(1884–1972)
the 33rd US President (1945–53). He was Vice-president under Franklin D Roosevelt , replaced him when he died in 1945, and then won the 1948 election. He gave permission for the first atom bombs to be dropped on Japan. His government began the Marshall Plan and helped to establish the United Nations and NATO . Truman was strongly opposed to Communism. He began the Truman Doctrine and involved the US in the Korean War . He also began the Fair Deal programme which made him popular with ordinary people. Before becoming President, he represented Missouri in the US Senate as a Democrat.