These words sum up the “Truman Doctrine” and, for my money, mark the Cold War’s start. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority.
One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. “At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life,” Truman said.
He was, in effect, declaring tacit war against Communist forces seeking to expand across the globe. The President wasn’t just requesting money. In requesting this aid, Truman-like Woodrow Wilson in 1918-proclaimed a broader vision of the United States’ role in global affairs. On March 12, 1947, President Harry S Truman appeared before both houses of Congress requesting $400 million in military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey, which were fighting Communist challenges. And the Cold War never had a clean start point, no Fort Sumpter or Pearl Harbor moment, when blazing gunfire heralded something dramatically new. That’s because unlike most wars, which get hot fast and stop suddenly, the Cold War simmered at various temperatures for decades, but never boiled over to a Third World War. Don’t expect commemorations or public events. This year marks the 75 th anniversary of the Cold War. Whenever you hear these periods referred to as “peace time,” it’s good to remember something called the Cold War. Veterans will sometimes say, “Oh, I never served in war, only peace time.” By that, they usually mean the 1950s-1960s, between Korea and Vietnam, or the 1970s-1980s, between Vietnam and Desert Storm. This speech became known as the “Truman Doctrine” speech. Truman addressing a joint session of Congress asking for $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey.
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