Dear Bess: August 1, 1943
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
A brief letter, from on this date in 1943. Senator Harry S Truman (D-Missouri) is in Omaha, Nebraska, writing to his wife, back home in Independence, Missouri.
Although brief, letters like this can still provide valuable insight into the daily lives of Mr. and Mrs. Truman.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/152760918