Daily Appointments of Harry S. Truman
July 16, 1947
President Harry S. Truman's appointment calendar covers the dates from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953. Please select a date within that range.
| The Secretary of War [Robert P. Patterson] | ||
| [Public Papers: Letter to Members of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch] | ||
| (Mr. Clem Randau) (Former Editor of Chicago Sun - arranged by Mr. Eben Ayers) | ||
| The President signed H.R. 494, "A Bill to Reorganize the System of Parole of Prisoners convicted in the District of Columbia." The following werre present: Colonel Campbell Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Director of Selective Service Honorable Leo Rover, Member, District Parole Board Mr. Frank R. Jelleff, Chairman of Parole Board Mr. Wilbur LaRoe, former Member of Board Mr. Hugh Rivers, Executive Secretary of the Parole Board | ||
| Congressman R. Ewing Thomason, Texas (Is leaving in a few days, and wanted to say "goodbye", ask the President to sign a picture for him and discuss politics in Texas.) | ||
| The Secretary of Agriculture [Clinton P. Anderson] (Phoned the President direct about this.) | ||
| Mr. W. L. Hemingway, of St. Louis, Missouri Mr. Eugene P. Thomas Mr. William S. Swingle (Mr. Hemingway phoned Mr. Matthew Connelly yesterday. These gentlemen represent National Foreign Trade Council. They are going to hold their Convention in St. Louis. Mr. Hemingway is the local convention Chairman and they want to invite the President to their Convention.) | ||
| Honorable H. F. Arthur Schoenfeld, American Minister to Hungary (Is retiring and wishes to pay respects and say "goodbye". State Department says, "Mr. Schoenfeld is retiring from the Foreign Service after a distinguished career of over thirty years. He has been United States Minister to the Dominican Republic, Finland and Hungary, and has recently returned from his post at Budapest.") | ||
| Senator Tom Connally, Texas | ||
| The Secretary of State [George C. Marshall] | ||
| Senator Lister Hill, Ala. Senator John Sparkman Congressman Pete Jarman (Presented the President with a basket of prize- winning peaches from Alabama.) | ||
| (Lunch) | ||
| (Staff Meeting) | ||
| The President presented trophies to the individual winners in the recently concluded ten pin bowling competition held within Veterans Administration Paraplegic Centers. They went first to the President's Office, where they received their medals and then went down to the bowling alley. After the Press Conference the President went down to the bowling alley to watch them bowl. The winners and guests were: Gerald A. Kopp, Van Nuys Hospital, California First Place Winner Leo F. Ladouceur, Van Nuys Hospital, California Second Place Winner Gordon C. Scott, Kennedy Hospital, Memphis, Tenn. Third Place Winner Dr. Ernest Bors, Chief of the Paraplegic Service, Van Nuys Hospital, California Mr. Russell McKeown, Athletic Director, Van Nuys Hospital, California Dr. Charles E. Thompson, Chief of the Paraplegic Service, Kennedy Hospital Mr. Henry E. Reid, Athletics, Kennedy Hospital General Omar N. Bradley, Administrator of Veterans Affairs O. W. Clark, Executive Assistant Administrator Francis R. Kerr, Assistant Administrator for Special Services A. S. Mason, Executive Asst. Administrator, Special Services B. E. Phillips, Assistant Director, Athletic Service J. E. Nixon, Athletic Service C. H. Swift, Athletic Service A. G. Ivey, Special Services Dr. Paul R. Hawley, Chief Medical Director Dr. R. C. Cook, Deputy Medical Director Dr. D. A. Covalt, Asst. Medical Director for Rehabilitation Dr. P. B. Magnuson, Asst. Medical Director, Research and Education Mr. R. E. Adkins, Exec. Officer, Dept. of Medicine and Surgery Lt. Colonel C. B. Hansen, Actg. Director of Public Relations A. W. Woolford, Asst. Director of Public Relations A. L. Ebersole, Director, Bowlers Victory Legion, 1420 New York Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C. | ||
| Press and Radio Conference [Public Papers] | ||
| Executive Orders: [9874 CREATING AN EMERGENCY BOARD TO INVESTIGATE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY (PACIFIC LINES), THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY AND THE SAN DIEGO & ARIZONA EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY AND CERTAIN OF THEIR EMPLOYEES] | ||
| Executive Orders: [9875 PROVIDING AN INTERIM ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS] | ||
| [Public Papers: Letter Accepting Resignation of Robert P. Patterson as Secretary of War] | ||
| [Public Papers: Letter to the Chairman of the Air Coordinating Committee] | ||
| [Public Papers: Letter Appointing Members to the Air Policy Commission] | ||
| [Public Papers: Veto of Second Bill To Reduce Income Taxes] | ||
| Cabinet [Meeting] (Honorable Keen Johnson for Labor and Honorable Jesse N. Donaldson for Post Office. All others present.) | ||
| Honorable James E. Webb, Director, Bureau of the Budget (Phoned late yesterday afternoon for appointment.) | ||
| Honorable George Hamilton Combs, former Congressman from Missouri (Phoned Mr. Connelly last week from New York to ask if he might come in to see the President and discuss politics) | ||
| Honorable Frank A. Waring, Chairman, Philippine War Damage Commission (Plans to leave for the Philippines on Saturday. Hopes to have half-hour to discuss work of the Commission, and also conditions in the Philippines.) | ||
| Honorable Joseph J. O'Connell, Jr., General Counsel for the Treasury Department The Secretary of the Treasury [John W. Snyder] (Phoned Mr. Connelly yesterday to ask for this) | ||
| Honorable William D. Pawley, U. S. Ambassador to Brazil (Phoned Mr. Connelly yesterday to ask for this.) | ||
| Major General Kenneth F. Cramer (To succeed General Miltonberger as Head of the National Guard Bureau) | ||
| (Lunch) | ||
| (Honorable J. K. Vardaman) | ||
| (Honorable George Allen) | ||
| [Public Papers: Statement by the President Upon Signing Resolution Authorizing Approval of Trusteeship Agreement for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands] | ||
| (The Secretary of Treasury [John W. Snyder]) | ||
| (Colonel Raymond Daley) (Mr. Howell Crim) | ||
| The President and his party left for a weekend cruise abroad the USS WILLIAMSBURG. The following accompanied the President: Honorable Clark Clifford Honorable Charles Ross Dr. John Steelman Honorable Stanley Woodward Honorable Charles Murphy Honorable George Allen Mr. George Elsey | ||
| Aboard the USS WILLIAMSBURG | ||
| Returned to the White House. | ||
| [Public Papers: Excerpts from Special Message: The President's Midyear Economic Report to the Congress] | ||
| Senator Styles Bridges, N. H. (Phoned Mr. Connelly for this appointment) | ||
| Congressman Charles A. Plumley, Vt. (Wanted to bring the President a set of bookends made of Vermont marble) | ||
| (Mr. Roy Harper) | ||
| (Mr. Paul Dillon) | ||
| (Mr. Gael Sullivan) | ||
| (Mr. Rex Smith of American Airlines) (Came to see Mr. Connelly and to see the President) | ||
| The President received the Legislative Yuan Mission: Mr. S. Y. Wu, Secretary-General of the Legislative Yuan Dr. Chaoyuen C. Chang, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Dr. Robert C. W. Sheng, Member of the Legislative Yuan Dr. Yui Ming, Adviser of the Mission Mr. Yin-yue Ko, Secretary H. E. Dr. V. K. Wellington Koo, the Ambassador of China (This Mission is in the United States studying certain problems of lawmaking. The Ambassador asked Mr. Woodward to arrange for the President to receive them) | ||
| H. E. Dr. Joao Antonio de Bianchi, The Ambassador of Portugal (Retiring and wished to say "goodbye". Has been the Portuguese Minister and Ambassador to the United States for the past fourteen years and is returning to Lisbon to assume duties as Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) | ||
| The Secretary of State [George C. Marshall] (Usual Monday appointment] | ||
| (Cabinet Luncheon - All present with the exceptions of the Secretary of Agriculture, The Postmaster General and the Secretary of Labor) | ||
| (Mr. Donald Dawson) (Chief of Personnel, RFC - off record) | ||
| Congressman John W. McCormack, Massachusetts | ||
| [Public Papers: Statement by the President: The Jewish New Year] | ||
| (Mr. Oscar Berger - Artist) | ||
| (Mr. William Boyle) | ||
| (Mr. Oscar Ewing and son) | ||
| H. E. Senor Dr. Gonzalo Carnevali, the Ambassador of Venezuela (Newly appointed - presented credentials) | ||
| (Mr. Louis B. Lundborg) (Dr. John R. Steelman) (Mr. Lundborg is General Manager of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce) | ||
| (Mr. Hugh Fulton) (Phoned Mr. Connelly last week to ask if he might come in, off record, as he had not seen the President for sometime) | ||
| (Honorable Robert Lovett, Under Secretary of State) | ||
| (Lunch) | ||
| Honorable Robert Patterson, Secretary of War Honorable Kenneth Royall, Under Secretary of War | ||
| [Public Papers: Letter to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House Concerning a Proposed Statue of Commodore John Batty] | ||
| Congressman Joe L. Evins, Tenn. Congressman Monroe Redden, N. C. Congressman Robert E. Jones, Jr., Ala. Congressman William J. Dorn, S. C. Congressman Harold D. Donohue, Mass. Congressman Charles B. Deane, N. C. Congressman James C. Davis, Ga. Congressman John A. Blatnik, Minn. Congressman Laurie C. Battle, Ala. Congressman Omar Burleson, Texas Congressman Wingate Lucas, Texas Congressman John Bill Williams, Miss. (Speaker Rayburn phoned Mr. Connelly yesterday to ask if these freshmen Congressmen might come in today and meet the President) | ||
| Congressman Alfred J. Elliott, Calif (To discuss flood control in his State. Particularly does he feel that there is one stream which is being overlooked, inasmuch as there is so much oil and many oil wells in the path of the flood area) | ||
| The President signed H. R. 1888, "To incorporate the AMVETS, American Veterans of World War II". The following were present: Mr. Ray Sawyer, National Commander, AMVETS Senator Alexander Wiley, Wis. Congressman Francis E. Walter, Pa. Mr. Jack W. Hardy, Past National Commander Mr. J. R. Gorman, National Membership Director Mr. Albert J. Reynolds, Mass. Mr. Richard D. Marks, W. Va. Mr. J. S. Crespi, Ga. Mr. A. J. Madar, Mich. Miss Agnes Frazee, Pa. Mr. Wm. O'Toole, Head, Production Dept. Mr. Nick Japple, Exec. District Committeeman Miss Ruth Miskell, Secretary to Congressman Walter (This was done at request of Congressman Walter, Pa. | ||
| Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. | ||
| (Mr. Roy Harper) | ||
| (The President left for Capitol with Mr. Matthew Connelly, Mr. Charles Ross, Mr. Clark Clifford, Dr. John Steelman and Admiral James Foskett, where they lunched with Mr. Leslie Biffle) | ||
| While at the Capitol, the President visited the Senate Chamber, took his old seat, was recognized by the President of the Senate and made a brief impromptu speech. | ||
| (Colonel Louis Truman) | ||
| (The President motored to the home of the Secretary of the Navy, Honorable James V. Forrestal, where he dined.) | ||
| Executive Orders: [9876 AUTHORIZING THE PHILIPPINE ALIEN PROPERTY ADMNISTRATOR TO PERFORM CERTAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT WITH RESPECT TO ALIEN PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE PHILIPPINES] | ||
| Press and Radio Conference [Public Papers] | ||
| Honorable Chester Bowles (Phoned ten days ago to say he would be in Washington today and hoped the President would see him) | ||
| Honorable Robert F. Jones, Member, F. C. C. (To thank the President for his appointment) | ||
| (Honorable Myron Taylor) (Phoned Mr. Connelly a week ago to ask if he might come in and see the President, off record.) | ||
| (Lunch) (Downstairs in the Executive Office) | ||
| (Mr. Al Cohn) | ||
| (The President left for the Pentagon Building where he attended a Buffet Supper in honor of retiring Secretary of War, Honorable Robert Patterson) | ||
| [Public Papers: Statement by the President on the Dangers of Explosive-Type War Souvenirs] | ||
| [Public Papers: Statement by the President Upon Signing Resolution Terminating Additional Emergency Powers] | ||
| Honorable Jed Johnson, Judge, U. S. Customs Court (Phoned Mr. Connelly yesterday for this appointment) | ||
| (Honorable Edwin Pauley) | ||
| The President signed H. R. 3191, "To amend Public Law 301, Seventy-ninth Congress, approved February 18, 1946, so as to extend the benefits of the Missing Persons Act, approved March 7, 1942 (56 Stat. 143), as amended to certain members of the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.) The following persons were present: H. E. Joaquin M. Elizalde, Ambassador of the Philippines Honorable Emmet O'Neal, U. S. Ambassador to the Philippines Mr. Narciso Ramos, Minister, Counselor of the Philippines Colonel Jaime C. Velasquez, Military Attache, Philippine Embassy Colonel Jose Razon Captain Osmundo Mondenedo Major Marcas Mr. Valencia | ||
| The Honorable C. D. B. King, the Minister of Liberia (Newly appointed. Presented credentials) | ||
| (Lunch) | ||
| General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Phoned Mr. Connelly yesterday to ask if he might have a half hour appointment with the President.) | ||
| (Mr. Roy Harper) | ||
| Executive Orders: [9877 FUNCTIONS OF THE ARMED FORCES] | ||
| [Public Papers: Statement by the President Upon Signing Bill Authorizing Redemption of Veterans' Terminal Leave Bonds] | ||
| (EDST) The President received an emergency call from his sister, Miss Mary Jane Truman, regarding the critical condition of his mother and decided to fly immediately to Grandview Airport, Grandview, Missouri. | ||
| (EDST)The President, accompanied by Dr. John R. Steelman, Secretary Matthew J. Connelly, Admiral James H. Foskett, and other members of the staff, departed the White House for the ATC Terminal, National Airport, where at 12.30 p.m. (EDST) the President and his party took off aboard Army Plane 451 for the trip to Grandview Airport, Grandview, Missouri. | ||
| (EDST)Prior to the take-off the President signed S. 758. The National Security Act of 1947 (Unification Bill) in his room aboard the plane immediately upon its arrival and delivery by Mr. Leslie Biffle, Mr. Carl A. Loeffler, Secretary of the Senate and Mr. Herbert Miller, Chief of Records at the White House. | ||
| (EDST) (11:26 a.m. CST) While in flight over Cincinnati, Captain Charles Mills received a radio message from the Secret Service, requesting the President be informed that his mother died at 11:00 a.m. (CST). The message was delivered to Secretary Matthew Connelly, who in turn gave it to Brigadier General Wallace Graham for delivery to the President. | ||
| (EDST)(3.25 p.m. CST)The Presidential plane arrived at Grandview. The President was met by Mrs. Truman, Miss Margaret Truman, and Mr. J. V. Truman, and immediately after the greeting they entered waiting cars, accompanied by Secretary Charles Ross and General Wallace Graham, and immediately proceeded to the Grandview residence of his late mother, arriving at 3.40 p.m.(CST) | ||
| (EDST)(5.15 p.m. CST)The President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman, departed Grandview and motored direct to their home in Independence, arriving at 5.50 p.m. (CST) The President remained at home for the evening. | ||
| At 9.43., CST, the President, accompanied by Miss Margaret Truman, departed his home in Independence, Missouri, and motored direct to the residence of his late mother at Grandview, Missouri, arriving at 10.15 a.m., where they remained until 12.20 p.m., at which time the President, again accompanied by Miss Margaret Truman, departed the Grandview residence and motored direct to his home in Independence, arriving at 12.50 p.m. At 4.10 p.m., CST, the President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman, departed their Independence home and again motored to the Grandview residence where they arrived at 4.40 p.m. At 6.15 p.m., Miss Margaret Truman, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wallace, departed the Grandview residence and returned to their respective homes in Independence. At 7.25 p.m., CST, the President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman and Mr. and Mrs. Vivian Truman, departed the Grandview home and motored to the residence of Mr. Vivian Truman, where the latter and his wife took their departure, and the President and Mrs. Truman then proceeded to their home in Independence, arriving at 8.00p.m. | ||
| At 12.55 p.m., CST, the President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman, departed their home in Independence and motored over to the home of his late mother in Grandview, Missouri, arriving at 1.25 p.m. During the period from 1.30 to 3.00 p.m., friends and relatives of the immediate family assembled at the home to attend the funeral services which began at 3.00 p.m. and ended at 3.20 p.m. At 3.30 p.m., the funeral procession started for the Forest Hills Cemetery, arriving at the family plot at 3.50 p.m. Reverend Bowman conducted the services at the house, as well as at the grave. After the services at the grave, the President and his immediate family entered their cars for the return trip to Grandview, arriving at 4.25 p.m. At 4.55 p.m., the President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman, departed the Grandview home and motored direct to their home in Independence, arriving at 5.25 p.m. There were no further activities for this day. | ||
| At 8.35 a.m., CST, the President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman and Miss Margaret Truman, departed their Independence home and motored to the residence of his late mother in Grandview, arriving at 9.05 a.m., where he conferred with Miss Mary Jane Truman. At 9.25 a.m., the President, accompanied by Mrs. Truman, Miss Margaret and Miss Mary Jane Truman, departed the Grandview home and motored to the nearby Grandview Airport, arriving at 9.35 a.m., where the President, joined by his staff and the Mexican Ambassador, Senor Dr. Don Antonio Espinosa de los Monteros, boarded Army Plane 451 for the return trip to Washington, D. C., leaving Grandview Airport at 9.50 a.m. CST. The plane arrived at the ATC Terminal, National Airport, Washington, D. C., at 4.20 p.m. EDST. Upon deplaning, the President was greeted by those members of his staff who had remained in Washington, including Secretary William D. Hassett and Chief of Protocol Stanley Woodward. Immediately there- after, he entered his car and motored direct to the White House, arriving at 4.30 p.m., EDST. | ||
| [Public Papers: Statement by the President Upon Approving Resolution Providing for Congressional Study of Aviation Problems] | ||
| [Public Papers: Memorandum of Disapproval of Bill To Amend the Interstate Commerce Act] |