Talk:Harry S. Truman

Before or After

Text states "1918 his artillery unit fired some of the last shots of World War I towards German positions after before the armistice took effect". That doesn't really make sense - but what's correct, did they fire before or after the armistice took effect? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Stefanmuc (talk • contribs) 13:10, 31 July 2012 (UTC)

Edit request on 6 April 2012

There is no period after the "S" in Harry S Truman. It is not an abbreviation, it is a letter representing the names of both of Mr. Truman's grandfathers. Now how do I become an "established" user?

Ecasas8253 (talk) 12:11, 6 April 2012 (UTC)

Read the FAQ above. Please provide sources to back up your request. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 12:15, 6 April 2012 (UTC)

Check the images of his signature. He habitually signed his name "Harry S. Truman." Dezastru (talk) 16:36, 15 July 2012 (UTC)

The FAQ page

Per the Manual of Style "When either of two styles is acceptable, it is inappropriate for an editor to change an article from one style to another unless there is a substantial reason to do so."

What are these "two styles" either of which is "acceptable"?

If it's talking about "Harry S. Truman" vs "Harry S Truman", then the only way I can see the latter being "acceptable" is if his middle name is "S". But then they are different levels of information, and the "substantial reason" is there: to state what his full name is. Moreover, further down is

Simply changing the "S." within the article will be reverted, as it will no longer match the article title.

but many other articles about US presidents already break this rule.

If his middle name is "S", we ought to allow this fact to be presented in the same way as it is in other WP articles. If he has no middle name, or his middle name is "S.", then that FAQ page shouldn't be written as if "Harry S Truman" is a valid within standard English rules (albeit forbidden on WP) way of writing his name.

See also User:Smjg/HST. — Smjg (talk) 21:09, 11 April 2012 (UTC)

You have read the article? ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 21:26, 11 April 2012 (UTC)

Yes. And it states "His parents chose 'S' as his 'middle name'" and in the next sentence "The initial did not stand for anything" – strikes me as a contradiction, as well as the former contradicting the FAQ "Truman did not have a middle name". If the FAQ statement is true, then (even with the quotes) to say "middle name" rather than "middle initial" in the first statement I've just quoted is gratuitous and misleading. — Smjg (talk) 21:42, 11 April 2012 (UTC)

His name was "Harry S. Truman". The middle initial "S." didn't stand for any one thing. It could be said to stand for both "Shipp" and "Solomon". In any case, it's "S." ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:55, 11 April 2012 (UTC)

What is "S."?

• His middle initial – I think we're already all agreed on this.
• His middle name – in which case, have you a credible, non-self-contradictory source that states so?

— Smjg (talk) 21:16, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

The "S." did not stand for anything. Do you have a source claiming otherwise? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:36, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

As a similar example, Johnny Cash had a middle initial "R." that didn't stand for anything either. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:38, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

A number of sources claim that it stood for just "S". This is the whole reason the issue is disputed in the first place. If only people would stop just repeating themselves, and only post if they have something new to contribute to the discussion, we might stand a chance of getting somewhere. — Smjg (talk) 21:48, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

And a number of sources claim it stood for nothing. What would you accept as a final, overriding, authoritative source? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:52, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

I'm not sure. But maybe the Truman library page is the most authoritative of the online sources. I guess when it talks of "Authors choosing to omit the period in their texts" it means authors choosing to deviate from standard English rules. And if we can convince Snopes to correct their piece on the matter, it would be even better.... — Smjg (talk) 13:28, 15 April 2012 (UTC)

Ulysses S. Grant. Browse through the archives: there is more hash than a greasy diner. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) ^talk 21:50, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

Going by the statements that he had no middle name, what I'm really saying is that the FAQ page should still prescribe "S." but because of standard English rules rather than the contortions it does go through. I'll see what I can come up with.... — Smjg (talk) 13:28, 15 April 2012 (UTC)

He signed his name with a period after the "S". I think Harry Truman's view on the matter trumps anyone else's. 71.52.144.136 (talk) 20:51, 29 August 2012 (UTC)

Baltimore Afro-American, Truman, and Paul Robeson

Cross-posted:

I left out of Paul Robeson an article by the BAA, about Truman's press conference about the Peekskill Riots. I tried to find it in a Presidential biography - no luck. The BAA is the only paper i could find that mentioned a comment on this press conference and it was extremely pro-Robeson. But the BAA was not a major newspaper, although, if memory serves me right, the owner was vastly anti-Communist. Unless a presidential historian can be found that will mention it and analyze the press conference, then the article has to come in. I am very sorry but all the Truman biographers seem to be hagiographical (that's a shot across the bow of the Wikipedia editors doing the Truman article - pfft). Ijustreadbooks (talk) 02:11, 13 July 2012 (UTC)

Edit Request

The Korean war causalities should also list the 3.5 to 4 million Koreans killed. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/korean_war.htm — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.37.15.3 (talk) 00:44, 21 August 2012 (UTC)