Motion Picture MP2002-109
Administrative Information
Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as planning the Jackson County Courthouse, the Truman balcony on the White House, Missouri and Kansas during the Civil War, and qualities of leadership and greatness in men. This clip includes Truman's cousin, Ethel Noland, speaking about Truman's youth on the Grandview farm. Sound only.
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Shot List
| 0:00 | Unidentified voice says “61 4588 Roll 6, 16 mag roll, pro 36, take 1050, continue with overlap” This soundtrack is from Talent Associates, the early producers of the television series, and includes questions from Merle Miller to Mr. Truman. | |
| 0:37 | Question: Tell us about looking at courthouses (for a county courthouse for Kansas City, a project from when Harry S. Truman was a county judge) Mr. Truman replies he looked at courthouses all over the country. He liked the one in Shreveport, Louisiana, and contacted the architect. That architect (Ed Nield) was the architect for rehabilitation of the White House. Question: Tell us about the balcony on the White House. Mr. Truman replies that Thomas Jefferson first proposed it; “I never spent any time on it, I thought it belonged there.” | |
| 1:52 | Question about the jail in the Kansas City Courthouse on the second floor Mr. Truman replies that Ed Nield was the architect and it was his idea to put it on the top floor. | |
| 2:42 | Question about the architecture of his Library, what does he really think? Mr. Truman replies that you can’t do much with architects when they get to working on you. | |
| 3:13 | Question about the Kansas Redlegs (from the Civil War) and Charles Jamison and Jim Lane Mr. Truman replies that they were the leaders who raided Missouri during the border Skirmishes | |
| 4:10 | Question about Quantrill Mr. Truman replies that Quantrill was to the Missouri side what Jamison was on the Kansas side | |
| 4:34 | Question about did his feeling about the border war reflect on his decision on the Marshall Plan Mr. Truman replies yes, that people were mistreated on both sides. Europe suffered the same way; damage should be rehabilitated by the people who destroyed it. He elaborates on the Marshall Plan, crediting Gen. Marshall. | |
| 6:58 | Question about which were the greatest men and their qualities Mr. Truman replies that Gen. George C. Marshall was the greatest man, and had all qualities of leadership. | |
| 7:39 | Question: Is selflessness at quality of leadership? Mr. Truman replies that it is true, that Gen. Marshall worked for the welfare of the whole world. | |
| 8:07 | Question: do the books you read make it easier to judge a man in high office? Mr. Truman replies yes, history repeats itself; if you know the background of former leaders it helps pick out leaders. Question: Is it hard to differentiate between reputation and reality of man? | |
| 8:50 | Mr. Truman replies yes, but . . . | |
| 8:59 | Question about Miss Noland saying he was fun loving Mr. Truman replies “I always tried to look at the bright side of things.” Question: what games did you play in Grandview? Mr. Truman replies none, he had to work the farm Question: how did you get to Grandview? Mr. Truman replies he took a train to Sheffield, then to Grandview, then walked to the farm. |