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

Motion Picture MP2002-351

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

Administrative Information

Footage
72 feet
Running Time
2 minutes 37 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 taking office on April 12, 1945. Truman admits that he was unprepared to take the office of the Presidency. 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​​​​​​​

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   Harry S. Truman discusses taking office April 12, 1945. Mrs. Roosevelt said to him: "Harry, the President is dead." He later asked her, "What can I do for you?" Mrs. Roosevelt replied "There’s nothing you can do for us — you're the one that’s in trouble now." She later requested a government plane to take her to Warm Springs, Georgia. It dawned on him that he was now President, and she a private citizen asking a favor.
1:28   Mr. Truman comments that a change in administration means that things won't be done exactly the same, no matter how hard one tries to follow a previous administration.
1:48   Harry S. Truman discusses Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He declares that Andrew Johnson was the most maligned man to ever occupy the White House. Mr. Truman claims that if Lincoln had lived, he would have been impeached as Johnson was.
2:15   Mr. Truman discusses how he was unprepared to take office of the Presidency. He had been vice-president only 83 days when he assumed the presidency. He said he "did his damndest."