Motion Picture MP2002-264
Administrative Information
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.
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Shot List
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. | |