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Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 1, Side A. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: advice to young politicians; Alonzo Fields; Martha Ellen Truman's visit to the White House; 1948 Democratic convention and election; discussion of historical elections.

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 8, Side A. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This tape duplicates portions of Tape 1, Side A and Side B. In addition, it has such topics as: General George C. Marshall's career; Chiang Kai-Shek; Mr. Truman's relationship with his daughter Margaret and his reaction to Paul Hume, the music critic; how Mr. Truman learned about the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945; Roosevelt's funeral; first decision about the United Nations; Truman's time as Vice President; Yalta and the US relationship with the Soviet Union; 1940 campaign for Senate; the end of the war in Europe; and a Roger Maris anecdote.

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 6, Side A. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such former President Truman answering questions about the Korean War from military officers at Fort Leavenworth. He discusses the role of the United Nations in the Korean War, possible use of atomic weapons, the origins of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and potential intervention in China. Two parts.

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 2, Side B. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See the Merle Miller Papers finding aid for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: the writing of the Constitution; American government; weak Presidents; memories of William Jennings Bryan.

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 1, Side A. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. Subjects discussed in this tape include witchcraft and hysteria in the United States.

This recording duplicates portions of Tapes 4B, 10B, 8A, and all of Tape 11. This recording covers the following topics:
- the witchcraft hysteria in seventeenth century Massachusetts
- Jefferson accused of being a "Jacobin"
- Anti-Masonic movement in the campaign of 1832
- Know-Nothing movement
- these two movements were the foundation for the Ku Klux Klan
- description of the origin of the Anti-Masonic movement
- the Know-Nothing and Anti-Masonic movements became anti-Catholic, and then became anti-everything
- the Ku Klux Klan, "the orneriest outfit the country every produced"
- Nathan Bedford Forest organized and then tried to disband the Ku Klux Klan
- Reconstruction was in fact "Redestruction"
- Alien and Sedition Laws - post World War I hysteria
- not as bad as earlier hysteria
- Joe McCarthy
- "a no-good son-of-a-bitch"
- only Senator in history who was almost unanimously censured
- "I cussed him out every time I got a chance"
- he was afraid of Truman
- a coward
- something in the American character prevents hysteria from carrying on too long
- vast majority of Americans are people of common sense
- some hysteria in agricultural areas during depression of 1930s
- common sense returned and things calmed down
- reasons why people became hysterical
- common sense always returns
- John Birch Society
- the politician's role in a time of hysteria
- he must have guts and do what's right
- he must make government work
- 1948: a time when a politician had to lead the people in the right direction
- if the people see that a politician is trying to do what's right, they will stay with him
- Americans have good common sense
- Truman was not a "made up" person
- 1960 campaign: a public relations quality
- counterfeits never last long
- the people can see through counterfeits
- people can see the truth, they are moral and well brought up
- Eisenhower as synthetic figure
- his office went to his head
- the 1930s
- a period of demagoguery
- the Pearl Harbor attack finally brought the country together
- decent people always take charge eventually
- this is not a special time
- there are always problems in the world
- lessons in history
- one generation does not learn the previous ones until the lessons are brought home with a hammer blow
- youngsters today think they know how to do things better, but they will learn eventually that they are part of a continuum
- the need for international law that can be enforced

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 1, Side B. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. Topics discussed on this tape include the Korean War; Civil War and Reconstruction in Kansas and Missouri; Point 4 program; and Truman Committee.

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 1, Side B. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: decision to drop the atomic bomb; Mr. Truman's childhood and school days; Mr. Truman's parents; reading; his entry into politics; county judge; other presidents.

One of eleven reel-to-reel tapes, of interviews conducted by Merle Miller, from late 1961 to early 1962, with Harry Truman. Miller used these materials to help write Plain Speaking. Occasionally William Hillman and David Noyes also sit in on the interviews. From the Papers of Merle Miller. Duplicates a portion of Tape 8, Side A (SR94-13), beginning "General Marshal-in World War I," and ending "Truman quickly recognized his special quality."