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

Motion Picture MP2002-87

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

Administrative Information

Footage
395 feet
Running Time
11 minutes 35 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 questions from soldiers at Fort Leavenworth, mostly about the Korean War. 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 answers questions from soldiers, probably at Ft. Leavenworth (see SR94-9). This recording was probably part of the Talent Associates background material for the series, which was later taken over by Ben Gradus. It begins with Harry S. Truman saying the Chinese could not be trusted.
0:14   Should they be held accountable before the United Nations on action in Korea? Mr. Truman is talking about war, and profiting from the mistakes made in previous wars; you can’t prepare for the next war. Every commander has to make mistakes including the Commander-in-Chief. He doesn’t want an atomic war to destroy the civilized world.
2:10   Question about hydro-electric dams in North Korea, noticed during the war. Why was there a decision by the government not to destroy these dams? Mr. Truman answers that he hopes that Korea will become a united nation and the dams will be valuable to a united country. He mentions Russia destroying dams in Manchuria.
3:35   Question about the role of the President of the United States regarding the rest of the world. Mr. Truman replies that the President has had responsibility in the world since the time of Woodrow Wilson, and even before that (mentions Monroe Doctrine).
5:32   Question about contrasting his military experience in World War I with the Korean War, mentioning relationships between American troops and international forces. Mr. Truman replies that he did not interact with the French or British soldiers very much during World War I. Mr. Truman asks the questioner didn’t he find the international Troops just as enthusiastic as the American troops?
6:58   Question about North Koreans having good weapons, burp guns; were the captured weapons deployed that they sent back from North Korea? Mr. Truman doesn’t know; they would have been sent to the ordinance department. He recounts his experience as a Senator, when he wanted to order PT boats from a company. The Navy wanted to make their own boats. They made one and it sank.
8:28   Question about brain-washing of Prisoners of War in North Korea. Mr. Truman replies that that custom is common in Communist countries.
9:00   Question about antiquated equipment used in the Korean War. Mr. Truman replies that we had to use what we had; some appropriations were turned down by Congress.
9:52   Question about Prisoners of War – there was criticism they had no will to escape. Mr. Truman doesn’t comment; he doesn’t believe it about American kids.
10:30   Question about future police actions. Mr. Truman replies there could possibly be such actions, for example, in the Congo, Perhaps
10:45   Question about the role of the press during national emergencies. Mr. Truman replies that there is usually 100 percent support of the press at the beginning of an emergency. Things change as a political campaign begins; there is a change of attitude.