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Mr. Citizen
315 pages - photo illustrated
315 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1953
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Harry Truman
286 books70 followersHarry S. Truman was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953). As vice president, he succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt, who died less than three months after he began his fourth term.
During World War I Truman served as an artillery officer. After the war he became part of the political machine of Tom Pendergast and was elected a county judge in Missouri and eventually a United States Senator. After he gained national prominence as head of the wartime Truman Committee, Truman replaced vice president Henry A. Wallace as Roosevelt's running mate in 1944.
As president, Truman faced challenge after challenge in domestic affairs. The disorderly reconversion of the economy of the United States was marked by severe shortages, numerous strikes, and the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act over his veto. He confounded all predictions to win re-election in 1948, largely due to his famous Whistle Stop Tour of rural America. After his re-election he was able to pass only one of the proposals in his Fair Deal program. He used executive orders to begin desegregation of the U.S. armed forces and to launch a system of loyalty checks to remove thousands of communist sympathizers from government office, even though he strongly opposed mandatory loyalty oaths for governmental employees, a stance that led to charges that his administration was soft on communism. Truman's presidency was also eventful in foreign affairs, with the end of World War II and his decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, the beginning of the Cold War, the creation of NATO, and the Korean War. Corruption in Truman's administration reached the cabinet and senior White House staff. Republicans made corruption a central issue in the 1952 campaign.
Truman, whose demeanor was very different from that of the patrician Roosevelt, was a folksy, unassuming president. He popularized such phrases as "The buck stops here" and "If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen." He overcame the low expectations of many political observers who compared him unfavorably with his highly regarded predecessor. At one point in his second term, near the end of the Korean War, Truman's public opinion ratings reached the lowest of any United States president, but popular and scholarly assessments of his presidency became more positive after his retirement from politics and the publication of his memoirs. He died in 1972. Many U.S. scholars today rank him among the top ten presidents. Truman's legendary upset victory in 1948 over Thomas E. Dewey is routinely invoked by underdog presidential candidates.
During World War I Truman served as an artillery officer. After the war he became part of the political machine of Tom Pendergast and was elected a county judge in Missouri and eventually a United States Senator. After he gained national prominence as head of the wartime Truman Committee, Truman replaced vice president Henry A. Wallace as Roosevelt's running mate in 1944.
As president, Truman faced challenge after challenge in domestic affairs. The disorderly reconversion of the economy of the United States was marked by severe shortages, numerous strikes, and the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act over his veto. He confounded all predictions to win re-election in 1948, largely due to his famous Whistle Stop Tour of rural America. After his re-election he was able to pass only one of the proposals in his Fair Deal program. He used executive orders to begin desegregation of the U.S. armed forces and to launch a system of loyalty checks to remove thousands of communist sympathizers from government office, even though he strongly opposed mandatory loyalty oaths for governmental employees, a stance that led to charges that his administration was soft on communism. Truman's presidency was also eventful in foreign affairs, with the end of World War II and his decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, the beginning of the Cold War, the creation of NATO, and the Korean War. Corruption in Truman's administration reached the cabinet and senior White House staff. Republicans made corruption a central issue in the 1952 campaign.
Truman, whose demeanor was very different from that of the patrician Roosevelt, was a folksy, unassuming president. He popularized such phrases as "The buck stops here" and "If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen." He overcame the low expectations of many political observers who compared him unfavorably with his highly regarded predecessor. At one point in his second term, near the end of the Korean War, Truman's public opinion ratings reached the lowest of any United States president, but popular and scholarly assessments of his presidency became more positive after his retirement from politics and the publication of his memoirs. He died in 1972. Many U.S. scholars today rank him among the top ten presidents. Truman's legendary upset victory in 1948 over Thomas E. Dewey is routinely invoked by underdog presidential candidates.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 4, 2016
I've long been interested in the Presidency and life of Harry Truman, but only recently got around to doing anything about that interest. Truman has a few different memoirs, but I chose this one because from what I read, "Mr. Citizen" was the only one that wasn't heavily ghostwritten. It focused primarily on his life after the Presidency, which was a good start for me. If I continue down this path I think I'll choose a biography for the next one.
Overall, I enjoyed this -- it's a little dense and wordy for a man who was famous for using simple words, but I know that's a product of the times. And I wish it had been a bit more about what his life was like rather than him just sharing opinions of how things ought to be. But, his book, his rules, I guess. Oh, Harry.
Overall, I enjoyed this -- it's a little dense and wordy for a man who was famous for using simple words, but I know that's a product of the times. And I wish it had been a bit more about what his life was like rather than him just sharing opinions of how things ought to be. But, his book, his rules, I guess. Oh, Harry.
November 5, 2014
A slow and brittle start, but Truman absolutely pours his heart and soul into his memoirs as president. Political historians will tell us that our 33rd president was incompetent and unqualified to be the nation's president. In the book, however, he gives his stance on threatening issues such as capitalism, the cold war, and the public education system. Strange thing, his predictions are actually accurate in what was to come.
July 16, 2015
Huge Truman fan, but I can only give this book three stars. I liked it but didn't love it. It has a rocky start, bashing Eisenhower while adding that he doesn't hold grudges. And the rest of the book meanders quite a bit. It's really a loose collection of essays. But I still have hope that his actual memoirs will turn out to be amazing. And leaving the little criticisms aside, this is still a decent book, worth reading for Truman fans or presidential history buffs.
November 5, 2017
A nice read. I recommend reading it on your front porch on a nice warm summer day, with a glass of ice tea or lemonade in hand - the conversational tone that Truman writes with will make you think you are having a lovely afternoon visit from the former president.
September 13, 2019
President Truman reflects on his personal values and life events with humor and style.
January 25, 2021
Short but quite dense, everything about this book stands in sharp contrast to the sensationalist sound bites we’ve become accustomed to...
January 5, 2023
It’s an amazing insight into the life of who many people can argue to be one of America’s best presidents. Truman gives a lot of his thoughts on his presidency, after presidency, and the presidents to come, but it’s all opinion with no factual basis. It’s similar to listening to an uncle or grandfather talk politics, but it doesn’t have any of “those people” and “that’s what’s wrong in the country today” tones.
Truman has a good way of expressing his opinion, but reminding the reader that’s just how he feels and he can understand the other side. As a democrat, he doesn’t stick to his one side belief but takes into account all views and beliefs into his decisions.
I got a kick out of listening to him talk about how much he loves his grandkids and what he eats for breakfast. He’s very genuine and honest.
It can be slow sometimes when he complains about Eisenhower and other presidents. It’s mostly his opinion on world events and presidential decisions. I would’ve liked more reflections on his decisions when he was president and not how he feels about others.
Truman has a good way of expressing his opinion, but reminding the reader that’s just how he feels and he can understand the other side. As a democrat, he doesn’t stick to his one side belief but takes into account all views and beliefs into his decisions.
I got a kick out of listening to him talk about how much he loves his grandkids and what he eats for breakfast. He’s very genuine and honest.
It can be slow sometimes when he complains about Eisenhower and other presidents. It’s mostly his opinion on world events and presidential decisions. I would’ve liked more reflections on his decisions when he was president and not how he feels about others.
June 23, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Remarkable Glimpse into a Humble Statesman
Mr. Citizen is a fascinating and refreshingly candid look at life after the presidency from one of America's most grounded and principled leaders. Written by Harry S. Truman himself, the book offers a series of reflections, anecdotes, and personal insights that shed light on his character and the values that guided his time in office—and beyond.
What stands out most is Truman’s humility. Despite having made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century, he returned home without fanfare, embracing life as a private citizen. His writing is honest, witty, and deeply thoughtful, especially when discussing democracy, public service, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
This isn’t a traditional political memoir—there’s no self-congratulation or revisionist spin. Instead, Mr. Citizen feels like a conversation with a trusted neighbor who just happened to have once led a nation.
A must-read for anyone interested in presidential history, civic engagement, or the enduring importance of integrity in leadership.
A Remarkable Glimpse into a Humble Statesman
Mr. Citizen is a fascinating and refreshingly candid look at life after the presidency from one of America's most grounded and principled leaders. Written by Harry S. Truman himself, the book offers a series of reflections, anecdotes, and personal insights that shed light on his character and the values that guided his time in office—and beyond.
What stands out most is Truman’s humility. Despite having made some of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century, he returned home without fanfare, embracing life as a private citizen. His writing is honest, witty, and deeply thoughtful, especially when discussing democracy, public service, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
This isn’t a traditional political memoir—there’s no self-congratulation or revisionist spin. Instead, Mr. Citizen feels like a conversation with a trusted neighbor who just happened to have once led a nation.
A must-read for anyone interested in presidential history, civic engagement, or the enduring importance of integrity in leadership.
May 23, 2025
Overall a very good book. Written well after he left office, it covers a variety of things. How he occupied his time after leaving, setting up his library, his feelings on (then) current international relations, and makes many keen observations and comments. His criticisms of other political figures are actually pretty few, and he doesn't really beat anyone up. He also doesn't go too deeply into any subject. I would have liked a deeper look into his war years and the decisions he had to make. I keep going from three to four stars on this one. Truman's style of writing is laid back and simple, like we were sitting on the porch and him telling his thoughts and memories.
June 26, 2024
Taking on tragedy and emerging in triumph while in transition from Cold War president to ordinary
American citizen.
American citizen.
March 21, 2009
In his book, Mr. Citizen, former President Harry S. Truman, describes what it was like to go from being the President of the United States to an ordinary citizen. After leaving Washington, D.C., he and his wife returned to their home in Independence, Missouri.
It was interesting reading this book because it gave some insight into a man that I've always admired from studying history. My wife and I live in Independence, and have visited his home and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy learning about important historical figures and those who liked President Truman.
It was interesting reading this book because it gave some insight into a man that I've always admired from studying history. My wife and I live in Independence, and have visited his home and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy learning about important historical figures and those who liked President Truman.
July 27, 2012
This was the first "adult book" that I ever read and finished, and I was only in the seventh grade! With that said, it's not a particularly difficult read. I had trouble with it,though, being that I was barely 13 years old, and it took me a long time to read, well over a month or even two. It's been a long, long time since I read this (almost 40 years ago), but I do remember being impressed with reading President Truman's personal conflict about dropping the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the logic that he used in making that decision. I might read it again as an adult!
June 10, 2013
Truman wrote this book after being President and it comes across in true straight-forward Truman style. It is inevitably a bit dated at times, but enjoyable throughout.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews