Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972), 33rd President of the United States (1945–53), signed State Department appointment document for Dr. Willard Thorp. Washington D.C., November 12, 1946.

Willard L. Thorp (1899-1992), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs from 1945 until he was appointed, by this document, as Assistant Secretary of State, serving until 1952. In 1946, Thorp was a member of the U.S. delegation serving as special adviser on economic matters at the Paris Peace Conference. As President Truman's Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Dr. Thorp helped draft the Marshall Plan for aid to rebuild Europe after World War II and negotiated the final agreement with 16 other nations. He was also assigned to carry out the Point Four aid program to under-developed nations, a program Truman announced in his inaugural address. Among his influential posts was that as the United States’ alternate delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, serving with Eleanor Roosevelt and John Foster Dulles.

Partly printed document signed “Harry S Truman” as President and “Dean Acheson” as Acting Secretary of State. 19 x 15 inches (visible), complete with matte and frame for a finished size of 28.5 x 24.5. White embossed 3.5 inch diameter paper seal affixed at left.

In part: “Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the Integrity and Ability of Willard L. Thorp, of Connecticut, I do appoint him an Assistant Secretary of State … during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being and until the end of the next session of the Senate of the United States, and no longer…”

In very good condition.