TRUMAN INHERITS A WORLD WAR AND THE BURDEN OF JUDGMENT Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. Following the sudden death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945, Harry Truman assumed the presidency with little preparation regarding foreign policy or the situati

TRUMAN INHERITS A WORLD WAR AND THE BURDEN OF JUDGMENT Colleague Professor Gary J. Bass. Following the sudden death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945, Harry Truman assumed the presidency with little preparation regarding foreign policy or the situation in Asia. While Truman possessed combat experience from World War I, his understanding of China and Japan relied heavily on stereotypes and idealism rather than briefing. Confronted immediately with the bloody Battle of Okinawa and the devastation of the firebombing of Tokyo, Truman upheld the Allies' demand for unconditional surrender. This policy necessitated stripping Japan of its empire and trying its leadership, despite growing private concerns among some US officials that American strategic bombing might equate to war crimes. NUMBER 1
1930 TOKYO