Truman

by Roy Jenkins

The founder of the Social Democratic Party of the U.K. profiles Harry S. Truman, with particular emphasis upon his political astuteness and solid accomplishments in international affairs, which succeeded despite the instability of the postwar world

Genres: History, Biography, Politics, Nonfiction, Presidents

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM PC was a Welsh politician. Once prominent as a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and government minister in the 1960s and 1970s, he became the first (and so far only) British President of the European Commission (1977-81) and one of the four principal founders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981. He was also a distinguished writer, especially of biographies.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, though not terribly well written book. Truman often comes across as naive, clumsy, impulsive and, at times, downright stupid. It's all the more surprising at the end to find Churchill saying he thought that no one during the postwar period did more to protect the world from the danger posed by Soviet Russia - and Jenkins apparently agrees with this. It makes you wonder whether intelligence isn't somewhat overrated.

The part I found most memorable concerned Truman's relationship with Kansas City machine boss Tom Pendergast, an unsavoury character who dominated Truman's early political career. When Truman met Stalin for the first time, his initial impression was positive. "I like Joe Stalin," he apparently said. "He reminds me of Pendergast."

[Teddy Dodger · Rating 4 out of 5]

No surprises that a British President of the European Commission would write a hagiography of the man who created NATO and the Marshall Plan (and criticise his Labour's predecessor's euroscepticism in the process). But recognizing the obvious bias's of the author, the result is still an interesting insight into the character of a humble farmer/grocer from the Midwest who found himself in charge of the post-war western world, and won the 1948 election despite the fact he was incredibly unpopular and his party had splintered to the left and to the right (an unpopular incumbent being re-elected may not be far off the mind in 2020).

Also amusing anecdotes about how he cared not for the British ('I have to see the limey king') and an insightful explanation for the Paul Hume incident (it was a letter that, normally, would have been written but unsent by Truman, a form of therapeutic venting. Unfortunately the letter was sent to Mr Hume, and published).

Truman left office more unpopular than Nixon was when he resigned, but the court historians, of whom Jenkins is surely one, have rehabilitated his image in light of his contributions to the modern Leviathan state.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a shorter and less detailed biography than McCullough's Pulitzer Prize winning bio of Harry Truman. This was the third presidential biography I've read recently written by a Brit, and I found the other two to be very well-written and providing an insight and fairness that objectivity can bring. In this case the author's nationality is a bit of a weakness, as he on a number of occasions looks at events in Truman's life through a British lens, comparing Truman to British politicians most North Americans have never heard of. While some events in Truman's life and presidency are covered well, other key events are all but ignored. It's not a bad book, it's quite interesting in spots, and it's not a long read, but if you're looking for a definitive Truman biography, you would need to look elsewhere.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat difficult read. For most of the book the author jumps back and forth across dates. I believe this is with the intent to focus on subject rather than a chronological sequence of events. However, I found this confusing and not at all that engaging. Truman appeared to have some admirable qualities and I think these could have been brought out in a more logical sequence if they were highlighted as he faced each new challenge. Still worth a read and likely a lot more engaging than his own memoirs which by account of this author are likely two volumes of rather dull writing.

[David]

A brief, apparently fair, and balanced account of Truman’s career.

[Ron Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenkins is no political pundit, but rather a professional politician cum historian. This is another succint but pithy work that is most readable. At least some (perhaps most) of Truman's pollitically relevant faults are visible in this work, which restricts itself to Truman's national political career. Jenkins work stands in contrast to David McCullough's later, rather hagiographic, biography.

An example of the difference of tone is that McCullough left me thinking that Ike's snubs of Truman were wholly gratuitous. Jenkins set me straight on that point while noting that Ike's behavior in this matter was less than wholly adult [indeed, he characterized the two of them as behaving like eight-year-olds]. On the other hand, Jenkins was, arguably, a bit more forcefully clear as to why Truman sacked MacArthur, why he should have done and why he should have done so considerably earlier -- with an interesting speculation as to how FDR might have handled the situation, had he lived so long.

For the full life of Truman (though to be read with an awareness that McCullough tends to expung all non-lauditory material), McCullough's 1100 page work is a good read. For a bit more reality testing, a bit more of the friction inevitable when decision makers have to make hard decisions -- and for a much quicker read -- Jenkins 200 page work is the better choice.

For the best view of Truman, read both.

[Francis O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather short book that was written as part of a series. It is perhaps more of an extended essay than a proper book. It has some good parts, but there are also areas where the writing is not quite so tight and passages that are difficult to follow. The early chapters are the best and the sequences about the various political infighting around presidential nominations. You don't get any real feeling for the Truman. He was someone who came to politics late in life and ended up as president, there is almost the sense that this happened by accident, but this cannot be right. There is also the feeling that he was defined by events rather than shaping them. the writing style is good but you feel that it could have done with a bit more care and time to make it a worthwhile effort. It is certainly some way off the standard achieved in later Churchill biography.

[Luke]

Very good book. Filled in a lot of history in terms of the US and of the US presidency for me.