Memorandum from Justice Robert Jackson to President Harry S. Truman
6/6/1945
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On May 2, 1945, President Harry Truman appointed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson to the position of United States Chief Counsel for the International Military Tribunal to prosecute Axis war criminals. One month later, while preparing for the Nuremberg trials, Jackson sent this letter to President Truman.
Justice Jackson reported on preparations for the opening of the trial. He explained the urgency to organize the vast amounts of records as evidence, the plan for how to conduct the trial, and the rationale for targeting the leaders of key Nazi organizations and the charges against them.
On page 16, in part IV of the document, Jackson described the goals of the tribunal and its roots in international law, and the moral obligation to bring the perpetrators to justice. He closed (on page 21) by saying "The task of making this record complete and accurate, while memories are fresh, while witnesses are living, and while a tribunal is available is too important to the future opinion of the world to be undertaken before the case can be sufficiently prepared to make a credible presentation."
Justice Jackson reported on preparations for the opening of the trial. He explained the urgency to organize the vast amounts of records as evidence, the plan for how to conduct the trial, and the rationale for targeting the leaders of key Nazi organizations and the charges against them.
On page 16, in part IV of the document, Jackson described the goals of the tribunal and its roots in international law, and the moral obligation to bring the perpetrators to justice. He closed (on page 21) by saying "The task of making this record complete and accurate, while memories are fresh, while witnesses are living, and while a tribunal is available is too important to the future opinion of the world to be undertaken before the case can be sufficiently prepared to make a credible presentation."
This primary source comes from the Collection HST-PSF: President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 207523483
Full Citation: Memorandum from Justice Robert Jackson to President Harry S. Truman; 6/6/1945; Foreign Affairs File, 1940-1953: Germany: Nuremberg War Crimes; Subject Files, 1945 - 1953; Collection HST-PSF: President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration); Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/jackson-truman-nuremberg-preparation, April 30, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
