Compare and contrast the president of Harry S. Truman and Theodore Roosevelt.

History has offered a variety of presidents to the U.S. Some were known as fighters, others were known as being peaceful, while there were even some who were known for their wisdom. Two such presidents were Theodore Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Although their presidencies were in different eras they both had the same basis for their presidency. Both Roosevelt and Truman were Vice presidents, who intern became presidents after the former president died. Their leadership was bounded by their passion to help the economy. Roosevelt graduated from Harvard University in 1880. He was a member of New York State Assembly. He moved to North Dakota after the death of his wife, where lived on his ranch, then returned to New York City in 1886, where he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as a member of the United States Civil Service Commission. Truman’s presidency was very busy, seeing the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, and to the formation of the United Nations, then most of the Korean War. No matter the time era both Roosevelt and Truman differed and compared by their stance on the economy, domestic issues, and way of leadership.

With the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, not quite 43, became the youngest President in the Nation's history. He was born in New York City in 1858 into a wealthy family, but he too struggled against ill health. During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt was lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rider Regiment, which he led on a charge at the battle of San Juan. As President, Roosevelt held the idea that the Government should be the great judge of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation, especially between capital and labor, guaranteeing justice to each and giving favors to those in time of need.

Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, in 1884. He grew up in independence, and for 12 years prospered as a Missouri farmer. He went to France during World War I as a captain in the Field Artillery. Returning, he married Elizabeth Wallace, and opened a shop in Kansas City. Active in the Democratic Party, Truman was elected as a judge of the Jackson County Court. During World War II he headed the Senate war investigating committee, checking into waste and corruption and saving as much as 15 billion dollars.

With Roosevelt’s domestic plan he emerged as a trust-buster by forcing the closure of a great railroad company in the Northwest. His anthracite coal strike showed his concern for the people and laborers. Then placed other anti-trust suits under the Sherman Act that followed. Also by placing his Square Deal he brought the Hepburn Act, which strengthened the ICC and the Pure Food& Drug Act. Roosevelt also ensured the construction of the Panama Canal. His effect to the Monroe Doctrine prevented the establishment of foreign bases in the Caribbean and limited the right of the intervention in Latin America to the United States.

Truman became president during the middle of the WWII (due to FDR’s death) thus taking over WWII. As President, Truman made some of the most crucial decisions in history. Soon after V-E Day, the war against Japan had reached it’s final stage. An urgent plea to Japan to surrender was rejected. So Truman ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on cities involved to war work. Including Hiroshima and Nagasaki where the Japanese quickly surrendered. Truman’s presidency was not just based on that one event yet he also had some good deeds included in his presidency. He presented to Congress a 21-point program, proposing the expansion of Social Security, a full-employment program. It became known as the Fair Deal.

Even though Roosevelt and Truman were raised in different time periods they were quite alike and different in many ways. Roosevelt was an energetic young man due from his many illnesses. While Truman was not a country boy, active boy, yet Truman’s presidency was very active. The war against Japan had reached it’s final stage as Truman ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on cities involved to war work. Whereas Roosevelt showed his concern for the people and laborers, by placing anti-trust suits under the Sherman Act. Also by placing his Square Deal he brought the Hepburn Act, which strengthened the ICC and the Pure Food& Drug Act. These two were indeed different in time yet each showed their concern for the nation by placing social security and even trust-busting.