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

Motion Picture MP2002-293

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

Administrative Information

Footage
170 feet
Running Time
5 minutes 17 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Undetermined
Description

Mr. Truman discusses speaking in public and the 1948 whistle stop campaign. He states he wanted to carry out a program that would benefit people of the United States and the peace of the world. 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   Miller begins by saying "with your permission, sir, go back and discuss something . . ." and Mr. Miller begins asking questions and Harry S. Truman replies, on the subject of speaking in public and the 1948 whistle stop campaign.
0:45   Harry S. Truman states that since he had been re-elected on the program of 1948, he felt it his duty "to carry it out as best I could." He wanted to carry out a situation that would benefit people of the United States and the peace of the world.
1:48   Harry S. Truman answers how he prepared for speeches on topics with which he is not familiar. He states that he looks up information, writes out notes, has background checks, and has it taped. He reads it, and then never looks at it, making the speech "off the cuff."
2:36   Harry S. Truman confirms that he did throw away a prepared speech when speaking to a newspaper editor after he became president, preferring to speak off the cuff about world affairs.
3:22   Harry S. Truman replies to the interviewer’s question about being nervous before speeches, if he "gets butterflies in his stomach?" He states he "always worries if his speech will be of any use." Once he gets started, he has no problem. "It seems to work with everybody."
3:53   Mr. Truman states that he could always tell how an audience felt by looking at them. After 15 or 20 minutes, he could always tell. He says he did speak to hostile audiences many times.
4:41   Mr. Truman discusses an average day on the campaign trail. It always began very early in the mornings, perhaps 4 or 4:30 am. He was always ready to go to the back platform of the train and talk to the people.