In 1952, as Truman was completing his last full year in office, there was speculation that he would run for the US Senate once again. But Truman declined. Had Truman lost in 1948, and he were a former President in need of a job in 1952, might he have been more willing to run for the Senate again?

The POD is Dewey decides to wage an aggressive, hard-hitting campaign and Truman loses the 1948 election as expected. Come January 20, 1949 he is out of a job. Three years later, amid calls to return to public life, former President Truman announces his candidacy for the US Senate seat from Missouri. Would Truman win the election? What would be the impact of Truman pulling a John Quincy Adams and spending his remaining years in Congress?
 
Perhaps he would replace John McCormick as speaker. Support for Castro to get him on side with the usa.

McCormick was Speaker of the House, not Senate - which doesn't have a Speaker.

However, you raise an interesting point about Castro. Truman had wanted the US to support him and was privately critical of Eisenhower for not doing so. If Castro does come to power in Cuba around the same time as OTL despite butterflies, then I could see Senator Truman calling for economic aid to Castro's Cuba.
 
He could beat Senator Forrest Donnell in 1950, instead Thomas Hennings, or James Kem in 1952, instead Stuart Symington. In the first case he could decide to stay until 1968 and be succeeded by former Attorney General and Liutenant Governor Thomas Eagleton, in the second one he retires in 1964 and is succeeded by Liutenant Governor Edward Vaughn Long.
He will sponsor Medicaire and a law to limit CIA's powers. He could be also a member of Warren Commission.
 
If he really wants to return to Washington, 1950 makes more sense. Forrest C. Donnell (R) only very narrowly won in 1944 and was defeated by over seven points in 1950 in spite of it being a Republican year nationally. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_C._Donnell

I agree. If elected, Truman could take Thomas Hennings' place as a powerful member of the Senate Democratic Caucus. There'd be speculation that Truman would run for President again in 1952, but I don't think he'd want to and many Democrats would feel the same way.
 
Interestingly enough, Alben Barkley, Truman's VP, did exactly this. He left left the Vice Presidency in 1953, ran for Senate from Kentucke in 1955, and served until his death in 1956. Despite his previous office, he held no leadership or ceremonisc position in the Senate.
 
Interestingly enough, Alben Barkley, Truman's VP, did exactly this. He left left the Vice Presidency in 1953, ran for Senate from Kentucke in 1955, and served until his death in 1956. Despite his previous office, he held no leadership or ceremonisc position in the Senate.

It's worth pointing out that Truman would be a former President, not a VP, and presumably he'd be in office much longer than one year. By the later 1950s you could see Truman playing an important role in shaping policy, although I doubt he'd ascend to Majority Leader (a role likely to be filled by LBJ at some point before 1960).
 
It's worth pointing out that Truman would be a former President, not a VP, and presumably he'd be in office much longer than one year. By the later 1950s you could see Truman playing an important role in shaping policy, although I doubt he'd ascend to Majority Leader (a role likely to be filled by LBJ at some point before 1960).

This is very true.
 
This is very true.

Let's say that, as @David T has suggested, that Truman runs in 1950 and is elected. He'd be re-elected in 1956 and 1962. Given his age he might not run again in 1968. But can you imagine Harry Truman on the floor of the Senate during debates over NASA and the Civil Rights Act?
 
Let's say that, as @David T has suggested, that Truman runs in 1950 and is elected. He'd be re-elected in 1956 and 1962. Given his age he might not run again in 1968. But can you imagine Harry Truman on the floor of the Senate during debates over NASA and the Civil Rights Act?

In OTL Truman thought of running for the Senate in 1952 but decided not to--apparently because Bess didn't like the idea. [1] I am pretty sure she can persuade him to retire well before 1968...

[1] "As Truman had confided to Eisenhower, he was interested in running for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. Republican incumbent James P. Kem was up for reelection in 1952 and if Truman had taken him on it would have been no contest. But on April 3, Truman took himself out of the running. 'I shall not be a candidate for the United States Senate from Missouri', he said at a White House press conference. 'That satisfies you, doesn't it?'

"'President Truman would have liked very much to have been returned to the Senate of the United States, [Truman's Kansas City friend Tom L.] Evans recalled, 'because that's where he enjoyed himself and enjoyed the work more than anything that he had ever done. It's my personal opinion that Mrs. Truman was opposed to it and that is probably why he didn't'...." https://books.google.com/books?id=AbcQpkhgvFIC&pg=PA238
 
If someone like Symington is elected to the presidency I could easily see him offering Truman the position of Secretary of State.
 
In OTL Truman thought of running for the Senate in 1952 but decided not to--apparently because Bess didn't like the idea. [1] I am pretty sure she can persuade him to retire well before 1968...

[1] "As Truman had confided to Eisenhower, he was interested in running for the U.S. Senate in Missouri. Republican incumbent James P. Kem was up for reelection in 1952 and if Truman had taken him on it would have been no contest. But on April 3, Truman took himself out of the running. 'I shall not be a candidate for the United States Senate from Missouri', he said at a White House press conference. 'That satisfies you, doesn't it?'

"'President Truman would have liked very much to have been returned to the Senate of the United States, [Truman's Kansas City friend Tom L.] Evans recalled, 'because that's where he enjoyed himself and enjoyed the work more than anything that he had ever done. It's my personal opinion that Mrs. Truman was opposed to it and that is probably why he didn't'...." https://books.google.com/books?id=AbcQpkhgvFIC&pg=PA238

If Truman hasn't spent an extra (very painful) four years as President, and has the need to vindicate himself after losing to Dewey, Bess might be more supportive of a return to the Senate.

If elected, I think Truman serves at least two terms as a Senator. Depending on which year he runs, 1962 or 1964 would be a good time to retire if Bess really wants to go back home to Missouri. However, given Truman's apparent love of the Senate there is a possibility he would serve until his death.
 
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