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

Motion Picture MP2002-62

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
10 minutes 44 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
sound
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Undetermined
Description

Rufus Burrus, lawyer and friend of Harry S. Truman, speaks about Truman's special qualities. 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: “5 take 1 sound 6” Ben Gradus interviews Rufus Burrus, lawyer and friend of Harry S. Truman. What are the special qualities of Harry S. Truman? Affability and sincerity; when county judge he administered a large amount of money and his integrity was never questioned.
1:20   Rufus Burrus describes Harry S. Truman’s first run for office in 1922. Mr. Burrus was active in campaigning for him. The nomination was difficult, because Mr. Truman was new to politics.
2:19   Rufus Burrus discusses how Mr. Truman was defeated in 1922 by Harry Rummel, the harness maker. This was due to the Rabbit faction not supporting him and also to the Coolidge vote that year.
3:16   Rufus Burrus discusses the 1948 campaign, and how he helped with the campaign by trying to get the newspapers to tell the truth. The Louisville Courier was criticized for not telling the true story of Mr. Truman’s campaign, and Wyoming did not truthfully portray the campaign visit in the newspapers. He mentions Earl Warren’s campaign in California. On election day, they had a lunch for Mr. Truman at a country club, and he encouraged them to work in the precincts. He was sure he would win the election.
7:09   Rufus Burrus discusses the 1940 senatorial campaign. He worked at the Speaker’s Bureau in Sedalia, with John Snyder and Harry Vaughan. He found that the county fairs were set up so the person running for office could make a speech, or could supply a speaker. Mr. Burrus spoke for Mr. Truman in Sedalia, and sent out other speakers. You had to pay $5.00 to the local treasurer to have a speaker. Mr. Truman didn’t have much money, they were on a shoestring budget. Mr. Truman’s speeches emphasized the programs of the Democratic party and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mr. Truman never replied to accusations about Tom Pendergast.