Citation: Landmark Document in American History

Doctrine enunciated by U.S. President Harry S Truman in a speech to

Congress on March 12, 1947, proclaiming a U.S. commitment to aid

noncommunist countries to resist expansion by the Soviet Union. Truman,

announcing this plan to contain communism, declared that American policy

was "to help free peoples to maintain their free institutions and their

national integrity against aggressive movements that seek to impose upon

them totalitarian regimes." He asked Congress for $400 million to

defend Greece and Turkey from Soviet aggression. Congress approved the

request in May 1947, signaling a departure from the former policy of

noninvolvement in European affairs.