When Truman took office in April 12

When Truman took office in April 12, 1945, he faced a unique and terrible decision--whether to use the atomic bomb against Japan.
Truman learned about the atomic bomb soon after becoming President. Now, he agonized over whether to use the weapon against the Japanese.
Scientists promised that the yet untried weapon would be more destructive than any the world had ever known. Its use would minimize American casualties, but thousands of Japanese civilians would die.
In June, a committee appointed by the president recommended using the bomb. Truman concurred.
After Japan refused a demand for unconditional surrender Truman went forward with his plan. On August 6, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a Japanese industrial center, completely destroying the city and killing an estimated 70,000 people. Three days later, the US dropped a second bomb, destroying the city of Nagasaki and killing another 39,000 Japanese citizens. Finally, on August 14, Japan surrendered.
Truman would spend a lifetime trying to justify his decision. Truman had let the most horrible genie imaginable out of the bottle, and the world would forever live in fear that someone might employ that genie again.

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