Part one of term paper
As Vice-president, Harry Truman had not known about the development of the atomic bomb. On the day he assumed the Presidency at the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson had spoken to him briefly and told him that the United States was working on a weapon of extraordinary power. Twelve days later, on April 2 ...

Part two of term paper
... said that he had no great difficulty in reaching the decision. The question before him was how to end the war and save lives. He regarded the atomic bomb as a weapon -- an awesome one, to be sure -- but still a weapon to be used. Roosevelt’s view, apparently, had been the same. According to Stimson, who had been responsible to the President for the Manhattan Project since 1941, there was never any question in Roosevelt’s mind but the bomb would be used when ready. On Truman’s ord ...