Biography: Harry S. Truman
Railroad Labor Strike. Panning inactive rail yard. Inside empty Grand Central Station. Purposefully idle engineers. Empty train stations, stationary train cars
May 24, 1946. President Harry Truman delivering national address regarding strike: As president of the United States, I am the representative of 140 million people and I cannot stand idly by while they are being caused to suffer by reason of the action of these two men. This is no contest between labor and management. This is a contest between a small group of men and their government.
May 25, 1946. President Harry Truman speaking to Congress, As a part of this temporary emergency legislation, I request the Congress immediately to authorize the President to draft into the Armed Forces of the United States all workers who are on strike against their Government. The President is handed a message by Leslie L. Biffle, Secretary of the Senate. Word has just been received that the rail strike has been settled, on terms proposed by the President!
AFL labor party president William Green speaking to the camera about the dissolution felt by many labor unionists as a result of the strike's end. railroad trainmen called off the strike at 4pm this afternoon because of the high pressure methods imposed by the President of the United States in his address to the American people last evening.
President Harry Truman signing legislation at desk, noting the time by looking at his wristwatch.