Northeast Asia and the Legacy of Harry S. Truman: Japan, China, and the Two Koreas

James I. Matray

Sep 2015 · Truman State University Press

About this ebook

Harry S. Truman made decisions as president that would have a decisive impact in determining the course of history in Northeast Asia after World War II. These essays examine how Truman acted to resolve challenges facing the United States from 1945 to 1952 in Japan, China, and the two Koreas. The authors, all recognized authorities on postwar U.S. intelligence or foreign relations, present new and provocative explanations for Truman’s policies that previous historians have debated for a half-century.
    Extensive research in government archives, manuscript collections, and Chinese and Soviet source materials present a more complete assessment of the impact of Truman’s policies toward China and in the Korean War, Truman’s decisions about Japan, and especially the dropping of atomic bombs and postwar occupation. This collection looks at how Truman’s decisions in Northeast Asia defined the legacy of his presidency. 

About the author

James I. Matray was born and raised for most of his childhood in Evergreen Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. His father was a cement mason and his mother a seamstress. He attended public schools, graduating from the community high school in three years. After graduating from Lake Forest College, he enlisted in the Illinois National Guard and, following transfer, he served for ten years as a drill sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve.