Foreign Policy: FDR Vs. Truman

Foreign Policy: FDR vs. Truman Since the ending of the Second World War, much controversy has floated around through conversations in history as to whether or not the atomic bombs should have been dropped on Japan. The global war lasted from the years 1939 to 1945, with many years of carried conflict and grudges held before and afterwards. The two Presidents most involved in this war were 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and 33rd President Harry S. Truman. Each of these leaders initiated and finished with significant actions during this war. However, each may have had different perspectives over the foreign policies regarding the atomic bomb during the war. With either little concern for present matters, impulsive assumptions, or a search for the countries better

Although he did approve of the bomb, Roosevelt was unconcerned about actually dropping the bomb on Japan. Instead he supported the idea that since Germany was possibly looking into the same type of destructive weapon, the U.S. needed to advance in the field in order to prevent detrimental attacks against them. He had the Great Depression on his hands as well and was less motivated during his time to destroy Japan to end the war more efficiently. On the other hand, Truman saw his opportunity of bringing the United States to the end of the war in a quick manner by releasing the bombs since Japan had no intentions of taking an easy surrender. To prevent going through an invasion, Truman made a hasty decision to drop the bombs. He saw the decision as an improvement to the country’s outlook. Another difference between the two as stated in an article titled, “Would FDR have dropped the bomb?”, there was much evidence that Roosevelt had been pondering possible alternatives to using the bomb on Japan, while Truman’s first instinct was to utilize the bomb at first chance only a few months after Roosevelt’s death (Mitchell