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

Motion Picture MP2002-264A

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

Administrative Information

Original Format(s)
Motion Picture
Footage
270 feet
Running Time
3 minutes 12 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
magnetic soundtrack
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Received
From the will of Harry S. Truman
Keywords
Secret service
Walking
Description

Merle Miller interviews former president Harry S. Truman, who discusses taking his morning walk and the volume of letters he receives. Sound only.

Date(s)
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​​​​​​​(link sends email)

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

Audio file

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Merle Miller interview former President Harry S. Truman:

0:00    Miller:  Is there any reason you take the walk at the time you do?     

Truman:  The only reason is not to interfere with other people.     

Miller:  Do you see many people?     

Truman:  Yes. But if I took the walk in the middle of the day I’d stop and talk to too many people; it’s not that I don’t want to see them, I want to take the walk.

0:51    Truman:  I get many letters and telegrams. It runs from 50 to 150 a day. Most are letters from people with whom I’m acquainted, and people who want help that they think I can give them. I mostly have to tell them I’m just a private citizen who has no influence. I didn’t have a chance to walk in Independence because I was in Washington.

1:51    Miller:  Were there any other presidential walkers?     

Truman:  Yes, I think there have been. I was in the White House for six months. I told the Secret Service I was going for a walk. They said they didn’t have their coats or hats, because it was November. I told them I was going on a walk and they could come or not.

2:36    Truman:  I try to take a walk before people get up. I consider things that come to me in the mail. When I get home I have breakfast, go to the Library, and dictate answers to the letters.

3:12      Ends.