Captioned: "President Harry S. Truman is shown at his desk at the White House signing a proclamation declaring a national emergency." On December 16, 1950, President Truman proclaimed a national state of emergency in order to fight "Communist imperialism". The president signed a proclamation stating that it was necessary "that the military, naval, air and civilian defenses of this country be strengthened as speedily as possible to the end that we may be able to repel any and all threats against our national security." It called on "all citizens to make a united effort for the security and well-being of our beloved country" and on "our farmers, our workers in industry and our businessmen to make a mighty production effort to meet the defense requirements of the nation." The emergency proclamation granted the president additional executive powers and allowed him to institute a number of price and wage controls intended to strengthen American defense forces. Photograph credited to United States Information Agency (USIA) December 16, 1950.