| Original caption: “Truman Reading Announcement of Japanese Surrender. President Harry S. Truman, standing at the desk, reads the announcement of Japan’s surrender ending World War II to reporters and officials in the Oval Office. Seated on the sofa in the background are, left to right: Reathel Odum, Mrs. Bess W. Truman, Samuel Rosenman, and John Snyder. Seated behind President Truman is Secretary of State James Byrnes. Standing behind President Truman at the window is Attorney General Tom Clark, left, and Senator Arthur Vandenberg, right.” United States President Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 — December 26, 1972) announces that the Imperial Japanese Military Government Cabinet has accepted the Potsdam Declaration of unconditional surrender in the Oval Office on August 14, 1945. Personal secretary Reathel Odum (September 29, 1908 – June 9, 2006) and Elizabeth V. Wallace “Bess” Truman (February 13, 1885 — October 18, 1982), with Special Counsel Samuel I. Rosenman (February 13, 1896 — June 24, 1973) and Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion John W. Snyder (June 21, 1895 — October 8, 1985) are on the couch. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes (May 2, 1882 — April 9, 1972) is seated behind Truman. Standing behind Truman are United States Attorney General Tom C. Clark (September 23, 1899 — June 13, 1977) and Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference Arthur H. Vandenberg, Senior (March 22, 1884 — April 18, 1951) from Michigan. At midday, August 15, Tokyo time (which is fourteen hours ahead of Washington time, the Emperor’s voice was heard over the radio for the first time, reading the proclamation he had recorded the day before. Because of “a new and most cruel bomb,” he accepted the Potsdam Declaration and asked “our loyal subjects” to carry out his will. It was 0149 Hours on Tuesday, August 14, Washington time, when the Japanese news agencies flashed a bulletin that an imperial message was expected. Later that morning, a coded telegram from Tokyo arrived in Berne, raising hopes in Washington, but it turned out not to be the answer to the Allies’ message. The wait continued. Crowds started gathering in American cities, anticipating the official announcement of the end of the long war. At 1500 Hours, the valid message was received in Berne, and at 1605 Hours Washington Time, Secretary Byrnes impatiently telephoned the United States Minister in Berne and had him read it. At 1800 Hours, the Swiss chargé d’affaires delivered the formal Japanese notes to Byrnes. Truman gathered the cabinet and invited former Secretary of State Cordell Hull, now seriously ill, and Mrs. Truman to his office. At 1900 Hours, Truman, fresh from a swim, called in the reporters, who swarmed around his desk. Standing, he announced to all the world the unconditional surrender of Japan. He read his statement rapidly. “I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government. Before I go any further, this will be in the form of releases, so you don’t have to copy it unless you want to — in reply to the message forwarded to that Government by the Secretary of State on August 11. “I deem this reply a full acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, which specifies the unconditional surrender of Japan. In the reply, there is no qualification.” “Arrangements are now being made for the signing of the surrender terms at the earliest possible moment.” “General Douglas MacArthur has been appointed the Supreme Allied Commander to receive the Japanese surrender. Great Britain, Russia, and China will be represented by high-ranking officers.” “Meantime, the Allied armed forces have been ordered to suspend offensive action.” “Proclamation of V-J Day must wait upon the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan.” “The following is the Japanese Government’s message accepting our terms.” But before I start to read that, there are three releases to come; one has to do with a two-day holiday. The reason we are making it two days is that we didn’t get to celebrate the other day. (Laughter rang out among the correspondents.) “This is the official Swiss communique handed to the Secretary of State.” “‘Sir: I have the honor to refer to your note of August 11, in which you requested me to transmit to my Government the reply of the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and China to the message from the Japanese Government which was communicated in my note of August 10.” “At 2010 Hours today, Swiss Time, the Japanese Minister to Switzerland conveyed the following written statement to the Swiss Government for transmission to the four Allied governments.” “‘Communication of the Japanese Government of August 14, 1945, addressed to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China.” “‘With reference to the Japanese Government’s note of August 10 regarding their acceptance of the provisions of the Potsdam declaration and the reply of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China sent by American Secretary of State James Byrnes under the date of August 11, the Japanese Government have the honor to communicate to the Governments of the four powers as follows;” “‘1. His Majesty the Emperor has issued an Imperial rescript regarding Japan’s acceptance of the provisions of the Potsdam declaration.'” “‘2. His Majesty the Emperor is prepared to authorize and ensure the signature of his Government and the Imperial General Headquarters of the necessary terms for carrying out the provisions of the Potsdam declaration. His Majesty is also prepared to issue his commands to all the military, naval, and air authorities of Japan and all the forces under their control wherever located to cease active operations, to surrender arms, and to issue such other orders as may be required by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces for the execution of the abovementioned terms.’” “Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.” “Charge’ d’ Affaires of the Swiss Government in the United States.” (A reporter shouted, “I congratulate you!”) President Truman announced, “That is all.” Joseph A. Fox (August 4, 1891 – March 26, 1986) of the Washington Star said, “Thank you, Mister President.” There was applause and further congratulations. The press conference lasted less than two minutes — the White House Press dove over tables to grab copies of the statement. Shouting congratulations, the correspondents rushed out to flash the word. The war was over. Thousands jammed Lafayette Park in front of the White House in the lingering daylight of Washington’s summer time. Bells were rung, and car horns blared. Some of the crowd formed a conga line. They chanted for the President: “We want Harry!” He and Bess came out onto the north lawn of the White House. People surged across Pennsylvania Avenue, pressing the police and MPs against the White House’s iron fence. Truman walked along the wall, throwing the crowd the “V-for-victory” sign in United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill’s (November 30, 1874 — January 24, 1965) manner, and a great cheer went up. He waved to the crowd until his arm ached. Then he went back inside. The chanting continued, and the crowd kept growing. Truman stepped onto the North Portico and spoke over a microphone. “This is a great day—the day we have been waiting for.” The crowd roared. He knew that Americans in cities and towns across the country were celebrating the victory, and he was deeply moved. The President ordered all American field commanders to cease fighting. He telephoned Eleanor Roosevelt and told her he wished it had been her husband, not he, who had announced the news to the nation. He cut the monthly draft from eighty thousand to fifty thousand and gave all federal employees a two-day holiday. United States Army General Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 — April 5, 1964) was notified that his assignment as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers was practical immediately. He was ordered to obtain an imperial proclamation authorizing the Emperor’s representatives to sign the Instrument of Surrender. He was to receive the signed instrument for the four governments concerned and, in the interests of the other nations at war with Japan, for those nations as well. Each of the four powers was to designate a representative to attend the surrender. The American representative would be United States Navy Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. And MacArthur was instructed that from the moment of surrender, the Emperor and Japanese government were to rule subject to his orders. On Okinawa and in the Philippines, thousands of young American soldiers, sailors, and Marines celebrated the victory and the news that Japan would not have to be invaded, and they would live. The night sky above Manila lit up with tracer fire and flares. Abbie A. Rowe (August 23, 1905 — April 17, 1967) photographed the presidencies of Franklin D. Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 — April 12, 1945), Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 — March 28, 1969), John F. Kennedy (May 29, 1917 — November 22, 1963), and Lyndon B. Johnson (August 27, 1908 — January 22, 1973). In 1963, Rowe received the Distinguished Service Award of the Department of the Interior. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1569.jpg |
| Image Size | 976.81 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2916 x 2309 |
| Photographer | Abbie Rowe |
| Photographer Title | Harry S. Truman Library |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 14, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Washington |
| State or Province | District of Columbia |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 73-2017 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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