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  4. Screen Gems Collection (outtakes from the television series "Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman")

Motion Picture MP2002-255

Screen Gems Collection (outtakes from the television series "Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman")

Administrative Information

Footage
290 feet
Running Time
8 minutes 15 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

Harry S. Truman discusses his neighbors and the families that lived near them on Waldo Street and who he played with as a boy. Mr. Truman is asked about Bess Wallace and discusses Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Sound only.

Date(s)
ca.
1961 - 1963

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This item does not circulate but reproductions may be purchased.

To request a copy of this item, please contact truman.reference@nara.gov​​​​​​​

Please note that this video belongs to a different video collection than the items available to be borrowed by teachers, from our Education Department.

Moving Image Type
Screen Gems

Shot List

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Reel 1

0:00 ” Unidentified voice: "Wildtrack 1,068, 1,068."
    This recording is an interview between Merle Miller and Harry S.Truman.
    The interviewer asks Mr. Truman to discuss his neighbors and the families that lived near them on West Waldo Street, and who he played with as a boy.
1:27   Mr. Truman mentions such family names as Burrus, Wright, Pittman, and Webster.
2:37   Mr. Truman is asked about Bess Wallace. He says that she lived nearby on Delaware Street. He discusses the Chile’s family, and says he knew Miss Janey Chiles, who was a schoolteacher, but did not play with the girls. He says Miss Chiles was "a very tough teacher … a good teacher."
3:45   Interviewer states that for some people, "power is the foremost pleasure." He says Mr. Truman never sought power, but used it wisely when it came to him (no comment from Mr. Truman).
4:45   Interviewer and Harry S. Truman discuss Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Truman says he believes President Lincoln would have had the same problems that Andrew Johnson had if he had not been shot ("heroes know when to die"). He says Andrew Johnson was a good President who was trying to carry out the ideas of Lincoln. Congress got the upper hand and tried to destroy him ("Thad Stevens wasn’t any good, period").
6:15   Interviewer expresses gratitude for the interview. Mr. Truman expresses his pleasure.
6:25   Mr. Truman discusses the importance of finding the right woman. If a man has the "wrong woman or gets mixed up with a bunch of whores, he’s in a hell of fix."
7:16   Interviewer asks Mr. Truman to comment on his comparison of Lloyd Stark to Nero. Mr. Truman discusses how Nero abandoned his friends. "Power went to his head."