The Dear Bess and Dear Harry Letters

The Greatest Presidential Love Story of All Time!

Between 1910 and 1959, Harry and Bess Wallace Truman exchanged a series of letters that are absolutely remarkable, sharing their innermost thoughts on family, literature, current events, friends, and more.

While most of Mrs. Truman's letters to Mr. Truman are unfortunately lost, we are fortunate in that Mr. Truman's survive intact. They are preserved forever at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. The surviving letters by Mrs. Truman are there as well.

We'd like to share these letters with you. As fun as it is to read them, it is, we think, as fun to listen to them!

You may also want to check out our audio podcast as well...https://go.nps.gov/16bhah

 

The Greatest Presidential Love Story

Read the Dear Bess Letters Here

 

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Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Dear Bess and Dear Harry podcast for August 1, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today’s letter, a brief one, was written by Senator Harry S Truman on this date in 1943, 80 years ago. Senator Truman was in Omaha, Nebraska, and was writing to his wife, who was home in Independence, Missouri.

Of course, by 1943, Senator and Mrs. Truman had the ability to talk by phone…they had done that since they had begun courting in 1910. But they remained bound by writing letters to each other, being 19th century persons at heart. But even if they just wrote about the mundane things they did that day, that was more than enough…and that is more than enough for us, today!

It’s a brief letter, but, nonetheless, we thought you’d like to hear it on its anniversary.

As always, thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Hotel Fontenelle

Omaha

Aug. 1, 1943

Dear Bess:-

I told you about the first day of the tour. Got [inserted: up} at six yesterday and just barely caught the seven o'clock Chicago Great Western to St. Joe. Road a very pleasant air conditioned day coach with two seats all to myself and the old thing pulled into Joseph on time. Joe Healey and Theo Quinn met me at the station and took me to the Federal Court Room, where Judge Otis performed the ceremony of administering the oath. All the antis were there including Mr. Clark and the president of the St. Joe Bar Assn. who fought Dick to a standstill.

I think that Mrs. Duncan and I enjoyed the show as much as Dick did. Had an afternoon session with the Legion boys and accumulated some extra funds and then took a nap. The banquet was a grand success. Bennett stayed sober and made a very grand statement on his position on Dick. I think he made some friends. I went to bed at 10:30 got up at one walked twelve blocks to the station (no cabs on Sat night) went to bed again on the train at 2:15 and had another four hours sleep. Will get two more here before we leave. The booking man took care of my big grip and I'm hoping it's here. Hope you all had a nice trip home. Love to you Harry

Duration:

3 minutes, 27 seconds

In this brief, but charming letter, Senator Harry S Truman writes from Omaha, Nebraska to his wife, who is back home in Independence, Missouri.

 

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Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess, Dear Harry podcast and videocast for July 12, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today we would like to share with you what is perhaps the greatest of the Dear Bess letters, written on this date in 1911. For a little context…a few days earlier, Harry Truman, in a letter to Miss Bess Wallace, had essentially proposed marriage, asking her if she would consider wearing a solitaire diamond on her left hand. To Truman’s worry, he only received silence from Miss Wallace in Independence. Truman was worried that he had hurt or lost Miss Wallace. It had been, after all, just a few months since Harry Truman and Bess Wallace had begun courting.

Miss Wallace turned him down. We don’t know if it was by letter or by phone. None of Miss Wallace’s letters from this period to Harry Truman survive. But this response to Miss Wallace is a true gem. We thought you’d like to hear it.

Grandview, Mo.

July 12, 1911 Dear Bessie:

You know that you turned me down so easy that I am almost happy anyway. I never was fool enough to think that a girl like you could ever care for a fellow like me but I couldn't help telling you how I felt. I have always wanted you to have some fine, rich, good-looking man, but I knew that if ever I got the chance I'd tell you how I felt even if I didn't even get to say another word to you. What makes me feel real good is that you were good enough to answer me seriously and not make fun of me anyway. You know when a fellow tells a girl all his heart and she makes a joke of it I suppose it would be the awfulest feeling in the world. You see I never had any desire to say such things to anyone else. All my girl friends think I am a cheerful idiot and a confirmed old bach. They really don't know the reason nor ever will. I have been so afraid you were not even going to let me be your good friend. To be even in that class is something.

You may think I'll get over it as all boys do. I guess I am something of a freak myself. I really never had any desire to make love to a girl just for the fun of it, and you have always been the reason. I have never met a girl in my life that you were not the first to be compared with her, to see wherein she was lacking and she always was.

Please don't think I am talking nonsense or bosh, for if ever I told the truth I am telling it now and I'll never tell such things to anyone else or bother you with them again. I have always been more idealist than practical anyway, so I really never expected any reward for loving you. I shall always hope though.

As I said before I am more than glad to be your good friend for that is more than I expected. So when I come down there Saturday (which I'll do if I don't hear from you) I'll not put on any hangdog airs but will try to be the same old Harry.

You need not be afraid of bumping the proprieties with me. You couldn't. So send your package along. My new book has come and it is a dandy. A Hindu myth and really fine I think. I sent you Mollie Make Believe by Nellie this time. I hope you got it.

I was at the stockyards yesterday and a fellow offered to buy a bank down here in the south part of the county if I'd run it. I don't know if I could be a banker or not. You know a man has to be real stingy and save every one-cent stamp he can. Then sometimes he has to take advantage of adverse conditions and sell a good man out. That is one reason I like being a farmer. Even if you do have to work like a coon you know that you are not grinding the life out of someone else to live yourself. Still if this man makes the call loud enough, as the preacher said, I may take it. I can stay at home and help run the farm anyway. Don't you know of some way to make it rain? We need it so badly that if it does not come it will be a real calamity. They say it rains on the just and the unjust alike but it is certainly passing some of us this year. Twenty miles south they have had plenty.

I hope you will continue your good letters as I really enjoy them and will try to answer them to the best of my ability, and although I may sometimes remind you of how I feel toward you I'll try and not bore you to death with it.

Very sincerely,

Harry

Duration:

5 minutes, 55 seconds

One of the most powerful letters that Harry Truman wrote to Miss Bess Wallace, after Miss Wallace had turned down his proposal of a few days before. He opens his heart to her. Please note that in this letter, Truman uses a phrase that may have been a slur, and a word unacceptable to today's readers and listeners. We include it for completeness. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/157638926

 

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Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry v-cast for July 7 2023, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today’s Dear Bess letter was written by Harry S Truman, Farmer, in this date in 1913, 110 years ago today. Lots of wonderful information in this letter. In this letter, Truman again relates the challenges of traveling in the region, visiting the dentist, and challenges with phone service. We can still relate to much of this today. In this letter, too, Truman mentions not only his mother, but Miss Wallace’s mother as well. It’s not too often that Martha Ellen Truman and Madge Wallace are in the same letter! Truman mentions his brother and sister in law, John Vivian and Louella Truman, and some of their kids…do you note a touch of jealousy here? And the Noland cousins from Independence make an appearance as well. As you can see and hear, there is a powerful family dynamic at work here…one of the reasons we appreciate having these letters.

As always, thanks for listening.

Dodson, Missouri July 7, 1913

Dear Bess:

I caught that train this morning by nearly as narrow a margine as we did yesterday. It was across the track when I got off the car. The agent remarked that I was making trains on the minute this summer. To tell you the truth I was not caring much if I missed it. I wanted to go down in town and see the Kodak man and incidentally let Dr. Miller try his luck on my other wisdom molar. According to Mr. Blair, I will be in a very poor way indeed when I lose that one. It will be three. You know I can't afford to part with much wisdom and still run loose. Tell your mother that Mary said she answered the phone last night and Central said that the girl at Independence refuses to connect again. We have been getting most ornery service since March. I haven't paid the bill for the last three months and I don't think I shall. I was mighty sorry your mother got worried about us last night. You tell her that I am a very lucky person and that accidents never happen to me when I have company and am off the Blue Ridge farm. It is only when I am in argument with obstreperous cows and calves that I get worsted. Do you suppose she'll ever let you come again? I hope she will if you enjoyed it, for I certainly had a very pleasant day. If ever I gain credit enough to own an auto then we can arrive on time. Papa and Aileen beat Mary and Bill one game and then got beat one. You see you were the expert in the other games. Did you go to the city today? We are all pleased this morning, I guess, and are satisfied that biting flies mean wet weather.

Aileen hasn't gone home yet. Mary is going to drive her to Dodson this afternoon. I suppose she likes our place as a summer resort, even if the country round about is infested with some very conceited men. You sure made a hit with the countryside yesterday everyone I saw this morning when I got off the train wanted to know who the nice looking girl was that was with me yesterday.

Myra and Roy were here just after we left and so were Vivian and Luella. Mamma said she went out to help them unload the babies and they didn't have them. Mrs. Campbell and Callie had been to Vivians and taken the kids home with them. Mamma told them if they didn't have the babies they could just drive on and they did. I think Mamma is more dippy over those kids than she ever was over her own and that's putting it very strong.

I could have kicked myself last night for being so considerate of my dear cousins. They had a caller over there and he never left for fully twenty minutes after I arrived. It was John M. Chier. He's a lot better looking than he was when I knew him. I tried to think of something nice to say to him about Ethel and Nellie but the best I could do was to tell what a grand cranberry cook Nellie is. She said she was going to go over and tell your mother what a good for nothing piece of humanity I am and get me ordered out the next time I came. I told her she had a mean disposition anyway but she should at least let me hear what she said.

I hope to see you Sunday if not sooner and you owe the letter.

Most sincerely, Harry

Here's your $. Thanks awfully for it.

Duration:

5 minutes, 31 seconds

A charming letter written by Harry S Truman, Farmer, to Miss Bess Wallace. Full of wonderful family tidbits.

 

Duration:

6 minutes, 12 seconds

A charming letter from former President Harry S Truman to his wife on their 38th wedding anniversary. It's also one of the last known Dear Bess letters. Many of us can relate to the ups and downs Truman reflects upon.

 

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Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry v-cast for June 21, 2023, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. This year, our park, which is really YOUR park, turned 40 years old. Everything we do is only possible with your support, and we deeply thank you for that.

Today’s Dear Bess letter was written by Senator Harry S Truman (Democrat-Missouri) on June 21, 1935. Senator Truman wrote from Washington, DC, where he was still early in his first term as United States Senator. Mrs. Truman and their daughter, Mary Margaret, were back home in Independence, Missouri. Mrs. Truman and Margaret almost always returned home during the summer months. It was said they did so to escape the oppressive heat…but, truth be told, Missouri can be quite hot too! It’s just more likely that Mrs. Truman just wanted to be home, among family. And Mrs. Truman was a caregiver for her mother, Mrs. Madge Gates Wallace, who was, at the time of this letter, almost 73 years old. Eventually, Mrs. Wallace moved to Washington with her daughter and son-in-law. (219 North Delaware Street was, after all, her house!)

This is just a charming, brief letter, and we thought you’d like to hear it. As always, thanks for listening.

Washington, D.C. June 21, 1935

Dear Bess:

I was sure happy to get your letter this morning. John picked it out for me. They all seem to know what to do now when the mail comes in. I got Matt Murray out of town last night but didn't get to bed any sooner because Duke Shoup took me out to eat. His wife went to a bridge party and so he used me to fill in with. Jane called up Mrs. Wooten. She answered the phone herself and said she was better and that she missed you a lot and wished you were back. I'll meet the train any day.

I called Mrs. Cochran this morning and she said Jack was much better and that she thought I could see him in a day or so. She seemed much pleased that I'd call her. Nettie comes every day and cleans up the house makes the beds washed my shirts and socks so I don't have any laundry. She is washing the sheets again today. I gave her $5.00 yesterday and she was pleased to death with it.

I'll be there another week and then more. There's no use paying two lodging bills. Maybe I can get caught up on sleep next week. Ask Margaret if she got my letter. Tell her if she'll write and tell me how far behind her allowance is I'll send it to her.

I had a couple of customers in here at eight o'clock this morning. You can tell when I write at the office and when at the Senate by the stationary. It looks like we'll be done by the tenth. I hope so anyway. There's nothing interesting write about today. We tried to seat Holt yesterday and will do it today.

Lots of love to you all. Glad you called Mary. Kiss the baby. Harry.

Duration:

4 minutes, 8 seconds

A brief, but charming letter from Senator Harry S Truman (D-Missouri) to his wife, Mrs. Bess Wallace Truman. Senator Truman is in his first year as a United States Senator, and misses his family.

 

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Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for August 14, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

If this is the first time you’ve dialed up this podcast series, the intent is to share with you some of the extraordinary letters that Harry S Truman and Bess Wallace Truman exchanged between 1910 and 1959. While, unfortunately, most of Mrs. Truman’s share of these letters have been lost, it’s believed that all of Mr. Truman’s survives.

Today’s letter was written on this date in 1911 by Harry S Truman, then a farmer, working on his family’s farm near Grandview, Missouri. In August, 1911, Harry Truman was still in his first year of courting Miss Bess Wallace, who was living in her grandparents’ home in Independence. This is one of our favorite Dear Bess letters. There is so much that is wonderful in this letter, but the last paragraph is a gem. Harry Truman was intent on doing everything to win the heart of Miss Wallace, who was known as one of the best athletes in Independence. He offered to build her a tennis court somewhere on the farm in Grandview. Where, exactly? We don’t know. Would this effort bear fruit? Stay tuned!

Thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Grandview, Mo. Aug. 14, 1911

Dear Bessie:- Got your letter yesterday but came near not getting it after it arrived. Nellie went after the mail and she decided that I shouldn't have it or anything else. I finally wheedled her out of it. They have been having a big time. We had fourteen for dinner yesterday. Almost threshing day. Everybody helped some though and it wasn't so hard. Say, I had the -est (you can put any adjective you think strong enough) time getting home you ever read.

The southbound train stood on the siding in Noel until my train passed because a freight was off the track. I got to Sulphur at 12:00 P.M. and of course had to stay over. Next morning I decided I'd get you some films down there if I could because I couldn't get to Kansas City in time. Well after going to three places (as many miles apart) I got them and was very thankful I tell you. Then I thought I'd come on home, for if the train was on time I could still see to the clover seed. Well it came into Sulphur one hour late but made up some time to Joplin-but about twenty-five or thirty miles this side of Pittsburg a freight train ran off the track while trying to get in the clear for us and we sat there three hours. I got home at 9:00 P.M. Maybe you think I didn't wish I'd stayed. I've been kicking myself ever since because I didn't. Sorry you didn't get your hay ride. It must have been some fierce booze if it was the Arkansas variety that Frank used. I feel sorry for him. I hope he's well now. I sure do want to see those pictures and would like to have some of them if you'll let me pay for 'em.

Will you please send me the plan for a tennis court. I am going to try and make one. We have a dandy place for it. Wish you could all come out in the machine while all these girls are here. If I get my court built you can come out Saturday afternoons and play in the shade all the time. I was very glad you enjoyed the eggs, and am glad I took them if it caused such a good feeling toward me afterwards. I am going to try and get in toward the end of the week, will call you up from the city if it is all right. Write when you can as I always like to hear from you.

Sincerely, Harry

Duration:

5 minutes, 4 seconds

A charming letter from the first year of the Harry Truman-Bess Wallace courtship. To help, perhaps, win the heart of Miss Wallace, Mr. Truman wants to build her a tennis court!