If Greece should fall under the control of an armed minority, confusion and disorder might well spread throughout the entire middle east moreover the disappearance of Greece as an independent state would have a profound effect upon those countries in europe whose peoples are struggling against great difficulties to maintain their freedoms and their independence while they repair the damages of war. Should we fail to aid Greece in this faiteful hour the effect will be far reaching the West as well as to East. We must take immediate and resolute action.

Excerpt of the address of president Harry Truman before a joint session of the congress of the United States of America on 12 March 1947.

Archive photographs from the installation of a 4 meter bronze statue of former American president Harry S. Truman. The monument is located in downtown Athens, Greece, next to the historic triangle of the Acropolis, Greek Parliament and Panathinaiko Stadium. Ever since its erection in 1963 as a commemoration to the Truman Doctrine, the monument has been a favorite target of citizens wishing to express their opposition to the very idea of placing a US president’s statue in the capital city of a country whose civil war was decided thanks to that very president’s intervention.