When Harry Truman left the presidency he was had a terrible popularity rate and for years was rated as one of the least successful presidents in United States history. Becoming president after the death of FDR during World War II he surprisingly was re-elected for a second term in 1948. During his second term Truman would contribute to the start of the Cold War and left office highly regarded as one of the least popular presidents of all time. Many factors contributed to this, many having to do with the begging of the cold war.

After Truman’s death in 1972 he started to get recognition has an honorable president. At the end of the cold war many argued that his policies and ideas at the begging were responsible for the war ending in U.S victory. It can be said that Truman was ahead of his time when it came to how he handled the start of the cold war. It can also be said that he got lucky with his policies and his mistakes did not cost him as much as they could have. In the end it seems his successes out did his failures and his public image is much stronger then it was when he was alive.

During the first stages of the Cold War many disapproved of Harry Truman and felt his mistakes in handling the situation were costly. Truman did make mistakes and miss-handled many situations at the begging of the War. One of his first failures can be his handling of Stalin and the polish government. Truman tried to “get tough” with Stalin and force him to allow free open elections in Poland which would have led to a democratic polish government and eventually another ally for the U.S. Stalin never budged and many felt it was due to Truman being weak. Truman was viewed as weak through out his second term by many people around him including Joseph McCarthy who accused Truman of allowing communist subversion in the U.S government. General Macarthur saw Truman has weak during the Korean War. The Korean War is another one of Truman’s failures. The Korean War was an attempt to hold back North Korea from spreading their communist influence in to South Korea.

The war ended in the loss of many American lives and only to leave Korea in a stalemate close to were the war started. The Korean War was responsible for a rapid decline in Truman’s public approval because he ended up firing General Macarthur for insubordination. Macarthur was a beloved General who was a world ware II hero. Another noted Truman Failure was that many felt he was responsible for the loss of China. Truman was criticized for getting involved in Chinas fight to retain its non communist government. Truman started to aid the Chiang Kai-shek led Chinese government who was fighting communism. Truman faltered because this was a weak corrupt group who had no chance to fight Mao Zedong’s communist group who controlled much of china already. China eventually went to Mao and became communist. The blame was put on Truman by many Americans; china was the key to a communist free peaceful world. These failures and mistakes cost Truman the Public approval for the time he was in office and up and until his death.

Truman was very active in cold war strategy and he took many steps to develop a strategy that was reflected through out the rest of the Cold War. After World War II is became clear that the U.S would never feel safe or function freely as long as the Soviet Union was in control of Eastern Europe and was a strong communist power. Truman’s first step against communist was the idea of containment. It is the idea that if the U.S could contain and isolate communism it would eventually fail and eliminate itself. The policy was introduced by George Kennan and was highly embraced by Truman.

Containment argued that the primary goal of the United States should be to prevent the spread of communism to non-communist nations; that is, to contain communism within its borders. This was a plan that would hopefully eventually eliminate any communist threat and it would become the basis for American foreign policy for years to come. The idea of stopping communism was very appealing to Truman because it was viewed as an enemy and a threat to America. Another policy Truman embraced was the Marshall plan. This plan was to send aid and relief to any European country that wanted it. All soviet free European countries accepted the aid. The purpose of this plan was to spark the European economy and rebuild the demolished region. Europe suffered greatly from destruction after World War II. The economy was in shamble and many people were homeless and starving. This plan was to help rebuild and help the people. Other motives for the Marshall Plan were to eliminate communist appeal in the highly vulnerable Western Europe and to spark the American economy through new European industry. Another action Truman led was the Berlin Air-lift.

This was in response to Stalin closing off the roads to the western half of the city that was in soviet territory. Stalin was trying to force the western side to join with his eastern communist side. Truman initiated the year long air lift dropping in tons of food to the people of the city. The purpose was again to stop the spread of Stalin and communism further into Europe, vital to containment. In his time in office Truman also stated what is now know as the Truman Doctrine. This doctrine was a declaration that the U.S would send military and other aid to any country or government fighting a communist revolution or uprising. This doctrine would eventually go into effect in Korea, Greece, and Turkey. This doctrines purpose fell into containment and was designed to help stop the spread of communism. One more important Truman act was the National Security Act of 1947.

This act developed the department of defense which included the newly created AIR Force. This policy also created the Central Intelligence Agency. The motives for the act were to reshape American foreign policy based on the new enemy, the Soviet Union. Truman also had a hand and was in full support of the United Nations and N.A.T.O. Truman took much action and was involved in many Cold War policies; the ones that were successful and lasted into the rest of the Cold War were responsible for his current image of the one who won the cold war and a favorable president.

Viewing the cold war today and viewing Truman’s early contributions it is fair to say he was highly responsible for American victory although he was deceased at the time of its conclusion. Truman’s policies lived on way after him and although adapted upon they were still the basis for what led the U.S to victory. Staring with containment, this policy was used by every Cold War president on after Truman. The idea of stopping the domino effect was upheld and in the end the U.S did just that and Soviet Russia failed inside and collapsed. This policy can be ruled as the biggest success for Truman and directly includes him in the reasons for U.S victory in the cold war. The reason containment is the most significant Truman success is because it includes the Marshall plan and the Truman doctrine as well has the Berlin Air-Lift. The Marshall plan which was not only a huge success for the U.S and its fight against communism it became the savior for Europe.

This plan put Europe back on its feet economically and socially. This plan also highly contributed to the huge booming economy in American during the 1950’s and 60’s. The Marshall plan not only has American significance it has world significance. The Truman doctrine notably halted communism especially in Greece. U.S aid sent under the Truman doctrine helped the democratic anti communist side win the Greek civil war against the communists. The Truman doctrine also keep communism out of Turkey and although many saw it has a failure it led to the Korean war which in fact held communism back its just the cost was very high in lives.

The Truman doctrine definitely stopped any kind of domino effect in the Mediterranean and Korea which in theory could have led to Japan. Japans modern economic success and strength is very much attributed to Truman. Although there was no specific plan in which Truman acted under he still allowed the industrial growth of Japan that made it the strongest Asian economic power. Japans success was vital the U.S because it prevented it along with many other Asian countries under its influence to turn communist. . The Berlin aril if was a Truman success because he basically saved the city and ruined Stalin’s plans forcing him to reopen all connections into the city and put the U.S on top in the minds of the people in America and in Europe. This was a highly significant victory because by saving lives he showed America was the stronger and more favorable power to many. He also maintained U.S influence in Germany.

One can agree that Truman although he was dead did have an obvious impact on the out come of the Cold War. It can also be said he was way ahead of his time in many regards. To his defense he probably thought that his plan would work a lot sooner and was designed for more immediate results. This is why at the time he was considered a failure. Over time and looking back many aspects of his ideas make him look like a genius but it is doubted that he was thinking as far ahead as the plans he put forward lasted. His influence definitely led to U.S victory but in many regards he may have gotten lucky on how everything worked out because although his plans were designed to succeed they could have easily failed. In the end of the battle of powers the more defined and powerful nation won. If the U.S was in Russia economic and social state during the war with the same plans it is questionable weather they would have had the same outcome. Overall the way history presents itself it is safe to say Truman had a large hand in winning the Cold War.