Claim May 10, 1948 I HAVE today by Executive order taken over the country's railroads and directed the Secretary of the Army to operate them in the name of the United States Government.
Correction This quotation is misdated/misattributed: the same wording (“I HAVE today issued... in the name of the United States Government”) is from Truman’s August 25, 1950 statement, not May 10, 1948. Truman’s May 10, 1948 Executive Order 9957 also specifies operation would continue “in the names of their respective companies,” not “in the name of the United States Government.”
Full reasoning
The post presents a direct quotation (all-caps "I HAVE today...") and attributes it to **May 10, 1948**.
However, the **Harry S. Truman Library & Museum** page titled *“Statement by the President Upon Issuing Order Taking Control of the Nation's Railroads”* contains the matching sentence and dates it **August 25, 1950**—including the distinctive phrase **“in the name of the United States Government.”** This indicates the wording shown in the post aligns with Truman’s 1950 statement, not a May 10, 1948 statement. ([trumanlibrary.gov](https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/public-papers/221/statement-president-upon-issuing-order-taking-control-nations-railroads))
Separately, Truman’s **May 10, 1948** railroad seizure order (**Executive Order 9957**) does direct the Secretary of the Army to operate the seized rail transportation systems, but it also explicitly says the carriers’ boards/officers/employees would continue operations **“in the names of their respective companies”**—which contradicts the post’s claim that the Secretary was directed to operate them **“in the name of the United States Government.”** ([trumanlibrary.gov](https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/executive-orders/9957/executive-order-9957?utm_source=openai))
The National Archives’ Executive Order disposition table confirms **EO 9957** was signed **May 10, 1948**, reinforcing that the May 10, 1948 document is EO 9957 (not the August 1950 statement that contains the quoted phrasing). ([archives.gov](https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/1948.html))
3 sources
- Harry S. Truman Library & Museum — Statement by the President Upon Issuing Order Taking Control of the Nation's Railroads (August 25, 1950)
Dated August 25, 1950: “I HAVE today issued an Executive order... providing for their operation by the Secretary of the Army in the name of the United States Government.”
- Harry S. Truman Library & Museum — Executive Order 9957 (May 10, 1948), Possession, Control, and Operation of Certain Railroads
EO 9957 (May 10, 1948) provides for seizure through the Secretary of the Army, but states carriers would continue operation “in the names of their respective companies.”
- National Archives — Executive Orders Disposition Tables (1948)
Lists Executive Order 9957 “Possession, Control, and Operation of Railroads” as signed May 10, 1948 (13 FR 2503, May 11, 1948).