President Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that had this expression on the front and the phrase “I’m from Missouri” on the reverse. The Phrase Finder reports that Fred M. Canfil, a friend of Truman’s, had seen the expression on a sign and had another made and sent to Truman. It is likely that Canfil had seen the sign on the desk of army officer Colonel A. B. Warfield, who had the sign on his desk as early as 1931. Truman intended for people to know that he would not “pass the buck,” which, as was posted previously, means to pass responsibility. Poker players often used a knife with a buck horn handle to indicate the dealer. That person would “pass the buck” or responsibility for dealing the next person.