Memoirs: Year of Decisions and Years of Trial and Hope by Harry S. Truman, Kansas City Edition, 1955-56

Truman, Harry. Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions 'and' Years of Trial and Hope. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1955-1956. Special Kansas City Limited Edition. Two-volumes.

Presented is Harry Truman's two-volume set of memoirs entitled Years of Decisions and Years of Trial and Hope published in 1955 and 1956, respectively. These volumes were published by Doubleday & Co. as a Special Kansas City Edition limited to 20,615 copies of volume I and only 11,500 copies of volume II. This matching set retains the original publisher's black boards featuring Truman's facsimile silver embossed signature on the front boards. The front end pages of each volume have a red and white map of Missouri.

Harry S. Truman served as U.S. President during one of the most pivotal times in the nation’s history. Not wanting the position at first, Vice President Truman was handed the responsibility  after Franklin D. Roosevelt suddenly passed away in office. The 33rd president told the press that, “I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.” In the midst of WWII, Truman had to make momentous decisions despite never even being briefed on major topics like the atomic bomb while FDR was president. 

In his memoirs, Truman provides his readers with a firsthand account of his years as President of the United States. The first of the two volumes, 1845: Year of Decisions, focuses on how he navigated the tumultuous political climate as a new president. With the Second World War coming to a high point, especially in the Pacific Theater, Truman explains his decision to use atomic weapons for the first time in history, destroying Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For a moment in time, President Truman and the United States was the undisputed military superpower in the world and this memoir explains how Truman navigated that political and moral sea. That same year, Truman helped to found the United Nations, and worked with his colleagues to attempt to create a better world despite tensions already rising with other nations. 

The second of the two volumes, 1946-52: Years of Trial and Hope, continue Truman’s personal account on the extraordinary issues the world faced post-WWII. This second novel describes a world suddenly equipped with atomic weapons and the men who had the power to use them. Throughout the book, Truman explains his role in the Cold War, the Truman Doctrine, the Berlin Airlift, the creation of Israel, and the beginnings of the Korean War. The years immediately following WWII proved to be a tense era relying solely on political relations between a handful of leaders. As president during this time, Truman provides an invaluable account of not only the events but the reasoning behind the actions of a man who was central to everything. 

CONDITION:

Overall very good condition. Both boards are slightly worn along top and bottom edge, but otherwise very good condition. The pages are edged in green at the top. Internally, the pages are mildly toned from age, but have no markings, tears, or other damage. No dust jackets are present.

Dimensions: 8 1/2" H x 5 3/4" W x 1 3/4" D (each)