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

Motion Picture MP2002-264

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

Administrative Information

Footage
295 feet
Running Time
8 minutes 13 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 wanting his library to be in Independence, his pleasure at being a private citizen, and his belief that presidential papers should be as well taken care of as those of Congress and the Supreme Court. He answers children's questions and discusses the best Presidents. Sound only.

Date(s)
ca.
1961 - 1963

SD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are available for $20, and HD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are $50. Copies of motion pictures not already digitized will incur additional costs.

This item does not circulate but reproductions may be purchased.

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

Moving Image Type
Screen Gems

Shot List

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Reel 1

0:00   Harry S. Truman, in a series of sound clips, discusses various topics.
    Mr. Truman states that his 8 years in the White House ended on January, 20, 1953. He decided he had served the country as long as he could and it was "time to come home and do some of the things I wanted to do." He wanted to find a place "to place all the documents and presidential papers that had accumulated while I was in the White House."
1:10   Mr. Truman states that he is driven to the Library after his morning walk. He used to walk, but there were too many people wanting to see "a notorious character," "someone who has been through what I have." He expresses pleasure at being a private citizen, driving himself where he wants to go.
1:50   Mr. Truman states that California, Connecticut, and the University of Missouri offered sites for his presidential library. He wanted it to be in Independence. The city donated 13 acres for the library. Mr. Truman discusses his belief that presidential papers should be as well taken care of as those of Congress and the Supreme Court. They will provide a history of the United States "for youngsters." He talks about how presidential papers have been scattered throughout history, mentioning Millard Fillmore's papers, how Robert Lincoln destroyed papers of his father, and Nicholas Murray Butler saved them. He specifically mentions Thomas Jefferson's papers.
4:36   Mr. Truman answers children's questions. He discusses the United Nations, Korea, and the best Presidents. In talking about the Presidents, in specifically mentions George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt (he jokes that the best thing Theodore Roosevelt did was split the Republican party so Wilson could be elected President), Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.