More than a few Americans remember the day 63 years ago, when World War II ended in Europe. It was V-E — Victory in Europe — Day, when Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender was accepted by the Allies (their military surrender had been signed the day before in France). The Russians still celebrate May 9 as Victory Day.

Throughout Europe, an ordeal that began in September 1939 was over at last. Back home in the United States, there was dancing in the streets and celebrations well into the night.

On this date in 1884, in Lamar, Mo., was born the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman (the “S.” was only an initial; he had no middle name). After Army service in World War I, he became part of the Kansas City Democratic political machine, eventually being elected U.S. Senator.

In the Senate he headed a war-time commission that ferreted out wastefulness in military procurement

When it came time to pick a running mate for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth term, party grandees wanted to dump Vice President Henry Wallace, who was considered unpredictable and susceptible to influence by radical leftists. They chose Truman at a time when Roosevelt was far more ill than was known publicly.

Roosevelt died less than a month before V-E Day and Truman, who, as vice president had been given very little information about the inner workings of Roosevelt’s White House, was suddenly a man who had to make a number of very important decisions. These involved such things as the use of nuclear weapons to hasten the surrender of Imperial Japan, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the beginning of desegregation of the U.S. armed services, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism and the creation of NATO.

Conversion of the domestic economy from war to peace time was disorderly, involving shortages and strikes. His earthy “Give-‘em-Hell-Harry” personality helped him come from behind to win a full term in 1948 against former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey,

In that term, the Korean War began, was nearly lost, nearly won, then dragged on. Truman’s popularity ratings sank to a low state. He decided to retire rather than run for another term in 1952.

He died in Kansas City on Dec. 26, 1972, at the age of 88. Since then, assessments of his presidency have risen steadily until now most historians put him among the 10 or so best presidents.