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DECISION
TO DROP THE BOMB
 In
recent years historians and policy analysts have questioned
President Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb against
Japan. For President Truman, the decision was a clear-cut
one. In 1945, America was weary of war. Japan was a hated
enemy. The nation feared the cost of invading the Japanese
mainland.
As
visitors walk through this section, an audio loop program
plays throughout the space with veteran testimonies about
the end of the war. In addition to the audio loop, there
are also four video monitors running silent video programs
on four different topics that set the scene leading up to
the decision to drop the bomb on Japan: the fierce fighting
on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the firebombing of Japan, anti-Japanese
war propaganda, and the race to build the bomb.
 Above
the video screens is a series of scrolling messages in lights
giving statistics about the war, such as casualty figures
in various battles, the cost to build the bomb, etc. Displayed
in a case is the map of Japan that was used by Presidents
Roosevelt and Truman in the White House Map Room to plan
the final campaign of the war against Japan.
A portion
of this area will also be devoted to an "In His Own Words"
flipbook in which Truman discusses the atomic bomb, and
there are also quotations from contemporaries and historians
both praising and condemning Truman's decision to use the
atomic bomb.
Featured
document in this section of the exhibit:
-
Secretary
of War to Harry S. Truman, July 30, 1945, with Truman's
handwritten note on reverse, regarding the readiness of
the atomic bomb and Truman's approval to release it on
Hiroshima. Papers of George M. Elsey. (2
pages)
Truman:
In His Own Words
- Diary
entry of Harry S. Truman, July 17, 1945, describing his
first meeting with Stalin at Potsdam and expressing optimism
in “handling” Stalin, as well as a reference to
the atomic bomb. Papers of Harry S. Truman: President’s
Secretary’s File. (1
page)
- Diary
entry of Harry S. Truman, July 18, 1945, recounting meeting
with Stalin and Truman’s intention of telling him about
the bomb, as well as mentioning that the Japanese will surrender
once Manhattan (the atomic bomb) is released on them. Papers
of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's File. (2
pages)
- Diary
entry of Harry S. Truman, July 25, 1945, in which he reflects
on the atomic bomb tests and the destructiveness of it,
and the plan for using the bomb on military targets only.
Papers of Harry S. Truman: President’s Secretary’s
File. (2
pages)
- Letter,
Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace Truman, July 31, 1945, describing
negotiations among the Allies in Berlin. Papers of Harry
S. Truman: Family, Business, and Personal Affairs File.
(4
pages)
- Correspondence
between Richard Russell and Harry S. Truman, August 7 and
9, 1945, regarding the situation with Japan. Papers of Harry
S. Truman: Official File. (5
pages)
- Correspondence
between Samuel M. Cavert and Harry S. Truman, August 9 and
11, 1945, regarding the situation with Japan. Papers of
Harry S. Truman: Official File. (3
pages)
- Handwritten
speech draft, December 15, 1945, detailing Truman’s
feelings on his decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.
Papers of Harry S. Truman: President’s Secretary’s
File. (14
pages)
- Correspondence
between Irv Kupcinet and Harry S. Truman, including draft
copies of Truman’s letter, July 30 and August 5, 1963,
responding to Mr. Kupcinet’s column in the Chicago
Sun-Times about the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan.
Papers of Harry S. Truman: Post-Presidential Files. (4
pages)
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