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The Dear Bess and Dear Harry Podcast, from Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Harry S Truman

From Harry S Truman National Historic Site; a chance to share some of the stories associated with Harry Truman, Bess W. Truman and their times. We will share letters written between Harry Truman, Bess Wallace Truman, Margaret Truman, and others. We will link to digital versions of the letters in case you'd like to see them. You may need to refresh the page for the latest episode.

Episodes

Dear Bess: August 26, 1912 (postmarked)

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for August 26, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Yesterday was the 106th anniversary of the National Park Service. It was created by an Act of Congress, and signed by Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916. Rather than toot our own horn, we would rather, instead, say thank you to all Americans for supporting the national parks, including Truman. Thank you.

This letter was postmarked on August 26, 1912. Near the end Truman tells Miss Bess Wallace that he’s not in a good humor. Yet there is still a lot of romantic talk in this letter. The first paragraph gives a good insight into the logistics that went into Harry Truman and his visits to Independence.

Here’s the letter.

Dear Bess:

I guess you are having a fine time in the evening. I'm not. I'm mad. The K.C.S. went down at seven o'clock and the Frisco at six. Both too late for me to arrive at a reasonable hour. I tried to call up but for some reason best known to Independence central I didn't get you. She said you didn't answer. I know she told a mistake, to put it mildly. Do you know I left on Friday fifteen minutes too soon? When I got to Union and Delaware the car was coming and I hopped on. It was the 10:25 car. I looked at my watch after getting on. I was leaving by your clock. It was 10:30 by it when we went out on the porch. When I heard the car go uptown I just supposed it was the 10:37. Wasn't that luck? I had so much to do this A.M. that I didn't go to Grandview at all, therefore I'd have had to go downtown and see a hand-scraper face-scraper maybe. Uncle Harrison intended going to town also, but the trains were so late he decided to stay out. He went down to have a look at the babies. He's highly pleased over them.

I wish Mamma would hurry and come home. It's mighty lonesome without her. We don't expect her for a month and then we probably won't see her but for a day at a time. She's plumb dingy over those twins.

It seems that there has been a runaway in the neighborhood. Anyway two boys were here awhile ago to warn another one that his prospective father- in-law was on his trail. They wouldn't believe me when I said he wasn't here. The old man was moving to California to prevent the match. It seems like he's hastened it. Maybe that was his intention. Very mean remark. I'm sure it was not, for the boy's kinda' ornery.

I keep wishing I were in Independence. I hope you didn't let my uncertain date keep you from any others (But I really hope you did.) I am expecting to come to the fair on Thursday. But there is no telling what will happen. Mr. Hall said he expected to thresh here on Wednesday. I hope he chokes if he does. When he says Wednesday of this week he means several days after. The unexpected might happen though. Thank you very much for the Orpheum list. I hope we'll get to go see some dozens of the good things. Please send me a letter for this. I ran out of good paper upstairs and that is why this is short. Also, I'm not in a good humor, as I said before, and can't write a decent letter. Don't work too hard at the fair. Can you show me around when I come in? I hope you can. Answer quick.

Most sincerely,

Harry

By his own admission, Harry S Truman is in a sour mood. There is a lot on his mind. But he can still write some romantic thoughts to Miss Bess Wallace. Uncle Harrison and his sister, Harry Truman's mother, Martha Ellen, make a brief appearance...both are excited over twins that Harry Truman's brother, John Vivian, and his wife, Louella, had. Sadly, one of those twins, Callie Louise Truman, died at age 3. The other twin, John Curtis Truman, lived until 1989.

On the letter, Truman wrote "Blue Sunday."

Dear Bess: August 29, 1916

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for August 29, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today’s letter is from on this date in 1916. Harry S Truman is writing Miss Bess Wallace from Commerce, Oklahoma. Why? Well, Truman at this time was engaged in a side business, called TCH Mining Company, with a man named Jerry Culbertson and Thomas Hughes. Zinc and lead ores were the primary concern. Truman invested about $5000 to $5500, and some Truman biographers think his Uncle Harrison Young helped with that. Like many of Truman’s financial ventures, TCH wasn’t successful. Why try? Well, Truman was an optimist, always looking for the American dream. He was also trying to prove himself worthy to Miss Wallace’s family. Note how he refers to Miss Wallace’s mother in the letter. By this time, Madge Gates Wallace was 54 years old, and had a history of back problems and other maladies. You can hear how Mr. Truman wishes her well.

Here’s the letter:

Commerce, Okla. August 29, 1916

Dear Bess:

Your letter came yesterday and I was sure pleased to get it. It seems like ten years since I was at Independence. Mr. Hughes is evidently paying me back for the three weeks I spent at home. I wish I'd stayed there permanently and let the whole shebang go to grass then. We are still getting some good lead and could make money if His Majesty would only let the machinery alone. One of the boilers went down yesterday and will cost about a hundred dollars good money to fix. It not only costs to fix but knocks us out of two days' run, which is a dead loss. We made two tons of lead and two of jack on Monday and would have done as well today.

Your dog is growing right along and I hope to have him at home very soon. If I can only succeed in getting Hughes down here, I'll most certainly even up with him. I shall probably have war with the Throop kids when I go take that greyhound away from here. They think he is the finest thing ever. He is as ugly as a bulldog. If he ever grows to his feet, he can outrun a locomotive or Locomobile either. He is very thin now but I'll have him fattened up before I take him home. Greyhounds are supposed to be thin though, and he may be only running true to type, because I am certain he gets enough to eat.

I can't write you a very good letter this time. They are always poor but this one will be worse than usual because I've got the dumps and am homesick and can't think well – if I ever do. This may be great for experience but it's mighty hard on my feelings. I'd not care if the mine would only pan. But if it doesn't, I'll simply have to suffer from a grand chorus of "I told you so." That wouldn't bother me so very badly if I'd only not gone and lost so much money. I'd sure have been right if I'd stayed at home and worked the farm this time. But how did I know Uncle Harry wouldn't live twenty years? And that he'd lease us what he had when he did die. I'd done given up hope in that direction. The unexpected happened and now I'm all balled up and have gotten Mamma in the same fix. I am going to find a way out though if it takes the hide off both my hands to do it. The worst is surely here now and things will surely brighten up directly. I must quit this, it's not nice to tell your troubles, is it? It makes a person feel good though if he can get a little sympathy, and I'm sure I'll get it. I am going to come home for the Labor Day picnic if the whole thing blows up here.

I do hope your mother is well by this time. I am sorry that we didn't have a picnic and some cookies for the fair, too. Maybe we can do better next time. Please send me another letter quickly.

Most sincerely, Harry

Harry Truman is trying to improve his financial situation, having invested in zinc and ore. Will it work? Is Truman homesick in Oklahoma?

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/august-29-1916

Dear Bess: September 11, 1948

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for September 11, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today, when we hear “September 11,” a variety of images come to mind from that dreadful day in 2001. We hold in our hearts all who were lost, and all who have terrible memories from that day. And for many of us, we may always have those bad memories when hearing the words “September 11.” Will we ever have a time where it is just another day for us? Perhaps not, and that’s perhaps the way it should be.

On September 11, 1948, President Harry S Truman wrote this letter to First Lady Bess Wallace Truman, written in the midst of the 1948 campaign. He writes from aboard the presidential yacht, the USS Williamsburg. By September of 1948, few pollsters or media were expecting Truman to win the election; most, in fact, thought he was going to lose to Governor Thomas Dewey in a landslide. But you’ll hear some of that trademark Truman optimism at the end of the letter.

And here is that letter.

[U.S.S. Williamsburg, AGC-369] September 11, 1948

Dear Bess:

I accompanied Margie to the train yesterday at noon. We arrived at the station just about two minutes ahead of leaving time for the train. They drove us into the east entrance but we walked from the fence to the train. Margie thought that was showing discrimination.

We made it to the car and she plastered my left cheek with lipstick as she went aboard and very carefully wiped it off with her glove! Had a wire from her about 5 P.M. signed "Skinny." I'd been stewing around about not hearing from her and Capt. Dennison started to call Mrs. Steward and they told him at the White House that this telegram signed "Skinny" was there. He very timidly asked me if that by any chance could be Margie. Went back to the White House and saw a lot of customers and finally arrived aboard here at 1:30 when I was due at 12:30. It rained and rained but I won a bet that the sun would shine all day today and it has and is. I'm out on the "back porch" of my deck in a swimming suit taking more burning. We've had a very satisfactory conference on the western speeches. Farm speech at Des Moines on September 18, conservation at Denver on the 20th, reclamation at Salt Lake City on the 21th in the great Mormon Tabernacle, believe it or not--only Presidents of U.S. and high Mormons can do that. Then San Francisco, L.A., San Diego, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Ky. West Va and Washington D.C. Seems like a nice little trip - what.

Charlie Ross is flying up to D.C. to attend the wedding of his neice Virginia's daughter. I'm sending letter up on the plane that brings him back. We are anchored at the mouth of the Potomac at Blakiston Island where Lord Baltimore landed in 1734. There is a monument on it which says that's so. I went and looked at it--that's how I can tell you. This is a most restful day --and how I needed it. Six speeches on Monday was rather strenuous. I told the press boys on Thursday that Labor Day was only a sample of what they'd get on the western trip.

We had pictures on Wednesday and Thursday night. Had Irv, Annette, and Mrs. Davis Wednesday and Jane, Drucie and Irv and Annette on Thursday.

My finance meeting Thursday was a grand success. Margie "stole the show." We're off to win I think.

Lots of love, Harry.

It's September 11. We hold in our hearts all who have terrible memories of that day in 2001. We will never hear "September 11" the same way again.

But we wanted to share a Dear Bess letter from September 11, 1948, from the thick of the 1948 presidential campaign. Few thought Harry Truman had a chance of winning...except Truman himself.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/september-11-1948

Dear Bess: September 11, 1948

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for September 11, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today, when we hear “September 11,” a variety of images come to mind from that dreadful day in 2001. We hold in our hearts all who were lost, and all who have terrible memories from that day. And for many of us, we may always have those bad memories when hearing the words “September 11.” Will we ever have a time where it is just another day for us? Perhaps not, and that’s perhaps the way it should be.

On September 11, 1948, President Harry S Truman wrote this letter to First Lady Bess Wallace Truman, written in the midst of the 1948 campaign. He writes from aboard the presidential yacht, the USS Williamsburg. By September of 1948, few pollsters or media were expecting Truman to win the election; most, in fact, thought he was going to lose to Governor Thomas Dewey in a landslide. But you’ll hear some of that trademark Truman optimism at the end of the letter.

And here is that letter.

[U.S.S. Williamsburg, AGC-369] September 11, 1948

Dear Bess:

I accompanied Margie to the train yesterday at noon. We arrived at the station just about two minutes ahead of leaving time for the train. They drove us into the east entrance but we walked from the fence to the train. Margie thought that was showing discrimination.

We made it to the car and she plastered my left cheek with lipstick as she went aboard and very carefully wiped it off with her glove! Had a wire from her about 5 P.M. signed "Skinny." I'd been stewing around about not hearing from her and Capt. Dennison started to call Mrs. Steward and they told him at the White House that this telegram signed "Skinny" was there. He very timidly asked me if that by any chance could be Margie. Went back to the White House and saw a lot of customers and finally arrived aboard here at 1:30 when I was due at 12:30. It rained and rained but I won a bet that the sun would shine all day today and it has and is. I'm out on the "back porch" of my deck in a swimming suit taking more burning. We've had a very satisfactory conference on the western speeches. Farm speech at Des Moines on September 18, conservation at Denver on the 20th, reclamation at Salt Lake City on the 21th in the great Mormon Tabernacle, believe it or not--only Presidents of U.S. and high Mormons can do that. Then San Francisco, L.A., San Diego, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Ky. West Va and Washington D.C. Seems like a nice little trip - what.

Charlie Ross is flying up to D.C. to attend the wedding of his neice Virginia's daughter. I'm sending letter up on the plane that brings him back. We are anchored at the mouth of the Potomac at Blakiston Island where Lord Baltimore landed in 1734. There is a monument on it which says that's so. I went and looked at it--that's how I can tell you. This is a most restful day --and how I needed it. Six speeches on Monday was rather strenuous. I told the press boys on Thursday that Labor Day was only a sample of what they'd get on the western trip.

We had pictures on Wednesday and Thursday night. Had Irv, Annette, and Mrs. Davis Wednesday and Jane, Drucie and Irv and Annette on Thursday.

My finance meeting Thursday was a grand success. Margie "stole the show." We're off to win I think.

Lots of love, Harry.

It's September 11. We hold in our hearts all who have terrible memories of that day in 2001. We will never hear "September 11" the same way again.

But we wanted to share a Dear Bess letter from September 11, 1948, from the thick of the 1948 presidential campaign. Few thought Harry Truman had a chance of winning...except Truman himself.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/september-11-1948

Dear Bess: September 14, 1937

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for September 14, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

A short, but fascinating letter for you today, written by Senator Harry S Truman to his wife, Bess, on this date in 1937.

If there is a period in Truman’s life that should probably be talked about more, it’s his time in the United States Senate. He loved the Senate, and all that the work entailed. It’s unfortunate that it is unknown where Senator Truman’s papers from his first term, from 1935-1941, ended up. We fear they’re lost. That’s why letters like these give great insight into his work in the Senate, and what his life was like outside of the Capitol. Thank heavens Harry Truman kept up writing to Mrs. Truman and others. We suspect that some of his medical reports like this still reside in archives across the country, waiting to be discovered. This was before HIPAA, of course!

Here’s the letter.

Hotel Tulsa, Hot Springs, Ark. September 14, 1937

Dear Bess:

How do you like my new stationary? The border is a knockout. Believe I'll have some senate stationary made on the same plan. Well I moved into the hospital yesterday morning and they start doing things to me today. Photograph teeth, stomach, lungs and other parts so they say. Make blood tests etc. Say there is nothing to worry about the heart. I told you I didn't trust the navy. I have a northwest corner room on the eighth floor overlooking the town. It is cold as the dickens down here. I had to put on my blue coat and vest last night to witness a picture show on the roof of the hospital.

The weather has been beautiful and I wish I'd gone to this place to begin with. I'd have been six dollars ahead anyway. Only have to pay for eats at $150 per day and medicine, if any. Pretty soft. Wish you'd call Lou Holland and tell him I can't be there the 17th. It will take all week to do this job and since I've started I'd better go through. Feel better this morning than I have for a month. They are really feeding me. I was most starved to death.

Love to you all. Kiss Margey

Harry.

A fascinating, brief letter from Senator Harry S Truman to Mrs. Bess Wallace Truman today, written on his day in 1937. Senator Truman writes mostly about some medical tests that he is taking at a hospital in Arkansas. It seems as if Senator Truman is getting a good bill of health. You might want to look at this letter, too, as he references the unique stationary.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/september-14-1937

Dear Harry: September 15, 1937

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for September 15, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a treat for you today, a rather rare “Dear Harry” letter. Rare because it’s believed that in the mid 1950s, Bess Wallace Truman destroyed much of her correspondence with her husband in their fireplace at 219 North Delaware Street. How much was destroyed? We’ll probably never know. We know this story because their daughter Margaret Truman shared it in her memoir ¬Souvenir, and repeated the story afterwards. Why did Mrs. Truman do this? It’s hard to say. She was an intensely private person. But rather than be mournful of what we don’t have, let’s be grateful for what we do have.

This letter ties to a letter that we published yesterday on this podcast, a letter Senator Truman wrote to Bess Truman, from a hospital in Arkansas. Senator Truman was going through a battery of tests, and put a positive, even humorous, take on it. In this letter, Mrs. Truman is being very concerned about her husband. The letter also makes mention of Mr. Fred Canfil. Harry Truman would, if he could, likely say that Mr. Canfil was essential to him, but almost every Truman scholar would state we wish we knew more about Mr. Canfil. For many years, Mr. Canfil served as a manager of the Jackson County, Missouri, courthouse, then served as an assistant to Senator Truman. Then, for almost ten years, Mr. Canfil was US Marshall for the Western District of Missouri. Fred Canfil was loyal to Harry Truman, and the feeling was very much mutual.

Thank you for listening. Here’s the letter.

[Independence, Mo.] [September 15, 1937] Wednesday

Dear Harry -

Was surely glad to finally get you last night - had to tell who I was - so I guess you are pretty well barricaded. Nobody but Fred Canfil knows where you are - & he and I have been telling everyone you were out of reach of telephone & wire - and I guess you are at that! I'm afraid you have been holding out on me - judging from your letter which just came the Navy Dr. told you something unpleasant about your heart - and you swore he said it was O.K. after promising to tell me exactly what the report was!

I guess I'll have to write to the hospital down there to get the correct dope on you this time. Here's hoping it's all fine. Am glad it's cool down there. It's grand here but somewhat warmer. May, Natalie, Marg & I are going riding after school. Marg was delighted about the imminent arrival of your pralines. She laid me out for not calling her when I got you last night - but I couldn't have gotten her without waking up both babies.

We had an announcement this morning of Clyde Williams' daughter's marriage. You know what that means.

Mr. Canfil calls every morning to see if there is anything he can do - I gave him a couple of apple growers' telegrams to answer. He found out from Mildred they were already working on it in Wash. - Am sending mail to Vic every day - Stay as long as you possibly can.

Lots of love, Bess

We have two treats for you today. For one, this is a relatively rare "Dear Harry" letter, written by Bess Wallace Truman to her husband, Senator Harry S Truman of Missouri. Secondly, we have a guest voice...sharing the letter and story today is our Superintendent, Carol Dage. Carol recently marked her 33rd year at the park. She started as Curator, and is now Superintendent.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/personal-papers/harry-s-truman-correspondence-file-1919-1943/september-15-1937-postmark

Dear Bess: September 21, 1946

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for September 21, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today we’d like to share a letter written by President Harry S Truman to First Lady Bess Wallace Truman, who was back home at 219 North Delaware Street, in Independence, Missouri. In this letter, Truman writes about firing his Secretary of the Commerce, Henry A Wallace.

Henry Wallace served as one of Franklin Roosevelt’s vice presidents, but was replaced on the 1944 ticket by Senator Harry S Truman of Missouri. Wallace was well regarded by the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, but he soon found himself at odds with the Truman administration, particularly Truman’s hard line on the Soviet Union. This is what led, ultimately, to Truman demanding Wallace’s resignation, and receiving it.

Thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

[The White House] September 21, 1946

Dear Bess:

Well I fired Wallace but not by the letter I'd written. I called him and told him he ought to get out. He was so nice about it I almost backed up. I just don't understand the man and he doesn't either. Now that's some statement. I am enclosing you two clippings from the News. One by Tom Stokes on Wallace, which I think may be correct, and an editorial--over which I almost shed tears. I did sit down and write John O'Rourke a note (he's the editor of the News) telling him that now he could call me crazy, crook, or incompetent and I'd never fall out with him.

The reaction to firing Henry is terrific. The stock market went up twenty points! I've had an avalanche of telegrams from Maine to California agreeing with the action. I've also had some from New York, Detroit, and California calling me a traitor to F.D.R. and a warmonger. But I think I'm right. Charlie Ross told me I'd shown I'd rather be right than President and I told him I'd rather be anything than President, and Clifford said, "Please don't say that." Anyway it's done and I feel like Mon Wallgren's Swede. This Swede owned a fine retail business and was doing fine, but according to Mon he became somewhat intimate with a lady named Gina Olson. Gina came to his store one day and told Ole (Mon's Swede) that she thought she was due to produce a child but that she wasn't sure. She told him that she was going to see the local doctor and find out for sure. Well Ole walked the floor, kicked and cussed himself for a fool and wished he'd behaved. Gina came back shortly and told Ole that the Doc could not see her until the next day. So they decided to take a walk and discuss the situation. The walk led them to the town reservoir. Gina said to Ole with Mon's Swede accent, "You know if what I believe is true is confirmed by the doctor tomorrow, I shall come up here and jump into that reservoir." Ole threw his arms around her and said, "Oh Gina, you don't know what a load you take off my mind." Also in Mon's Swedish dialect.

Well Henry's demise makes me feel like Ole did--but not for the same reason, thank God. That reminds me, I had a telegram from Steve Early which said, "Thank God. Steve." Just three days.

Lots of love, Harry

In this Dear Bess letter, President Harry S Truman writes about firing his Secretary of Commerce, Henry A. Wallace. But the Truman-Henry Wallace story doesn't end there...in 1948, Henry Wallace ran against Truman (and Thomas Dewey and Strom Thurmond) for president. But Wallace for only a small fraction of the vote, about 2.38%.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/september-21-1946

Dear Bess: September 23, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for Friday, September 23, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have an interesting letter for you today, written on this date in 1912. In this letter, Truman writes from Saint Louis. Today, Saint Louis is about a 4 hour drive. In Truman’s world, it was like it was a whole country away. Truman’s observations on the theater are fascinating.

But you’ll notice that in the middle of the letter, Truman inserts what we would call today an ethnic and racial slur. We share it with you exactly as written. Indeed, in several of these “Dear Bess” letters, there are, unfortunately, phrases like this. In 2022, how do we interpret that? A few years after writing this letter, Harry Truman, while in World War I, served with men from a variety of backgrounds, including a Jewish gentleman with whom he established a clothing store after the War. Subsequently, in his political career, Truman represented constituents of all different backgrounds, in Jackson County and as United States Senator for Missouri. Then, as President of the United States, after much deliberation, Truman set precedent and recognized Israel as a sovereign state, and also desegregated the Federal workforce and the armed services. Could it be interpreted as Harry Truman growing wiser as he got older? Is that how he would describe himself? We’ll let you decide.

Thank you for listening. Here’s the letter.

[The American Hotel, St. Louis, Mo.] September 23, 1912

Dear Bess:

You see, I've followed Frank's advice and hung up at The American. It looks as imposing from the sidewalk as it does in the illustration, too, which isn't usual. The dummy that brought me here was exactly on the tick but it ran so fast I didn't get much sleep. I've already been stung on a vaudeville show at the Columbia. It was either that or Mr. Shea in A Man and His Wife, which seemed from comments and pictures to be an ultra highbrow "drammer." I took the punk vaudeville. Also, I saw the divine Sarah in a movie. It was also necessary to suffer some extra acts to see her at the Hippodrome. She was worth it, though, even if she did play Queen Elizabeth as a very emotional person. Imagine a woman like that great Queen making love as Sarah can and does. Still, I hoped against my convictions that Elizabeth was like that. I also hope that she is. This evening I attended the session of the Tuscan Lodge out on Kings Highway. They have the finest individual building in the state. All of the big guns were present and performed to the best of their ability in the limelight. Some fine highbrow time was had. I came downtown with Judge C. A. Mossman of St. Joe, who is Junior Grand Warden for this state. He is just a nice old man and not one bit stuck up.

Every time I come to this sleepy old town I am more thoroughly convinced that K.C. is a live one. It may not contain square miles or so many Jew jewelers, but it's far and away ahead of this place for things doing. Louisiana Lou is the leading show at the high-class theaters, and I wouldn't go see it because it's already been to K.C. The Shubert is putting on some other musical comedy, and every other show house in town has moving pictures! Except the Gayety, and Gayety shows are not always good. Real business begins in the morning. Tomorrow afternoon I can go on a two-mile parade if I want to and help dedicate the new Home Building. Little Harry thinks he'll skip the parade and go to the St. Louis Fair. I can do that and get back for the dedication. I guess I'll have to turn this sheet or ring for more. It is forty minutes after 12:00 p.m., and as I'm on the twelfth floor I'll not ring this time.

I am wondering if you'll consider this worth anything. I hope you will. I had a bad dream this morning. I thought I went back home from here immediately on arriving to get something I'd forgot and the folks wouldn't let me come back. I was almost ready to do some desperate trick when I woke up. I've been wondering all day if something's gone wrong at home. I never did have a more vivid dream and really thought I was home when I woke up. I am hoping to see you sometime Thursday if I can. Please send me a letter for this.

Most sincerely, Harry

In this Dear Bess letter from 1912, Harry Truman writes to Bess Wallace while staying in a hotel in Saint Louis. His views on the theater in Saint Louis are interesting. But this letter is an example of how, sometimes, Harry Truman used phrases that can, well, make us cringe in 2022. How do we deal with that in 2022? And can it be argued that as Truman grew older, he grew wiser?

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/september-23-1912

Dear Bess: September 27, 1947

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for September 27, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a very interesting Dear Bess letter for you today, written on September 27, 1947. President Harry S Truman is writing from the White House, writing to First Lady Bess Wallace Truman, who was back home in Independence, Missouri. For the Truman family, adapting to the 24/7 protection of the Secret Service was a challenge. It wasn’t that the Trumans weren’t grateful for the work of the Secret Service, but being private people, there was always some give-and-take. But note President Truman’s descriptions of the FBI…he is concerned that J Edgar Hoover’s agency would become like the police states in Russia or Germany.

Truman also makes reference to his Aunt Ella. Aunt Ella Noland was the sister of the President’s father, John Anderson Truman. By the time of this letter, Aunt Ella was almost 100 years old, and it’s clear that her health concerns her famous nephew. Truman’s Aunt Ella and her children played an important role in reuniting Harry Truman and Bess Wallace back in 1910…Aunt Ella and Uncle Joseph Noland lived across the street from 219 North Delaware. You can visit the Noland Home today when visiting us…it is at 216 North Delaware Street. There are exhibits and small films you can watch to prepare for visiting the Truman Home.

[The White House] Sept. 27, 1947

Dear Bess:

Received your Thursday letter yesterday afternoon, also one from Mary and one from Vivian--but none from daughter Margaret. I am sure glad the Secret Service is doing a better job. I was worried about that situation. Edgar Hoover would give his right eye to take over and all Congressmen and Senators are afraid of him. I'm not and he knows it. If I can prevent there'll be no NKVD or Gestapo in this country. Edgar Hoover's organization would make a good start toward a citizen spy system. Not for me.

I am glad Aunt Ella is improving. I've become so I don't like to go see her. So maybe if her mind clears up we can go with pleasure again. Glad you had a nice time at the Kings. I had a nice time at the Vaughan's party as I told you yesterday.

Had to make a radio speech last night to open the Community Chests. Was terribly hoarse but Dr. Graham sprayed me out and gave me cough medicine so I got by. Have had a cough ever since we returned from Brazil. But it is much better today.

The Chief Justice is bringing in a lot of senior circuit judges to see me this afternoon. They came to the office last year but I am having them in the study this afternoon for "tea"--sure enough tea too. The weather has been cool and clear the last two days. I hope it stays that way. I have been over sleeping--didn't get up until a quarter to seven yesterday and 6:30 today. Mays says I'm getting younger--thinking of Margaret no doubt. Hope Frank is better.

Lots of love, Harry.

An interesting letter from President Truman to his First Lady from September, 1947. In this letter, Truman makes clear his opinion of the FBI and its director, discusses the health of his beloved Aunt Ella, and more.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/september-27-1947?documentid=NA&pagenumber=4

Dear Bess: October 4 1917 (Postmarked)

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for October 4, 2022, brought to you by the staff of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

This letter from Lieutenant Harry S Truman was postmarked on this date in 1917, and written in Oklahoma, while Lieutenant Truman continued his training in advance for his service in the Great War. This letter gives us terrific insight into his life in training, everything from laundry to the canteen store Truman was operating with Eddie Jacobson. But most of all you sense that Harry Truman is just enjoying it all, except for the separation from Miss Wallace and his family.

Near the end of the letter, Truman refers to Bess Wallace’s brother Frank Gates Wallace. We know that Frank Wallace was married to Natalie by then, and had completed a draft form for World War I. Was Frank Wallace called up to serve in the war? We don’t know, but we can suspect that the prospect of Frank Wallace, or his brothers George and Fred, going to war was worrisome to their sister Bess and mother Madge Gates Wallace.

Thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Lawton, Okla. October 3, 1917

Dear Bess:

This is the banner day of my stay here so far. I got two letters from you. One of them was postmarked the twenty-ninth, and the other the second.

I was on the point of wiring you but was afraid it would cause you more worry than gladness and so I didn't do it. I slipped up a day on writing you but couldn't help it. You no doubt got my spasm from the Lee-Huckins written on Sunday night. Monday was my most strenuous day. I began having callers at eight-thirty and from then on until twelve-thirty salesmen nearly ran me ragged. At two-thirty I got a car and began making the rounds, trying to buy some pop and get into connection with a laundry. Pop seems to be unobtainable. I could only get fifty cases and I wanted a carload. The laundries have formed a combination and advanced the prices 40 percent for our benefit. I told them that we would do our own washing. It would cost fifty-four cents to get a shirt, pants, and socks washed. Colonel told me to send the laundry to Kansas City. I am hiring a man here in the Battery to do mine. After I'd seen the laundries and wholesale house to the tune of seven dollars worth of auto hire, I had to run to catch my train back here and get into camp at 12:30 a.m. The canteen is a whiz. I did four hundred dollars worth of business today. It gets bigger all the time. Sold six hundred bottles of Puritan in two hours this evening. It takes six men to wait on the trade and keeps me phoning all the time to keep in supplies. I am writing this at 11:30 p.m. after my day is over. We had a grand time yesterday selecting our mounts from the issued horses. There were one thousand to pick from and we took turns on precedence. I am the seventh first lieutenant from the top and had a grand allotment to pick from. Picked a sorrel with a flax mane and tail. He proceeded to pile three men on the ground one after the other. I am going to get another horse to rest up on when he gets done with me. It was like a bunch of six-year-old kids turned loose in a candy shop when those officers were told to select their mounts. The chaplain was given first choice. He picked a beautiful black with one white hind foot. Everyone was offering him advice but I don't think he needed any. We all had lots of fun and I think everyone is happy with the choice he made. I can't understand why you haven't had my letters. I have written one to you every day but yesterday. All our mail goes to Lawton then comes over here, and I suppose they haven't their system properly arranged as yet.

Don't you give any thought to what that rotten sheet at 17th and Grand says about us. We have an ideal camping place good water and plenty of it; will have electric lights in a few days; have to [six] much to eat good beds to sleep on and our hospitals are going to be palaces when completed which will be very shortly. They are not needed any way as no one has been seriously sick except a fellow who got too familiar with one of these plug's heels, and he's only got a cracked rib. They sent him to the Post about two miles away which has a hospital as fine as R.A. Long's or St. Joseph's. Our doctors have less to do than any of us except the horse doctors. I guess the horse doctors will be pretty busy very shortly though. It looks as if we meant business by getting our horses so soon. I understand that guns are on the way. I'm tickled pink to hear you are going to see Mrs. Klemm. She's sure nice.

My hat is too small really after what Mrs. Montague said. You know that's some compliment from a mother of boys. I appreciate and only wish I could live up to it. I am awful glad Frank is free to do as he likes. I was uneasy when I heard he'd been called. Wish I could have gone to the river with you. I'm awful glad you saw Mamma and Mary and that they were well. I have had a letter from Mary and two today from you and one from you Saturday.

Don't forget the picture for I'm sure lonesome to see you. Thank your mother for her love and give her mine if there is any left from you.

Your Harry

A terrific letter from First Lieutenant Harry S Truman, written from camp in Oklahoma. Lt. Truman wonderfully describes life in the camp...talking laundry, choosing horses, finding soda pop. Other than missing Bess Wallace and his family, Truman is thoroughly enjoying it!

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/october-4-1917-postmark

Dear Bess: October 11, 1918

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for October 11, 2022…brought to you by the staff of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Captain Harry S Truman wrote this letter to his fiancée Bess Wallace on this date in 1918…from somewhere in France. He used that phrase because he couldn’t reveal his position on paper, lest it fall into enemy hands. While World War I would end in just a few weeks, that war was still raging in France, and Captain Truman and his Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, was in the thick of it.

In the letter, Captain Truman expresses his regret that Miss Wallace’s youngest brother, Fred Wallace, wasn’t having the best experience in college. At the time, Mr. Wallace was attending the University of Missouri. David Frederick Wallace was born in Independence in January, 1900, and was the final child of David Willock Wallace and Madge Gates Wallace. Young Fred Wallace was only 3 years old when his father died tragically. He was then essentially raised in his grandparents’ house, that of George and Elizabeth Gates, at 219 North Delaware Street. Fred Wallace graduated high school at the local Chrisman High School, and briefly attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. Although he didn’t finish, he was a well regarded architect, with some of his legacies still standing in Jackson County, today. Although he was the last born of the Wallace siblings, he was the first to pass away, in 1957. He and his wife Christine had three beautiful children, and called 219 North Delaware Street home for many years.

Thanks for listening, here’s the letter.

Somewhere in France October 11, 1918

Dear Bess:

Your good letter dated September 9 and numbered 19 came this morning. You undoubtedly are right in giving me the dickens for not writing oftener but my duties have been so strenuous and my work so hard in the last two months that I have hardly had a minute to call my own. If I'd written you every time I have thought of doing it, you'd get several every day.

Since I have been at this rest cantonment I have written every day. But when we go back in, which will be shortly it will probably be another 30 days before I can write with any sense or regularity. I am awfully sorry Fred is dissatisfied with the University and I hope that when he gets settled in the classes he will like it better. I sent one of my bright kids out of the battery to West Point yesterday. If he makes the grade on the examinations he'll get in all right. I think he'll make it because he's a very bright boy. His name is John Uncles. I am very glad you found the Saturday Evening Post showing the inspection at our training camp. My battery is a 75 battery and the shooting ability of it is only equaled by some other 75 batteries. Our regiment has quite a reputation as a firing regiment and the little argument we just came out of didn't dampen our reputation any. You have probably heard of a city named Verdun and a forest named Argonne. They are both familiar to me because I did some shooting into one (the forest) and I hope it was effective. Our Division had a very hard nut to crack but succeeded in gaining more than was expected of it.

I wish I could have gone to Lone Jack with you on your hunt for a chicken dinner. I'd have taken you back through Lee's Summit and about eight miles west, where I know there are chickens and a good old mother who can cook them and we'd have had a real chicken dinner without any expense whatever although from what Mary tells me it is necessary for each one to carry his own sugar. When we go anywhere to dine out over here we carry both bread and sugar. Sometimes we forget it and then it is necessary to use all our arts and wiles to persuade the proprietor of the place to let us have some. If it happens that the proprietor is feminine, there is normally a chance of success by an added compensation of some francs. These people love francs better than their country and they are extracting just as many of them from us as they possibly can. There are parts of their country that are very beautiful and worth fighting for, but most of it would be a punishment to inflict on the Germans to make them take it. I suppose Germany though is the same kind of country only with a different brand of smells. You can always tell a French village by day or night, even if you can't see anything. They are very beautiful to stand off and look at, nestling down in pretty little valleys, as they always do, with red roofs and a church spire. But when you arrive there are narrow dirty streets and a malodorous atmosphere that makes you want to go back to the hill and take out your visit in scenery.

Please keep on writing even if I am delinquent and shouldn't be. Your letters put pep into me and make me want to finish the job and get to New York as fast as possible. I have come to the conclusion that the Statue of Liberty is going to have to turn around if she ever sees me again after I land in U.S.A. once more.

I'll never cease to think of you.

Always, Harry

Captain Harry S Truman wrote this letter to his fiancee, Miss Bess Wallace, from "somewhere in France." There's a lot in this letter, dealing with war, family, and love.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/october-11-1918

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