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

Motion Picture MP2002-323

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

Administrative Information

Footage
1020 feet
Running Time
32 minutes 27 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

Harry S. Truman answers children’s questions at the Harry S. Truman Library regarding his life in the White House. Mr. Truman discusses the most difficult decision he had to make during his presidency. Mr. Truman answers children’s questions regarding his life as a young boy in Independence, Missouri. 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 says "roll 21, Truman museum, children in the audience, October 18." Harry S. Truman speaks to children. They ask questions, but their questions cannot be heard and so are re-did at the end of the soundtrack.
0:25   Harry S. Truman speaking to school children, urging them to study history, remembering they are studying the government of the United States, "the greatest government in the history of the world." Mr. Truman discusses the Constitutional Convention in 1787, with George Washington as chairman. He encourages them to study which Presidents made the most contributions to the government of the United States.
3:07   Mr. Truman answers a student's question, saying the most important decision he made was the decision, "to save Korea, which involved the whole free world."
3:30   Mr. Truman says that President Kennedy is doing a good job. He is "saving West Berlin" as Mr. Truman did when he was President.
4:04   Mr. Truman discusses the White House and the living quarters for the first family. He declares it was very pleasant living in the private residence on the second floor.
4:33   He states the first decision was to hold the United Nations Conference held in July, 1945.
5:35   Mr. Truman states there were many outstanding Presidents. He lists Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, giving the particular contribution of each.
6:40   Mr. Truman claims that being President of the United States was one of the greatest honors in the world, "but I wouldn’t want it again, I had my turn." He details how he became President, how he "whupped 'em" and got reelected, serving almost 8 years! He states he had no idea growing up or later in his Senate years that he would soon become President.
8:09   Mr. Truman states that World War II was caused by Germany believing it could conquer the world. They tried to overthrow themselves and that's what happens to bad people usually.
9:00   Child: "Were you ever broke?" Harry Truman: "I was broke all my life and still am."
9:47   Mr. Truman, asked about sports, says he "likes 'em all." He claims he was too clumsy to be active in sports, but enjoys all sports.
10:09   He discusses coming to Independence "the best town in the world," in 1890 when his parents came to Independence so their children could go to a graded school.
10:41   Mr. Truman calls being President "the hardest job in the world" a job no man can do as it should be done, so you do the best you can. "It’s a 17 hour a day job."
11:09   Mr. Truman again states that Korea was his most difficult decision.
12:13   He says his ambition as a little boy was to be as good a man as his father was, and to run a farm.
12:48   Mr. Truman says he was not popular as a young boy because the popular ones played games and had big fists.
    Remainder of tape is children practicing questions and a few seconds of Mr. Truman playing "Black Hawk Waltz" on the piano. He tells them "that’s the waltz Lincoln danced to." Mr. Truman also speaks a few words to them about being invited to lunch. Unidentified voice says "92, 1, sound 69," "sound 70," and other numbers.