving countless American Lives. After the war in the 1940's, the effects were still felt in Europe and the President was faced with the beginning of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Harry Truman
After FDR's death on April 12th, 1945, his final running mate took his place and became the 33rd President of the United States. With the help of allied forces, Truman ended WWII in victory for the U.S. Truman was no stranger to war, as he had served as an artillery officer in his National Guard while in France. After the war, he owned his own haberdashery for a brief time before joining the democratic political machine in his hometown of Kansas Missouri. Truman was first elected into public office as a county official and in 1935 he became a U.S Senator. After becoming president and defeating Nazi Germany in the biggest American war in history, Harry Truman was able to do many things for the Country politically and economically. He assisted in founding the United Nations and also passed the Truman Doctrine to stop the spread of communism during the Cold War. He also passed the Marshall Plan which used $13 billion dollars to begin to rebuild Europe after WWII.
In his second term, Truman was also able to lead the U.S in the Korean war which ended in victory in July of 1953. However Truman could not be President at that time because in the 1952 elections, the 22nd amendment was passed making it impossible for a President to serve three terms. After his presidency, he went home to live in his hometown of Missouri with his mother.
Fun Fact: Harry S Truman is his full name... His middle name is just the letter 'S'.
The 1940's are a time in US history that was not known for peace. The 1940s were a time of war. Even after WWII, the presidents were faced with conflicts with the Soviet Union, leading into the Cold War. Both President Roosevelt and Truman are rated very well despite the troubling times. With Roosevelt the second highest rated president and Truman coming in at #7. Truman was president through the second half of the 1940s, and all the way until 1953. Both presidents were highly respected for their leadership in such trying times in our nations history.