President Truman, Character, and Statehood for Israel
Document Type
Webinar
Publication Date
4-2024
Abstract
President Truman, Character, and Statehood for Israel
(April 9, 2024) Session 1: Truman and Israel’s Statehood
(April 16, 2024) Session 2: The Legacy of the Nuremberg Trials
From the moment he accepted the office of the president in 1945, Harry S. Truman began building a reputation of determined moral leadership that would see him end his tenure as one of the most accomplished and consequential presidents in US history. Known for his fiery speaking style and steely resolve, “Give ‘em hell, Harry” helped shape American foreign policy in ways that are still felt today. In particular, President Truman had a profound effect on the history of Jews in the wake of World War II, famously recognizing the State of Israel only eleven minutes after its founding. He also played a crucial role in the Nuremberg Trials, which he hailed as “a new trail in international justice,” appointing Robert H. Jackson as Lead Prosecutor for the United States just two days after Hitler’s suicide. Learn about Truman the man and the magistrate, and discover the political context surrounding this extraordinary moment in time with beloved Roundtable expert Robert Watson.
Distinguished Professor Robert Watson is a historian and author, and served as an editor and contributor to the SUNY Press series on American presidents. He is the winner of the International Abraham Lincoln Award for his contributions to the study of the presidency, and a former candidate for the United States House of Representatives. In this illuminating two-session course, Watson takes a political historian’s look into the presidency of Harry S. Truman, his character and decision-making style, as well as the effects of his extraordinary leadership on Jewish history.
Host
Roundtable by The 92nd Street Y
City/State
New York, NY
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Recommended Citation
Watson, R. P. (2024, April 9 & 16). President Truman, character, and statehood for Israel [Webinar]. Roundtable by The 92nd Street Y, New York, NY, United States.
Comments
Two session live, virtual course given on April 9, 2024 and April 16, 2024.