Truman (1884-1972)

He entered politics as county judge and in 1935 became US Senator. He became Vice-President in 1944, succeeding as President after the death of Roosevelt in 1945. He ordered the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; enunciated the Truman Doctrine (1948) on the 'containment' of the Soviet Union; inaugurated the Marshall Plan for the economic recovery of Western Europe; and supported the formation of NATO. In 1950 he ordered the US engagement in Korea. In the course of the war he dismissed General MacArthur because of the laters desire to extend the war into China.