Harry S Truman U.S
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I tried never to forget who I was Harry Truman age 19, Daughter Margaret, Harry, ibrary ibrary L 1903 (left oval); Indepen- L and Bess in backyard of dence Square early 1900s 219 N. Delaware, 1934, RUMAN and where I’d come from and RUMAN (background); Truman in (second left); Gen. Dwight S. T S. T Missouri National Guard D. Eisen hower, Gen. arry where I was going back to. arry HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY HARRY H H HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY HARRY uniform about 1905 S. TRUMAN LIBRARY HARRY George Patton, and Presi- (below). dent Truman at ceremony, After nearly eight years in the Berlin, Germany, July 21, 1945, (left). White House and ten years in the The symbol of the United Senate, I found myself right back Nations, adopted in 1947, (below left) and a meno- where I started in Independence, rah, official emblem of the State of Israel (below Missouri. Harry Truman rides a culti- right). On May, 14, 1948, vator on the Grandview Truman was the first world farm, 1910 (above); Tru- leader to recognize the man sworn in as presiding new State of Israel. judge of Jackson County, National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site Missouri 1931 (right). A Most Uncommon Common Man Harry S Truman: 1884–1972 As a child he dreamed of being Truman’s mother, Determination and Patience Truman’s run for eastern district 1884 Born May 8 in 1910 Truman (in Grand- 1934 Elected to US to Blair House as White NPS a concert pianist and of going to Martha, instilled in Harry In 1910 Harry and Bess crossed judge (administrative position) Lamar, MO, to John and view) and Bess Wallace Senate. House renovations begin Martha Truman; named (in Independence) begin (lives there until 1952). college. Instead, at 17 he had to a love of music and books. paths again. While visiting his of Jackson County. Truman cam- Harry S; given a middle nine-year courtship. 1938–41 Mortgage start working full time. At 33 he He practiced the piano before aunt and uncle, the Nolands paigned hard, won, and loved the initial only to honor his foreclosure of Grand- 1950 Orders US forces to deemed himself a failure. By 38 school and by 14 had “read all in Independence, Truman volun- job. His reputation for integrity grandfathers Solomon 1914 –16 Father dies; view farm; Congress join South Korean troops his clothing business was bank- the books in the Independence teered to return a cake plate to and hard work impressed voters Young and Anderson Truman dabbles, unsuc- passes Wheeler-Truman in fight against invading rupt. Determined to succeed at enough to win him a US Senate Shipp Truman. cessfully, in mining, oil, Transportation Act (rail- North Korean Commu- Public Library.” Truman’s father, a neighbor, Mrs. Madge Wallace. and land ventures. road reform); elected to nists; proclaims state of something he entered politics, John, taught him the worth of Bess greeted him at the door, and seat. The Truman family moved Truman’s official 1885 Bess Wallace, Tru- second term, US senator. emergency when China NPS eventually becoming a US senator. hard work and of Midwestern their courtship began. He wrote to Washington, DC, in 1935 but badge as presiding man’s future wife, born 1917–18 Joins US Army; aids North Korea. At 60 he was suddenly President values—honesty, courage, and Bess letters from Grandview and, all remained Missourians at heart. judge (above right) February 13 in Indepen- and fights in WW I; is 1944 Elected vice presi- of the United States, facing deci- in 1911, proposed marriage. She In January 1945 Truman became and his Missouri dence, MO; christened captain of Battery D dent of US; Franklin D. 1951 Popularity ratings perseverance. Elizabeth Virginia. 129th Field Artillery, Roosevelt (FDR) elected drop as US effort in sions that held worldwide conse- turned him down. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vice presi- Democratic Conven- tion pin, April 15, 35th Div.; serves in to fourth presidential Korean War grows; fires quences. Who was this common In 1900 Truman got his first taste dent. Roosevelt died on April 12 1940 (above left); 1890 Family moves to France. term. Far East commander man abruptly thrust into this un- of politics when his father took By 1917, 33-year-old Truman was and, at 7:09 pm, Harry S Truman Bess Wallace age 12 Independence; Harry, Gen. Douglas MacArthur common role? him to the Democratic National in the midst of World War I as an became the 33rd US president. (below). six, meets Bess, five, at 1919 Harry and Bess 1945 Becomes 33rd for criticizing Truman’s HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY Sunday school. marry June 28; he moves president April 12 upon foreign policies. Convention in Kansas City. Truman officer in the US Army. Captain in with her family; FDR’s death; announces Midwestern Values loved the excitement of the nomi- Harry inspired his troops in France The Buck Stops Here 1901 Harry and Bess opens men’s clothing end of war in Europe on 1953–57 Korean War Harry S Truman was born in rural nations and the promises of better with his courage and determina- The new president faced monu- graduate from Indepen- store with Army friend May 8; attends Potsdam, ends; retires to Indepen- Missouri but claimed Indepen- times in the new century. But bet- tion. He brooked no insubordina- mental decisions. First he carried dence High School; his Eddie Jacobson. Germany, conference dence; dedicates Harry father loses savings in with Joseph Stalin and S. Truman Library. dence as his home town. The fam- ter times did not include young tion, and he lost no man in battle. on the drive to end World War II. grain-futures specula- 1922 Business fails; is Winston Churchill; au- ily moved there when he was six. Truman. In 1901 his father dashed Finally Truman felt successful. His He then turned to rebuilding war- tion; Truman begins elected eastern district thorizes use of atomic 1972 Dies December 26 That year Harry met five-year-old his dreams of college by losing the persistence paid off too when Bess torn Europe and halting Commu- series of jobs in Kansas judge of Jackson County bombs; Japan surrenders at age 88; is buried at Bess Wallace, daughter of a prom- family savings in risky investments. Wallace agreed to marry him on nist expansion. A series of crises, City area to help support Court. on August 14. Harry S. Truman Library. inent family. All his school years the Korean War in particular, kept family. Truman eventually found a good June 28, 1919. Truman opened a 1924 Daughter Marga- 1947 Issues Truman 1982 Bess Truman dies Harry adored Bess, the “beautiful job as a bank clerk in Kansas City. clothing store in Kansas City, and Truman away from Independence 1904 Bess and brothers ret born February 17; Doctrine; signs National October 18 at age 97; young lady with the blue eyes and He went to concerts and joined business thrived until a depression even more than during his senate move with their mother Truman loses reelection Security Act that estab- is buried next to Harry. golden hair,” a popular girl and the National Guard. At 22 his life closed the shop. By 1922 Truman years. Truman did not seek a third into grandparents’ house as eastern district judge. lishes CIA; mother dies. December 8, Congress an accomplished athlete. But the was looking for work. term. “I have had all of Washing- at 219 N. Delaware Ave. designates Harry S Tru- changed again when Truman’s 1926–34 Elected presid- 1948 Desegregates the man National Historic Site Harry S Truman, frail-looking boy with thick glasses father summoned him to help on ton I want,” he wrote. “I prefer 1906 Truman moves ing judge of Jackson armed forces; orders air- to preserve the Truman 33rd President. did not appeal to Bess. It took the farm in Grandview. Truman Truman’s next job, politics, turned my life in Missouri.” Back home to Grandview to help County Court, serves lift against the Soviet legacy and its inspiration Portrait by Greta years for Harry to overcome his heeded the call. He had never into a lifelong career. “Boss” Tom Truman enjoyed his walks and Grand mother Young two four-year terms; is Union’s blockade of Ber- for future generations. Kempton, 1947. and Truman family on active in Field Artillery lin; is elected to second WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOC. shyness and strike up a true farmed before, and it was arduous Pendergast, whose nephew knew being with his family and friends 600-acre farm. Reserve. term as president; moves Harry S Truman friendship. work for someone used to city life. Harry from Army days, backed once more. Grandview, Mo. Directions to the Truman Visitor Center (tickets and June 22, 1911 information) • From I-435, Dear Bessie: take Tru man Rd. exit 60; go east 3½ miles to the visitor Would you wear a solitaire on center at Truman Rd. and Main St. • From I-70, take your left hand should I get it? Noland Rd. exit 12; go north four miles; turn west onto . You know, were I an Italian Tru man Rd.; go two blocks or a poet I would commence to the visitor center. ibrary T BONSALL L and use all the luscious lan- E Seeing Independence Stroll- MAN U –© Jan ing around Independence R SK E guage of two continents. I am S. T D is like stepping back in time. ; T BONSALL NPS arry E not either but only .