Is it true that the "S" in Harry "S" Truman doesnt stand for anything?

Question

I think i'v heard this before, but never knew if it was true.

And god knows what people say on answers...is the law!

phhhpppp!

Answer 1

no. it doesn't just stand for S.  It stands for Sammuel.

Answer 2

yes, his middle name was actually "S"

Answer 3

Yes.  That's why when his name is printed properly, there is no period after the S.  Since the S doesn't stand for anything, it is not an abbreviation.

Answer 4

I don't know, but my middle "name" is B.  - with the period at the end.  It's on my birth certificate and everything.

Answer 5

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/speriod.htm

here you go

Answer 6

the S is a compromise and a nod to both of his grandfathers - Shippe & Solomon

why so many thumbs down for the people with the right answer? EL Ro, Corinthian and myself?

Answer 7

It depends on how you look at it. His middle name was, actually, S. It was chosen to mollify his grandfathers, Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young. This is from Wikipedia so...

Answer 8

True -

His parents chose "S" as his middle name, in attempt to please both of Harry's grandfathers, Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young; the initial did not actually stand for anything, as was a common practice among Scots-Irish.

Answer 9

who cares?

Answer 10

yes it is just s

both of his grandfathers had first names begining with the letter S, his parents did not want to play favorites so they went with a plain an simble S

:)

hope that helps

Answer 11

from Harry S. Truman Trivia:

Mr. Truman apparently initiated the "period" controversy in 1962 when, perhaps in jest, he told newspapermen that the period should be omitted. In explanation he said that the "S" did not stand for any name but was a compromise between the names of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young. He was later heard to say that the use of the period dated after 1962 as well as before.

Answer 12

It does stand for something, but it is not Samuel.  His grandfathers names were, Anderson Shippe & Solomon.  As a compromise, his parents chose the letter "S".  There is no period after it to denote any longer name.

Answer 13

Truman did not have a middle name, only a middle initial. In his autobiography, Truman stated, "I was named for . . . Harrison Young. I was given the diminutive Harry and, so that I could have two initials in my given name, the letter S was added. My Grandfather Truman's name was Anderson Shippe [sometimes also spelled 'Shipp'][149] Truman and my Grandfather Young's name was Solomon Young, so I received the S for both of them." He once joked that the S was a name, not an initial, and it should not have a period, but official documents and his presidential library all use a period.[4] Furthermore, the Harry S. Truman Library has numerous examples of the signature written at various times throughout Truman's lifetime where his own use of a period after the S is conspicuous.

Answer 14

Yes it's true. His parents gave him the middle initial S to represent his grandparents.

Answer 15

It is true - Stephen Fry said it on QI the other night and he is a very knowledgeable man!

Answer 16

LOL

In this instance, it's true. The "S" is just an initial.