NewYorkFirst.com: Harry Truman's Desk Sign

The Buck Stops Here.

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.