Thrust unexpectedly into the presidency after the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945, Harry
S Truman led the nation through the final stages of World War II and the early years of the Cold War.
He ordered the fateful atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and vigorously opposed Soviet expansionism in Europe during the Cold War.
At home, Truman was an early supporter of civil rights, and ordered the desegregation of the military.
A plain spoken and unpretentious midwesterner, Truman earned a reputation as champion of the common man.
He was elected to a second term in 1948, in a dramatic upset victory over Thomas Dewey.
Truman retired to his home in Independence, Missouri, where he died in 1972.
The role of Harry S Truman will be performed by Noel Pugach.
Noel has taught American history at the University of New Mexico for more than
thirty years. When he appears as former president Harry S Truman, he
adds to a record of more than fifty appearances in that role over the past
fifteen years. Other characters he has assumed include Rabbi Isaac Mayer
Wise, El Marrano, and New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace. An
active scholar, Professor Pugach has published numerous scholarly articles and
books and has served as an evaluator for the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Professor Pugach received his M.A. and Ph. D. in history
from the University of Wisconsin. Professor Pugach specializes in United
States Foreign Relations, with a special interest in United States relations
with China. He has published Paul S. Reinsch: Open Door Diplomat in
Action, a study of the American minister to China during the Wilson era and
"Same Bed, Different Dreams": A History of the Chinese American Bank of
Commerce. He is also the author of numerous articles and book reviews
dealing with American diplomatic and business activity in East Asia. In
addition, Professor Pugach has published popular essays on foreign policy
topics and the Holocaust.
Professor Pugach has been actively engaged in public history
projects for many years in New Mexico and throughout the United States, as a
writer, speaker and performer. Professor Pugach has presented
first-person characterizations of Harry Truman and other historical figures
for over fifteen years. On January 2, 2000, Dr. Pugach performed as
Harry Truman at the "Millennium on the Mall" celebration, organized by the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C. This summer he is
presenting Truman for the Nevada Summer Chautauqua in Las Vegas. Reno, and
Lake Tahoe. Currently, he also depicts Lew Wallace (author of Ben Hur,
Civil War general, and territorial governor of New Mexico) and Rabbi Isaac
Mayer Wise (builder of American Jewish institutions and advocate of
Americanism).
