[ Autographs ] HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884 - 1972) 33rd President of the United States who led the country in the closing days of World War IIand through the re-building of Europe under the Marshall Plan and the Korean War. Historic content T.L.S. on his personal letterhead, 1p. 4to., Independence, Mo., Nov. 29, 1957 to Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review in which Truman defends his use of the atomic bombon Japan in 1945. The letter reads in full: "In reply to your letter of the 25th, I can only refer you to the section of my memoirs dealingwith the use of the atomic bomb against the Japanese. The main objective was to stop the war. We had tried to convince the Japanese that we had a weapon that might destroy them completely, although we could not explain what it was. Negotiations were carried on between the Japanese and the Allies through Sweden and Switzerland. Unfortunately, the Japanese refused to consider our proposal for surrender, and the bomb was dropped. I have been informed reliably that a quarter of a million Japanese lives and the same number of American and Allied lives were saved by this action. Three times that many were spared injuries serious enough to cause hospitalization. Japan surrendered, and Russia came into the war. I sincerely hope thatyou will look very carefully into all of these details. It is vital information as far as history is concerned, and many of our so-called historians are not following the facts." Truman letters concerning thedecision to drop the atomic bomb are quite scarce and most desirable, especially considering the fact that the debate still continues to this day. Very light toning to extreme bottom margin, very light soiling at top right corner, otherwise very good to near fine condition A spectacular piece!