Harry Truman

             Truman was the 33rd President of the United States. Born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri, truman had no middle name. When asked, his parents said they gave him the middle initial "S" to appease two family relatives. At age six, his family modeled thick glasses to correct his poor eyesight. In 1901, Truman graduated from high school, uncertain of his future. For the following ten years, Truman was a successful farmer. Throughout this time, his political affiliation was revealed. He joined the local Democratic Party organization, known as the Kansas City Ward Democratic Club. In 1915, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He began his training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, but then returned to Missouri to help recruit others. He was then elected first lieutenant by Missouri's Second Field Artillery. World War I began in 1914 creating friction amongst the European people, along with hostility and violence. Even though the United States wanted to remain neutral, they were drawn in during April of 1917. Truman left for France as a captain in the U.S.Army. He was given command of Battery D, a rowdy and out of control group, otherwise known as Dizzy D. Truman succeeded in taming his unit, and the Dizzy D distinguished themselves through the battles of Argonne and Saint-Mihiel. In April of 1919, Truman returned home, now as a major. On June 28th of the same year, he married. Truman decided to spark his political career. So he started by entering a four way Democratic primary for a judgeship, which was essentially a job supervising roads and buildings. His popularity was expected to increase if he got the support of the Ku Klux Klan, but Truman turned down this idea. Even so, by campaigning his wartime record and his past history, Truman won the primary of the election. In January of 1923, he was sworn into his first public office. One year later his only daughter, Mary Margaret, was born. During his time as a judge, he improved roads and reduced the inherited debt.