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Motion Picture MP2002-61

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

Administrative Information

Footage
250 feet
Running Time
7 minutes 19 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Undetermined
Description

Rufus Burrus, lawyer and friend of Harry S. Truman, speaks about their relationship. 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   Unidentified voice: “Sound 2” Interview by Ben Gradus with Rufus Burrus, lawyer and friend of Harry S. Truman. Rufus Burrus talks about being a friend of Harry Truman for 40 years.
1:02   Unidentified voice: “2 Take 1 Sound 3” Rufus Burrus met Harry S. Truman on the steps of the Bank of Independence. He was introduced by his friend, Frank Wallace, Mr. Truman’s brother-in-law. Frank Wallace was a precinct Captain, and Mr. Burrus promised to support Mr. Truman for county judge. Mr. Burrus talks about the two Democratic factions in Jackson County, the Goats and the Rabbits. Unidentified voice: “3 take 1 sound 4” Frank Wallace was precinct captain of the ward where Rufus Burrus lived. They lived one block apart. In 1918, after returning from World War I, Mr. Burrus became a precinct worker. He was good friends with Frank Wallace, who was in the Goat faction. Anyone who was Mr. Wallace’s friend was his friend. Mr. Burrus’ aunts knew the Truman family and one aunt gave Mr. Truman his first instruction on piano.
4:18   Unidentified voice: “4 take 1 sound 4 Mr. Burrus again tells the story of how he met Harry S. Truman.
5:53   When asked if Mr. Truman was a good pianist, Mr. Burrus said he heard him play classical music on several occasions and thought he was considered a good pianist.
6:20   Mr. Burrus is asked the origin of the names Goats and Rabbits. Tom Pendergast’s faction was called the Goats (lived in the north of Kansas City, near the bluffs), and Joseph Shannon’s faction was the Rabbits (lived in the south of Kansas City).