The Cold War: A Family Perspective Letters from Harry to Bess.

The Cold War: A Family The Cold War: A Family PerspectivePerspective

Letters from Harry to BessLetters from Harry to Bess

Grade LevelGrade Level

This lesson(s) can be used, This lesson(s) can be used, applied and adapted for grades 7-12 applied and adapted for grades 7-12 depending on choice of depth and depending on choice of depth and

discussion desired.discussion desired.

Time FrameTime Frame

Depending on the number of Depending on the number of slides used and the depth of slides used and the depth of discussion, the lesson(s) can range discussion, the lesson(s) can range from one day to five lessons.from one day to five lessons.

Goals/ObjectivesGoals/Objectives

After an examination and reading After an examination and reading of letters from President Harry S. Truman of letters from President Harry S. Truman to his wife, Bess, students will be able to to his wife, Bess, students will be able to come to a consensus as to the true come to a consensus as to the true feelings President Harry S. Truman had feelings President Harry S. Truman had regarding specific regarding specific Cold WarCold War events such events such as the Marshall Plan, the Truman as the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, the Korean War, the creation of Doctrine, the Korean War, the creation of the state of Israel, and several other the state of Israel, and several other events.events.

National American History National American History StandardsStandards

Standard 1 (B) Identify in historical Standard 1 (B) Identify in historical narratives the temporal structure of narratives the temporal structure of a historical narrative or story.a historical narrative or story.

Standard 3 (D) Identify in historical Standard 3 (D) Identify in historical narratives the temporal structure of narratives the temporal structure of a historical narrative or story.a historical narrative or story.

Standard 3 (D) Consider multiple Standard 3 (D) Consider multiple perspectives.perspectives.

National American History National American History StandardsStandards

Standard 3 (J) Hypothesize the Standard 3 (J) Hypothesize the influence of the past.influence of the past.

Standard 3 (B) Compare and contrast Standard 3 (B) Compare and contrast differing sets of ideas, values, differing sets of ideas, values, personalities, behaviors, and personalities, behaviors, and institutions.institutions.

Standard 4 (A) Identify problems and Standard 4 (A) Identify problems and issues in the past.issues in the past.

Materials RequiredMaterials Required

PowerPoint ProgramPowerPoint Program Copies of letters from PowerPoint Copies of letters from PowerPoint

SlidesSlides Pencils/PensPencils/Pens

Teacher Directions/Background Teacher Directions/Background InformationInformation

The teacher should prepare students The teacher should prepare students with the definition and origin of the with the definition and origin of the term Cold War.term Cold War.

The teacher should identify and discuss The teacher should identify and discuss the presidency of Harry S. Truman in the presidency of Harry S. Truman in relation to WWII and today.relation to WWII and today.

If time permits, an examination of the If time permits, an examination of the man, Harry S. Truman would benefit.man, Harry S. Truman would benefit.

Lesson Activity/DescriptionLesson Activity/Description

After a discussion of the Cold After a discussion of the Cold War and Harry S. Truman, students will War and Harry S. Truman, students will examine the personal letters the examine the personal letters the President wrote to his wife Bess to President wrote to his wife Bess to glean insight and interpret meaning to glean insight and interpret meaning to the event being discussed in the letter. the event being discussed in the letter. Students can hypothesize and argue as Students can hypothesize and argue as well as interpret if the excerpt well as interpret if the excerpt encourages them to dig deeper.encourages them to dig deeper.

Primary SourcesPrimary Sources

Letter excerpts found on slides in this Letter excerpts found on slides in this presentation or complete letters presentation or complete letters found in sources identified on the found in sources identified on the bibliography slide.bibliography slide.

Vocabulary ListVocabulary List

Cold War PotsdamCold War Potsdam Korean War Democrat Korean War Democrat Iron Curtain RepublicanIron Curtain Republican Reparations MissouriReparations Missouri Warsaw Pact IndependenceWarsaw Pact Independence Marshall Plan Washington, Marshall Plan Washington,

DCDC Israel Vice-PresidentIsrael Vice-President Truman Doctrine USSRTruman Doctrine USSR

Important PeopleImportant People

Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman Franklin Delano RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt Bess TrumanBess Truman Margaret TrumanMargaret Truman Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill George VIGeorge VI General Douglas MacArthurGeneral Douglas MacArthur

Suggestions for Additional ActivitiesSuggestions for Additional Activities

The amount of letters available in the The amount of letters available in the sources listed in the bibliography are sources listed in the bibliography are limitless and one could choose any limitless and one could choose any event from Truman’s presidency to event from Truman’s presidency to investigate.investigate.

Students could seek out the letters from Students could seek out the letters from other prominent individuals from this other prominent individuals from this period and compare their thoughts and period and compare their thoughts and feelings to those of Harry S. Truman.feelings to those of Harry S. Truman.

BibliographyBibliography

Ferrell, Robert H. Dear Bess. W.W. Ferrell, Robert H. Dear Bess. W.W. Norton Co., New York, 1983.Norton Co., New York, 1983.

Ferrell, Robert H. Off the Record. Ferrell, Robert H. Off the Record. Harper and Row, New York. 1980.Harper and Row, New York. 1980.

Truman Presidential Library. Truman Presidential Library. www.trumanlibrary.orgwww.trumanlibrary.org..

(The White House)(The White House)

June 7, 1945June 7, 1945

Dear Bess:Dear Bess:

… …Yesterday was a hectic day. Yesterday was a hectic day. Had both good news and bad. Stalin Had both good news and bad. Stalin agreed to our interpretation of the veto at agreed to our interpretation of the veto at San Francisco and a reconsideration of the San Francisco and a reconsideration of the Polish question, but we lost the election in Polish question, but we lost the election in Montana and the Republicans are jubilant Montana and the Republicans are jubilant over it. …over it. …

BerlinBerlin July 16, 1945July 16, 1945Dear Bess:Dear Bess: We arrived in Berlin yesterday afternoon We arrived in Berlin yesterday afternoon

about three o’clock. Were received with all the about three o’clock. Were received with all the honors possible. The Russians, British and our honors possible. The Russians, British and our own ambassadors and ministers met us at the own ambassadors and ministers met us at the airport. I reviewed the troops drawn up as a airport. I reviewed the troops drawn up as a guard of honor and then we were taken to a guard of honor and then we were taken to a house in Potsdam, where I am told the head of house in Potsdam, where I am told the head of the movie colony lived before the Russians came the movie colony lived before the Russians came in. He is not available for interview now. Most of in. He is not available for interview now. Most of us believe that he is somewhere between here us believe that he is somewhere between here and Siberia on probably and Siberia on probably special dutyspecial duty. ….. ….

Berlin Berlin

July 18, 1945July 18, 1945Dear Bess:Dear Bess: … …The conference room is about forty by sixty and The conference room is about forty by sixty and

we sit at a large round table-fifteen of us. I have four we sit at a large round table-fifteen of us. I have four and they each have four, then behind me are seven or and they each have four, then behind me are seven or eight helpers. Stalin moved to make me the presiding eight helpers. Stalin moved to make me the presiding officer as soon as we sat down and Churchill agreed.officer as soon as we sat down and Churchill agreed.

It makes looking over the Senate seem tame. … It makes looking over the Senate seem tame. … Anyway a start has been made and I’ve got what I Anyway a start has been made and I’ve got what I came for-Stalin goes to war August 15 with no strings came for-Stalin goes to war August 15 with no strings on it. … I’ll say we end the war a year sooner now, on it. … I’ll say we end the war a year sooner now, and think of the kids who won’t be killed! That is the and think of the kids who won’t be killed! That is the important thing. …important thing. …

Polish Marshall ZymirskiPolish Marshall Zymirski

BerlinBerlin July 25, 1945July 25, 1945Dear Bess: … We have accomplished a very Dear Bess: … We have accomplished a very

great deal in spite of it all. … We have a great deal in spite of it all. … We have a setup for the government of Germany and setup for the government of Germany and we hope we are in sight of agreement on we hope we are in sight of agreement on reparations. So you see we have not wasted reparations. So you see we have not wasted time. There are some things we can’t agree time. There are some things we can’t agree to. Russia and Poland have gobbled up a big to. Russia and Poland have gobbled up a big chunk of Germany and want Britain and us chunk of Germany and want Britain and us to agree. I have flatly refused. … to agree. I have flatly refused. …

BerlinBerlin July 31, 1945July 31, 1945Dear Bess: … The whole difficulty is Dear Bess: … The whole difficulty is

reparations. Of course the Russians are reparations. Of course the Russians are naturally looters and they have been naturally looters and they have been thoroughly looted by the Germans over thoroughly looted by the Germans over and over again and you can hardly blame and over again and you can hardly blame them for their attitude. The thing I have to them for their attitude. The thing I have to watch is to keep our skirted clean and watch is to keep our skirted clean and make no commitments. The Poles are the make no commitments. The Poles are the other headache. …other headache. …

DiaryDiary

March 16, 1948March 16, 1948

… … I am still hopeful and working with I am still hopeful and working with everything I have to make the United everything I have to make the United Nations work. Our European Recovery Nations work. Our European Recovery program and the proper strengthening of program and the proper strengthening of our Military setup is the only hope we have our Military setup is the only hope we have for peace in the world. That I am asking for peace in the world. That I am asking from the Congress. … It is the most serious from the Congress. … It is the most serious situation we have faced since 1939. I shall situation we have faced since 1939. I shall face it with everything I have. …face it with everything I have. …

Truman Letters: A Cold War

Family Perspective