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Screen Gems Collection

Outtakes from Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman

Compiled by Brent Pennel, Pauline Testerman, and Amy L. Williams (2003); Pauline Testerman (2007, 2009).


The Screen Gems Collection consists of outtakes created during the production of the film series, Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman. Included is material created by both Talent Associates, Ltd. and Screen Gems, Inc. Material ranges from informal interviews with Truman, members of his family, and associates, to more formal, scripted readings by Truman. There are a few instances of historical footage from unknown sources that was gathered for use in the production. The subject matter includes Truman's personal life as well as his decisions as president. Sound recordings comprise about 90% of the collection. Formats include 35mm and 16mm black and white film, reel-to-reel tape, and 35mm and 16mm soundtracks.

The outtakes are listed below by accession number, which is the number researchers need when requesting to view or obtain a copy of an outtake. All of the films in the Truman Library's collection are available for viewing at the Library and for copying. The films are not loaned. For additional information about the Screen Gems Collection, please contact the archives staff by telephone at 816-268-8228, by e-mail at truman.reference@nara.gov, or by writing to the Library at 500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri 64050.

Keyword Search

Search Results: 551

Screen Gems Collection

35mm/26 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman talks about American Prisoners of War in camps set up by the Nazis in Russian-occupied territory. Film with sound.
35mm/26 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks of Charles DeGaulle of France. Film with sound.
35mm/13 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman talking about the time it took to handle problems in Berlin, Korea, and other situations. Film with sound.
35mm/47 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman talks about American Prisoners of War in Russian-occupied territory. Truman also talks about Charles DeGaulle and France. Film with sound.
35mm/21 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman says the Russian attitude caused European nations to realize they needed a closer association with the United States, which led to NATO. Film with sound.
35mm/1 minute 3 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman says "and they'll never get it as long as the United States is the strong, free country it is today." Film with sound.
35mm/39 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman talks about Russian-occupied Europe. Film with sound.
35mm/16 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman says "We still had hope there would be peace in the world . . . the only peace Russia stands for is what you have as far as divisions are concerned." Film with sound.
35mm/38 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaks of being a Captain in World War I. Sound only.

35mm/1 minute 19 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaking of the 1948 Republican convention nominating Thomas Dewey happening at the same time as the Berlin Blockade. Film with sound.
35mm/41 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman standing before map of Berlin, indicating roads and air routes into Berlin. After about 15 seconds, the image disappears and it is only soundtrack. Film with sound.
35mm/48 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks about his run for election in 1948, and making up his mind that he wanted a second term. Film with sound.
35mm/25 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman, standing before a map of Berlin, says "this they were not ready to do this and on May 12 they abandoned the siege of Berlin." Film with sound.
35mm/30 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks of pianist Eugene List, who performed at the Potsdam Conference. Film with sound.
35mm/44 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks of Emancipation Proclamation of 1868, and how it has only been enforced in recent years. Film with sound.
35mm/1 minute 36 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks of religion, that if people would abide by Sunday School teachings, we wouldn't have to have any laws. Film with sound.
35mm/3 minutes 3 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks about Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln-Douglas debate. Film with sound.
35mm/2 minutes 12 seconds
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks about his friend, Eddie Jacobson, their experiences being in business together in the haberdashery, and that he had never met a finer man. Film with sound.
35mm/29 seconds
Description: Mostly silent, quick clips of Harry S. Truman; he says "so we didn't know what we were going to do." Film with sound.
35mm/1 minute 22 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses accepting the Vice-Presidential nomination and a conversation between himself and Eleanor Roosevelt concerning Franklin D. Roosevelt's health. Truman also recalls that FDR didn't want him traveling by plane for safety's sake. This segment was probably to be used for episode 1. Sound only.

35mm/44 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaks of how the city of Independence, Missouri gave him 13 acres of land for the building of the Harry S. Truman Library. After he raised funds he turned it over to the General Services Administration. Sound only.

35mm/5 minutes 16 seconds
Description:

Several connected film clips of Harry S. Truman answering questions from students in the auditorium of the Harry S. Truman Library. There is only one clip that includes sound, about 31 seconds into the film, when Truman responds to a question about how he became president. Film with sound.

/22 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaking of nobody knowing what the historians will say about you after you're gone. He says that you can't tell if a man has been right or wrong in his decisions until he's been dead about 50 years. As much as he would like to, he doesn't think he'll live that long. Sound only.

35mm/8 minutes
Description: Harry S. Truman speaks about the Nuremberg Trials. The comments are interspersed with periods of silence. Truman mentions Judge Samuel Rosenman, Judge Robert Jackson, and how Truman didn't want Adolf Hitler to become a hero to people as happened with Napoleon. Sound only.
35mm/1 minute 56 seconds
Description:

Newsreel footage of President Harry S. Truman delivering a campaign address at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, California on September 23, 1948. Film with sound.