Motion Picture MP2002-112
Administrative Information
Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as Independence, Missouri and the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails, the history of his grandparents and how they came to Missouri, the county form of government, and the early history of Kansas City. Sound only.
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Shot List
Reel 1
| 0:00 | Unidentified voice: “61 take 24 Talent Associates, Truman Story, Role 10, Take 2” This soundtrack is from Talent Associates, the early producers of the television series, and include questions from Merle Miller to Mr. Truman. Merle Miller and Harry S. Truman are talking about Independence and the trails. They talk about the Wayne City Landing, steamboats, and river traffic. Mr. Truman describes how his grandparents came to Jackson County by steamboat. | |
| 2:45 | Mr. Truman comments on his grandfather, Solomon Young, who worked at running a farm and a wagon train from Independence to Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Mr. Truman describes how the wagon train worked. Solomon Young didn’t have any trouble with the Indians, because they knew he’d shoot them. His grandmother didn’t go; they had nine children. | |
| 4:34 | Mr. Truman talks about his grandfather Truman. He ran a farm, and later lived with Mr. Truman’s mother and father until he died. | |
| 5:05 | Mr. Truman discusses the name of how Jackson County and Clay County got their names. | |
| 6:04 | Question: Is the county a necessary form of government? Mr. Truman replies that counties are now more like municipalities, like Jackson County. He suggested that Missouri be divided into 40 counties instead of 116. This plan didn’t get anywhere because the “courthouse gangs” didn’t allow it. The original plan for the size of a county had to do with being able to get to the county seat in one day, with horse and buggy, so the counties were 30 square miles. | |
| 6:50 | Question about the history of Westport Mr. Truman describes this history | |
| 7:44 | Question about why Kansas City is larger than Independence Mr. Truman replies that Kansas City is at bend in Missouri River; it was a commercially viable location. The Burlington railroad put in the railroad bridge at the bend in the River, which helped it with both river and railroad traffic. | |
| 9:25 | Question about what happened to Independence after the Gold Rush Independence was the county seat, and had a population of about 4 to 6,000 people. There was an expansion in the 1930’s. | |
| 10:33 | Question about the first buildings in Independence There is no answer | |