01 / FIRST CASEHarry S. Truman · Truman
Creation of NATO
1949
Treaty approved · alliance established (1949)
Historical case snapshot · reviewed October 6, 2026
DOCUMENTARY EVENT PHOTOGRAPH
President Harry S. Truman addresses the North Atlantic Treaty signing ceremony, April 4, 1949, at the State Department Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Archival event photograph; not evidence of later treaty implementation.
Photo source & use notes
Date: Photographed April 4, 1949
Place: State Department Auditorium, Washington, D.C.
New York Times Paris Bureau / Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (306-NT-355C-24) (opens in a new tab)Public Domain — exact official archival item designation (opens in a new tab)
The archive marks this exact item Public Domain and credits the New York Times Paris Bureau. An individual photographer is not named.
The archive places responsibility for attribution and rights assessment on users. This ceremony photograph does not establish later treaty implementation.
A presidential-era record involving the Senate, Canada, and European founding members; not exclusive presidential causation. Historical alliance established; outcome verification refers to 1949, with institutional context from the March 2019 CRS vintage.
