President Truman has been called the “accidental” holder of that office. While that may be accurate, it does not convey his extraordinary performance when faced with the challenges he inherited. He was a very ordinary man who had a deep commitment to duty in whatever role he took on in life. Truman was a Midwesterner, a farmer, a volunteer soldier, a failed entrepreneur, a local politician, and an all-around “good guy.” He did not graduate from college. He was like most ordinary Americans in the 20th century, trying to support a family through hard work while staying true to his values. He did not aspire to high political office, and he had no “grand plan.” Once he accepted political roles, he did a good job. He was reliable, very smart, disciplined, trustworthy and amiable. During this course we will review Truman’s early years, his early career as a politician, and his presidency. Unlike most presidents before and after him, he did not want that high office. However, once he accepted the position, he did a remarkable job. Among the major decisions he had to make when he unexpectedly succeeded FDR were the following: using the atomic bomb to end the war with Japan, shifting from a wartime to peacetime economy, and confronting the aggressive Soviet Union. As he dealt with these and other challenges, he laid the foundations on which we have lived over the past 80 years.