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President Harry S. Truman. Source: Truman Library. |
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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).
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136.
The President's News Conference |
May 22, 1952
THE PRESIDENT. Please be seated.
[1.] I am sorry that I am 6 minutes late, but my clock over on the mantel that Admiral Nimitz 1 gave me is running slow these days. That is what made me late. I am going to have it adjusted. [Laughter]
1 Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz.
Q. Who gave the clock to you, Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT. Admiral Nimitz. It's a Navy clock--and it strikes bells.
[2.] I am very happy that the railroad strike is settled at last.2 And it could have been settled exactly as it was in 1950, but people sometimes can't understand that it is better to abide by the law than not.
2On May 21, the White House released a statement by John R. Steelman. The Assistant to the President, in which he announced that the dispute between the Nation's railroads and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Order of Railway Conductors, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen had been settled on that day. Mr. Steelman listed the provisions of the settlement and added that representatives of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, who had settled their disputes with the railroads a year before, had cooperated with him in his efforts to help the parties reach an agreement.
For the President's original order providing that the United States Army take control of and operate the railroads, see 1950 volume, this series, Item 221. For the President's letter to the Secretary of the Army directing him to terminate Government control, see Item 141, below.
I am appreciative of John Steelman's hard work in the matter, which finally brought the thing to a proper conclusion, and I hope from now on that the railroad labor and the railroad management will abide by the Railway Labor Act, which has been very successful up to this time.
This situation of seizure was brought about by the request of the unions themselves, so they haven't any kick on seizure, and management was in favor of it also.
The thing is over now, and just as quickly as I can get the papers signed, I will turn the roads back to the owners.
Now I am ready for questions.
[3.] Q. Mr. President, do you think that might be a good pattern for the steel settlement?
THE PRESIDENT. I can't comment on the steel settlement until the big Court down the street acts.3
3On June 2 the Supreme Court ruled the seizure of the steel plants unconstitutional.
[4.] Q. Mr. President, you made a speech the other day on tidelands,4 which speech I believe brought forth comment-as you well know. I wonder if you would like to modify or clarify any statements that you made in that speech on tidelands ?
THE PRESIDENT. No. I said what I meant. And I will go a little further with it when the bill comes to me. I don't like to comment on legislation until it is before me.5
4 See Item 129.
5 For the President's statement upon vetoing the bi ...
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