--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Truman saw the presidency, the chief…" description: "\"“As Truman saw the presidency, the chief responsibility was to make decisions and he made some of the most difficult and far-reaching of any president...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/david-mccullough-1091_truman_as-truman-saw-the-presidency-the-chief-r_278448.png" --- # As Truman saw the presidency, the chief responsibility was… ![“As Truman saw the presidency, the chief responsibility was to make decisions and he made some of the most difficult and far-reaching of any president. If not brilliant or eloquent, he was courageous and principled. The invisible something he brought to the office was character.” quote by David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/david-mccullough-1091_truman_as-truman-saw-the-presidency-the-chief-r_278448.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/david-mccullough-1091_truman_as-truman-saw-the-presidency-the-chief-r_278448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f80/david-mccullough-1091_truman_as-truman-saw-the-presidency-the-chief-r_278448.png) > ““As Truman saw the presidency, the chief responsibility was to make decisions and he made some of the most difficult and far-reaching of any president. If not brilliant or eloquent, he was courageous and principled. The invisible something he brought to the office was character.”” [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truman’s leadership was marked by decisive, principled action despite lacking charisma. **In simple terms:** Leadership needs courage and principle, not just eloquence. Key Takeaway Lead with integrity and resolve. Themes leadership integrity courage Mood respectful thoughtful Type historical motivational When to use this quote - government - crisis management - policy implementation Key Concepts Political character decision making Questions to Reflect On - What decisions require moral courage today? - How do you balance principle with persuasion? A Different Perspective Courage alone may not sway public opinion without communication skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chief Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-responsibility-2706225/) [Presidency Chief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency-chief-2706224/) [Saw Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saw-presidency-2706226/) [Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman/) [Truman Saw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman-saw-2706223/) ## Related quotes > [In the modern presidency, the Chief Executive is expected to respond to anxious national moments with words that stabilize the country. 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In years to come not one member of the Truman White House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/the-loyalty-of-those-around-truman-was-total-and-would-never-falter/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Everybody wants something at the expense of everybody else and nobody thinks much of the other fellow,” Truman”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/everybody-wants-something-at-the-expense-of-everybody-else-and-nobody/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Well, all the President is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing and kicking people to get them do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/well-all-the-president-is-is-a-glorified-public-relations-man-who/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Truman had been sitting in a chair in the bedroom with several new books stacked on a table beside him. Did the President like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/truman-had-been-sitting-in-a-chair-in-the-bedroom-with-several-new/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“At one point during a meeting in Truman’s office, Silver had hammered on Truman’s desk and shouted at him. “Terror and Silver are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/at-one-point-during-a-meeting-in-truman-s-office-silver-had-hammered/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“The important thing is that the President be saved from his friends. Bill Hassett urged Truman to rid himself of Boyle without delay. “Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/the-important-thing-is-that-the-president-be-saved-from-his-friends/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Roosevelt loved the subtleties of human relations...He was sensitive to nuances in a way that Harry Truman never was and never would be. Truman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/roosevelt-loved-the-subtleties-of-human-relations-he-was-sensitive-to/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“When a bill was put before the state legislature in Jefferson City that would have prohibited anyone who owned a saloon from holding elective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/when-a-bill-was-put-before-the-state-legislature-in-jefferson-city/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [ Leo Crowley, Harry \[Truman\]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-economic-administrator-tells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [“September 24, 1947, when President Truman signed a memo to the Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, authorizing the creation of “Operation Majestic Twelve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-salla/september-24-1947-when-president-truman-signed-a-memo-to-the/) [Michael E. Salla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-salla/) ## More by David McCullough > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Steamboats by this time were becoming a familiar presence on the rivers and coastal waters of America, but not until 1838 did steam-powered ships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/steamboats-by-this-time-were-becoming-a-familiar-presence-on-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [I feel that history is in many ways the most important of all subjects because it is about everything and because it's about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-that-history-is-in-many-ways-the-most-important-of-all/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Even mighty states and kingdoms are not exempted. If we look into history, we shall find some nations rising from contemptible beginnings and spreading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/even-mighty-states-and-kingdoms-are-not-exempted-if-we-look-into/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of characters had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Nobody ever lived in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nobody-ever-lived-in-the-past/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Only TR openly declared his love for the job. “Nobody ever enjoyed the presidency as I did,” he boasted, and by all evidence that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/only-tr-openly-declared-his-love-for-the-job-nobody-ever-enjoyed-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“s ships Phoenix and Rose, in the company of three tenders, cast off their moorings at Staten Island and started up the harbor under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/s-ships-phoenix-and-rose-in-the-company-of-three-tenders-cast-off/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“a people may let a King fall, yet still remain a people, but if a King let his people slip from him, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/a-people-may-let-a-king-fall-yet-still-remain-a-people-but-if-a-king/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Why limit yourself to the experience of your own relatively brief time on earth, according to your biological clock, when the whole realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/why-limit-yourself-to-the-experience-of-your-own-relatively-brief/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“He worked at a plain, tall desk at which he wrote standing up or perched on a high stool,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/he-worked-at-a-plain-tall-desk-at-which-he-wrote-standing-up-or/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Nothing happens in isolation. Everything that happens has consequences. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nothing-happens-in-isolation-everything-that-happens-has-consequences/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [America faces an enemy who believes in enforced ignorance. And all that we stand for is the open mind, the generous spirit, the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/america-faces-an-enemy-who-believes-in-enforced-ignorance-and-all/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/my-shorthand-answer-is-that-i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-book-that-i/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Seen under the microscope, Stegomyia is a creature of striking beauty. Its general color is dark gray, but the thorax is marked with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/seen-under-the-microscope-stegomyia-is-a-creature-of-striking-beauty/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) [Explore all 291 David McCullough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## More Truman quotes > [“September 24, 1947, when President Truman signed a memo to the Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, authorizing the creation of “Operation Majestic Twelve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-salla/september-24-1947-when-president-truman-signed-a-memo-to-the/) [Michael E. Salla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-salla/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [ Leo Crowley, Harry \[Truman\]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-economic-administrator-tells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I made the only decision I ever knew how to make,' Truman famously asserted in one of his carefully scripted reminiscences. What does that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morrow/i-made-the-only-decision-i-ever-knew-how-to-make-truman-famously/) [James Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morrow/) > [During his presidency, Truman and the Republicans were locked in a series of furious assaults on each other that outraged him and made Truman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/during-his-presidency-truman-and-the-republicans-were-locked-in-a/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [“What turns an honest, good-looking guy like you into a theif?" Scott couldn't help but smirk. "I blame chocolate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-knight/what-turns-an-honest-good-looking-guy-like-you-into-a-theif-scott/) [Geoffrey Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-knight/) > [The only President who clearly died of overwork was Polk, and that was a long time ago. Hoover, who worked intensely and humorlessly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-only-president-who-clearly-died-of-overwork-was-polk-and-that-was/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [“Acheson immediately understood the urgency of this message. He summoned Ambassador Franks and told him that the United States resolutely opposed “the use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/acheson-immediately-understood-the-urgency-of-this-message-he/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Despite its flaws, the American electoral system has produced Lincoln, the two Roosevelts, and Harry Truman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/despite-its-flaws-the-american-electoral-system-has-produced-lincoln/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [ “If there had been any formidable body of cannibals in the country he \[Harry Truman\] would have promised to provide them with free missionaries,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/if-there-had-been-any-formidable-body-of-cannibals-in-the-country-he/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Some of our finest leaders were not intellectuals at all, and I admire them enormously because they weren't. Harry Truman wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/some-of-our-finest-leaders-were-not-intellectuals-at-all-and-i-admire/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“Truman knew that government employees deserved fair procedures and asserted that his loyalty program would provide them. But he nonetheless expanded an already flawed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/truman-knew-that-government-employees-deserved-fair-procedures-and/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [I am the heterosexual Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-the-heterosexual-truman-capote/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [Recognise that the free world is at war with Putin, and America is the leader of the free world and should build the coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/recognise-that-the-free-world-is-at-war-with-putin-and-america-is-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) [Browse all 191 Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Truman saw the presidency, the chief responsibility was to make decisions and he made some of the most difficult and far-reaching of any president. If not brilliant or eloquent, he was courageous and principled. 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