Discover the untold story of Truman’s role in the atomic bomb decision. Historian Alex Wellerstein reveals why Truman opposed nuclear weapons and how his regret shaped nuclear policy.
For 80 years, the common story has been simple.
America had two options at the end of World War II:
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Invade Japan, costing millions of lives.
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Use the atomic bomb to force surrender.
We are told that President Harry Truman weighed these choices carefully and picked the bomb as the lesser evil.
But was that really the case?
What Historian Alex Wellerstein Found
Nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein challenges this version.
His research shows something very different:
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Truman did not directly decide to use the bomb.
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The only clear choice Truman made was one he barely understood at the time.
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That decision, and his later regret, shaped how the world has handled nuclear weapons since 1945.
Truman’s Real View on Nuclear Weapons
Truman’s own words reveal his feelings:
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He saw atomic weapons as instruments of “murder” and “slaughter.”
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He believed they should never be used again.
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He even hoped they might be outlawed in his lifetime.
Wellerstein argues that Truman was one of the most anti-nuclear American presidents.
Yet, politics at home and abroad kept him from turning that belief into action.
Why This Matters to You
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is often framed as a cold calculation.
But the real story is about misunderstanding, regret, and fear of repeating history.
If you want to understand:
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Why the bomb was dropped on Japan
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Why nuclear weapons have never been used again
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How Truman’s private doubts shaped public policy
This book gives you the missing perspective.
A Question for You
Do you think nuclear weapons would have been used again if Truman had not spoken out so strongly against them after 1945?
