While the members of his team will "vigorously debate" the shape of future
U.S. foreign and security policies, President Obama bluntly said he will set
policy.
"The buck stops with me," he said, in a reference to the legendary desk sign
used by the man from Missouri who served as the thirty-third President of
the United States.
By placing the sign "The Buck Stops Here" on his desk, President Truman was
stating categorically that he was responsible for all decisions made in the
Oval Office.
No one else was to take the blame for the way the country was governed. On
more than one occasion President Truman referred to the inscription in
public statements.
For example, in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952
Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to
say
what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the
decision is up before you - and on my desk I have a motto which says 'The
Buck Stops Here' - the
decision has to be made." And in his farewell address to the American
people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very
specifically in
asserting that, "The President - whoever he is - has to decide. He can't
pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's
his job."
Approximately 2-1/2" x 13" in size and mounted on walnut base, the painted
sign has the words "I'm From Missouri" on the reverse side. The replicas are
commissioned
by the Truman Library and hand-crafted by inmates of the Missouri State
Penitentiary.
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Barack Obama African Sculpture
 Barack Obama Cast Sculpture
 Barack Obama Oval Office Chair
 Barrister Book Cases
 Bill Clinton Oval Office Chair
 Bouillotte Lamp
 Cabinet Secretary Chair
 George H. W. Bush Oval Office Chair
 George W. Bush Oval Office Chair
 George Washington Desk
 Great Seal Pillow
 Harry Truman's Desk Sign
 JFK Artifacts
 JFK Collectible
 John F. Kennedy Oval Office Chair
 Kennedy on Rocker Sculpture
 Lincoln Rocker
 Lyndon Johnson Oval Office Chair
 Navy Swivel-and-Tilt Office Chair
 Organic Luxury Mattress
 President's Desk
 Rayburn Collection
 Richard Nixon Oval Office Chair
 Ronald Reagan Oval Office Chair
 Roosevelt Room Chair
 Rose Garden Collection
 The Lincoln Bed
 The Oval Office Fireside Chair
 The Resolute Desk
 True Kennedy Rocker
 United States Great Seal Rug
 William Howard Taft Oval Office Chair

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