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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: December 31, 1910

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess, Dear Harry podcast for December 31, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a treat for you today…the oldest known surviving “Dear Bess” letter, dated December 31, 1910. Family tradition holds that one day, likely in 1910, Harry S Truman was staying with his cousins at 216 North Delaware, when the Noland family engineered a reunion of sorts with Bess Wallace, who lived at 219 North Delaware Street. It’s not clear how often Harry Truman and Bess Wallace had seen each other since they graduated high school together in 1901. But at some point, the Nolands asked Harry to return a dessert plate that belonged to Bess’ family across the street. Margaret Truman said that her father crossed Delaware Street “at the speed of light” to ring the bell at 219 North Delaware.

We’re not sure if this is indeed the first “Dear Bess,” but regardless, by December 31, 1910, the courtship was on. Harry Truman had loved Bess Wallace for twenty years by this point. The farmer from Grandview was out to win the heart of Bess Wallace.

Grandview, Mo.

December 31, 1910

My Dear Bessie: I am very glad you liked the book. I liked it so well myself I nearly kept it. I saw it advertised in Life and remembered that you were fond of Scott when we went to school.

Nothing would please me better than to come to see you during the holidays or any other time for the matter of that, but Papa broke his leg the other day and I am the chief nurse, next to my mother, besides being farm boss now. So you see I'll be somewhat closely confined for some time to come. I hope you'll let the invitation be a standing one though and I shall avail myself of it at the very first opportunity.

I guess Ethel and Nellie have been busy with their exams is the reason you haven't seen them. I got a letter from Ethel the other day saying she was suffering so from cramming, both mental and physical, and from "epizootic" (whatever that is) that she and Nellie would be unable to come out this week. You know they always spend a few days at Christmas out here. It was just as well, as I would have had to cancel their date anyway after Papa's accident. We haven't quite got over the excitement yet. A horse pulled a big beam over on him in the barn. We were so glad he wasn't killed we didn't know what to do.

If you see fit to let me hear from you sometimes, I shall certainly appreciate it. Farm life as an everyday affair is not generally exciting. Wishing you and all of you the very happiest New Year, I am

Very Sincerely,

Harry S. Truman

The oldest surviving "Dear Bess" letter from December 31, 1910!

Harry S Truman, farmer, living in Grandview Missouri, had been reunited with the great love of his life, Bess Wallace. And now he was on a quest to capture her heart.

You can see a digital copy of the original here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-31-1910

Dear Bess: December 28, 1941

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Dear Bess and Dear Harry podcast for December 28, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

The famous “Dear Bess” letters continued to be written even after Harry Truman married Bess Wallace in 1919. This letter, from on this day in 1941, is terrific in that Senator Harry S Truman makes a lovely reference to the wedding anniversary of his parents, Martha Ellen Young Truman and John Anderson Truman.

John and Martha Truman came from families that had farms near each other in Grandview, Jackson County, Missouri. We don’t know much about their courtship, but they were married on December 28, 1881. They lost their first child, but then eventually had three others…Harry, in 1884, John Vivian in 1886, and Mary Jane in 1889. John Anderson Truman died in 1914 in the family Farm Home in Grandview. Martha Ellen Truman, called Mattie by some, lived to see her son become President of the United States. She died in 1947.

December 28, 1941 En route aboard Missouri Pacific R.R. to St. Louis

Dear Bess: I found this in my briefcase and thought I might as well use it. The date is the wedding anniversary of my mother and father in 1881. Some time ago, I'd say as we reckon time, but only a snap of the fingers in the universe.

Please call Vivian and tell him that Wilson came in to see me and I talked about Mary's station to him and I believe he'd better talk with him, too. I forgot to tell him when I stopped there.

We almost missed the train after waiting for it didn't we? See that that dumbell orders those seats and then the conductor will be looking for you. I'll make arrangements about your space on the B. & O. if the agent meets me at St. Louis. I hated to leave but my job must be done now sure enough and I wouldn't have had a minute's peace, and neither would the family, if I'd stayed at home. Too much publicity. Somebody said the last "Time" is still calling me the fox-faced little Senator. Maybe I am. As Bulger used to say, it's better to be that than nothing.

Wish you and Margie were along. But I can't have everything I guess. If there are any editorials please cut 'em out. Say hello to everybody and kiss my baby.

Love to you, Harry

In this letter, Senator Harry S Truman makes note of the wedding anniversary of his parents. A charming, if too brief, letter.

The original can be seen here, courtesy of the Truman Library: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/december-28-1941

Dear Bess: December 25, 1917

Transcript

Happy holidays from the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We simply wish to share this letter with you from Christmas Day, 1917, while Harry S Truman was in the midst of some Army training, preparing for his service in World War I.

We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season…let’s listen to what Lieutenant Harry S Truman wrote to his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, while in training in Oklahoma.

December 25, 1917

Dear Bess: I should be severely reprimanded for this week's work. A whole week has gone since I wrote you. I wired you last night and hope it arrived today. I have been the busiest little bee in the hive I guess doing a full days drill and trying to get my country store off the rocks. I succeeded very successfully in accomplishing the latter. It will run with its usual regularity from now on. I got your package and simply couldn't wait any longer than today to open it. It sure was grand. Those gloves and that sweater were exactly what I needed. Your mother's cake is simply too pretty to cut. It looks exactly like a big Christmas bell. I'm not going to cut it until Christmas Day. Hope you got your package all right. I haven't seen it but if it's according to directions I am hoping it will be acceptable.

There were some promotions in our regiment this week. Kelly, Phelps, Flynn, Joes were promoted from second to first lieutenants. The Colonel and Lt. Col. are going to San Antonio to school and Col. Danford is going to take over our regiment for a month. He's an artillery man for sure and I suppose we must be making some progress to get the use of a man like him. He's written a book on field artillery that is considered a regular Bible by most artillerymen. I guess we'll have to put in a few more hours than we have been now to learn that book. We're lucky to have been using it already for a text book.

Perry is home on a permanent furlough. You asked me how he could be home. That's how. They put him before an efficiency board. We doing real military now and politicians don't count.

Mary S. B. has the scarlet fever in Lawton and Kenneth can only call her up. She has a nurse and is getting along all right. Please don't hold it against me this week and I won't let it occur again. Write as often and as long as you can.

Most sincerely, Harry

Written on Christmas Day, 1917, Lt. Harry S Truman fills in Miss Bess Wallace with the latest from his Army training camp in Oklahoma, while raving about his future mother-in-law's Christmas cake!

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-25-1917?documentid=NA&pagenumber=3

Dear Bess: December 21, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 21, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We would like to share a fascinating letter with you that was written by Harry S Truman, farmer, to his sweetheart Bess Wallace, on this date in 1911.

There is a lot of charm in this letter, as well as a little self doubt that Truman harbored. But the most interesting part of this letter revolves around a legal battle that Harry Truman and his parents were involved with. When Truman’s maternal grandmother, Harriet Louisa Gregg Young died, she left the farm to John and Martha Truman, as well as Harry, who was partner in John A. Truman and Son, Farmers. Martha Truman’s siblings contested the will, and that legal battle took not only time, but significant financial resources, seemingly much of the profits of the farm. Eventually, the Trumans won the legal challenge, but at significant cost. Unfortunately, much of the paperwork from this challenge seems to be lost, making the mentions that Truman made in these letters very valuable.

Grandview, Mo. December 21, 1911

Dear Bessie: You cheated me out of two pages. Aren't you ashamed? If you only knew how glad I am to get them, you wouldn't be so short with them. I suppose I am too crazy about you anyway. Every time I see you I get more so, if it is possible. I know I haven't any right to but there are certain things that can't be helped, and that is one of them. I wouldn't help it if I could you know.

I guess you are lucky that you don't care-as even the best of fellow, which I am not, couldn't very well make a girl happy on nothing a week and a hat- full of debts. You see, I was fool enough or good enough, whichever way you look at it to go in with daddy even on his debts. Say, don't ever mention that as no one knows he has any, especially his relatives, See?

Really though if I thought you cared, I bet I could win out anyway in spite of all the kin in creation.

This is a mighty poor Christmas letter but our dear relatives have succeeded in giving us the bluest Christmas since grandmother died. If you could see the allegations in the brief, you'd think my mother was the prime lady villain. It makes me so mad I could fight a boilermaker. They even accused our grandmother of being weak minded and most everything else-when she was the best businesswoman I ever expect to see. If we'd ever mentioned property to her, that itself would have finished us-as it should have done.

Bessie, if my dear men friends who invited themselves to dinner here Christmas go home on the afternoon train, I am going to try and see you Christmas evening if you are at home. I'll call you up if I can, or if I can't, about five-thirty. But don't stay at home on my account because I may not get to come. I'll bring you a copy of Richeileu if I come. I got Edwin Booth's prompt copy for fifteen cents. It's a stirring play I tell you. Mamma and Mary are going to see Julius in the afternoon. Maybe you'll run into them. I sent you a piece of tin jewelry the other day. I got it some time ago but found a busted link in the chain and had to have it renewed, so when I got it again I just sent it--that's why so early. With a Merry Christmas, I am, as always,

Your Harry

Lots of romance in this letter, plus an interesting insight into a legal battle Harry Truman and his family were engaged in concerning the will of Mrs. Harriet Louisa Gregg Young, Harry Truman's grandmother.

You can see the original letter here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-21-1911

Dear Bess: December 17, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 17, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We would like to share this letter from December 17, 1912, with you today.

Harry S Truman, farmer, writes of a gift that he has procured for his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace. It’s evident he put a lot of thought into this purchase, and is concerned how it will be received. And if you like to eat sausage, pay note to Truman’s description of how it was made on his family’s farm.

Grandview, Mo.

[Dec. 17, 1912]

Dear Bess: I've got it - oh, job well done maybe. It's not a rope of pearls or a limousine. It took me seventeen and one-half minutes by the clock to decide and seven weeks to think of. Then of course it's not half good enough. I really couldn't get anything good enough, not even if I had a million. You can exchange it for something if it's not agreeable. It didn't come from Cady's or Jaccard's nor E.B.T.'s nor any hardware store nor Monkey Ward's nor the ten-cent store. I'll give you three guesses and if you guess, I'll send it back and get the other one, which happens to be the same thing. The guy brought the wrapper from gay Paree in the bottom of his trunk. He gave me that and it's better looking than the thing itself. You can't guess it, so you needn't try. I'm only building up your expectations so they can be keeled over at one fell swoop. You know a grand disappointment is as much fun as a good surprise--to the lookers on.

That lowdown dentist kept me for one solid hour and nearly drilled into my gray matter, fact is some of it must have leaked out. I went up and down 11th, Walnut and EBT's but didn't run into your mother. If I had I'd have had three lunches. Wouldn't that have been magnifique. When you phoned she wouldn't arrive until one I went to the Elgin and tanked up walked up Walnut and who should I meet but Myra and Mary going to lunch. They insisted and I went. All I could do was drink chocolate while they destroyed some sandwiches at the Scarritt arcade. Polly said she had only three more things to get at 12:30 and had to be at 57th and Highland at 2:30. I bet she's not more than there yet.

I trailed all over the district. Bought the twins a present and Mary one. Have yet to purchase the cousins and pappy one. I got mamma an aluminum roaster. She's been wanting one and as she'd probably make me get it anyway this is a good time to be nice about it. Mary's beau met me and wanted me to suggest what she wanted. I told him I was hunting a brother myself for a suggestion but had none to wake. He seemed to think I was some what of a knot head but I didn't care to have my back hair loosened when I got home. He suggested a thing or two and I told him to go to it they'd suit me all right. He informed that I wasn't the one he cared to suit. The argument ended at that point.

Did your flowers ever arrive? I should have sent a messenger but did think of it at the time. I suppose you carried the prize home. I was in your burg again last night to a Lodge of Instruction. I told Polly that's where I was going but they didn't believe me, neither did Ethel and Nellie or the folks at home. It doesn't pay to tell the truth even occasionally to some people.

We are going to kill hogs today, oh what a mess when the meat comes home. It's always my job to stuff the sausage into sacks. It is a very agreeable one too. Always I put in some good hide off my own hands along towards the last because they blister and the blisters wear off. It doesn't injure the flavor of the sausage.

May I come Sunday, and are you going to let me go shopping with you Monday or? - and? - Tuesday, whichever suits you best - and I wish that wedding was in kingdom come on Saturday night, for that's the only one this week that I can get off to go to a show. Perhaps it is as well for I'll have a few more cents for Christmas presents and lunch Monday and, or, Tuesday.

Sincerely, Harry

A fascinating letter. Will Bess Wallace like the Christmas present that Harry has bought for her? You can tell he's worried about that.

Dear Bess: December 14, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 14, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a fun letter for you today, written on this day in 1911. Remember, the courtship of Mr. Harry S Truman of Grandview and Miss Bess Wallace was likely in its first year. Quite significantly, in this letter Mr. Truman shares the joy he feels in having received a standing invitation for Sunday dinner at 219 North Delaware Street, where Miss Wallace lived. Much has been written and said about the relationship between Harry Truman and Mrs. Madge Gates Wallace…but in this letter he is over the moon that Mrs. Wallace has extended this invitation. It’s a pivotal moment for Harry Truman. Imagine him at a Sunday dinner, with George and Elizabeth Gates, Mother Wallace and her three sons, George, Frank and Fred, and Bess Wallace. Do you think he was nervous? Or more pleased to be there?

Lots of fun in this letter, from commentary about Christmas and gifts, Mr. Truman’s choice of reading material, and a prank that he played on his sister, Mary Jane Truman. We are so glad these letters survive!

Grandview, Mo. December 14, 1911 Dear Bessie:

I have been dissipating this week in Pleasant Hill. The town is wet and I really could. The Grand Lecturer of Missouri was there and Mr. Blair wanted me to go learn a lecture for him! I have a hard enough head so that when anything is pounded into it in a strong manner, it stays. That's why I got called on. I am very glad I was, for one of the good old brothers down there took me home with him Tuesday night and gave me quail on toast for breakfast-all I could possibly hold, with a plate full of them still on the table when I left. It was a downright shame to leave them. Even the old Lecturer himself looked at them with regret. He came over specially for breakfast. This good brother begged me to stay Wednesday night, too, but I just had to come home. Papa says I only visit at home anyway. I am trying to make use of my time before we fire the hired men, for it'll be home for me then, sure enough. One reason why I attend these instruction Lodges is because when I visit K.C. Lodges or Independence they make a point to call on the farmer Master to do something-and if it is bungled they say, oh well he's from the woods; it's to be expected. If it isn't, they won't believe I'm a farmer. I am though, and I'm glad I am.

Miss Betty is a very good cook to ask me to dinner next Sunday and I shall be glad to go, more than glad, because you are going. Then I'll still have a dinner at your house to look forward to. Tell your mother that I will be pleased to have lunch there Sunday provided it won't cancel a future dinner.

Do you suppose Allen Bros. could be persuaded to take us out and come for us without a J.P. Morgan fee? It would be much more convenient than a rig because there'd be no horse to look after. My sister has an old beau in Pleasant Hill. I accidentally ran into him and it entered my head to play a joke on her. I got one of the boys in the instruction school to write her a card and sign the fellow's initials. I beat the card home, so I don't know how it'll turn out. She has never seen his pen ability, so if Vivian gets the card we'll have a circus for a while.

It certainly is nice of you to say that you enjoyed Lucy more than Trovatore, and I am glad. I enjoyed it more than any Grand Opera I ever heard. The Christmas wish hasn't struck me yet. But it never does until the day before. I guess everyone will be happy when it's over with. Life would not be worthwhile without a Christmas, though. Be sure and save me a fig. An atrocious pun could be made here but you must give me credit for not doing it.

Nellie Noland called me up the other day and her voice sounded as if she were in the last stages of acute excitement. The cause was a visit from some people who had entertained her at Standardoilville. She wanted me for tomorrow night and I have a Lodge election and Third Degree that night. The people decided not to come until next week and I am very thankful. I could neither turn Nellie down nor miss the meeting. I don't know what I'd have done. Probably sent my astral body one place and my temporal the other.

Girls go to an awful lot of work and worry for Christmas, don't they? They'll sew and paint and do fancy needlework for weeks and weeks just to give away. It just takes me about thirty minutes to do the whole stunt. I go grab two or three boxes of candy with pretty pink ribbons (I don't know if the ribbon has one b or two) and holly on them and a piece of tin "joolry" for Mary and the job is done. I usually have to take my four girl cousins to a show Christmas week and then I'm square for the year.

Ethel says men have no business giving girls things to wear, even cousins, because they use such horrid taste in selection. I think she's embittered because a fellow gave her a solid gold bracelet with an amethyst (I wish Theodore Roosevelt spelling were in use) as big as an English walnut in it. It really wouldn't do for Liza Carilen to wear on the stage.

I have been reading The Shuttle, by Mrs. Burnett. It is not so good as The Rosary, by Mrs. Barclay, on practically the same subject. Life and Adventure are my standbys. Adventure is the only magazine printed on cheap paper that I can read. Some people like realism in their reading for entertainment but I want refined Diamond Dick in mine. I would nearly as lief read geometry as George Eliot or Browning. Sometime I am going to read Daniel Dronda though. I hope to meet Mary in K.C. Saturday for the purpose of being bled for Christmas and will call you up about going to Mr. Pritchett's.

I certainly appreciate your making my Sunday invitation a standing one. Remember please that you are in debt to me for a letter, which I shall expect after I see you.

Most sincerely, Harry

This is a most important letter. Among Harry S Truman's often humorous takes on Christmas and Christmas shopping, Truman is overjoyed that he has, now, a standing invitation for Sunday dinner at 219 North Delaware Street, where Bess Wallace lives. A turning point for Harry Truman, the suitor!

A digital copy of the original can be seen here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-14-1911

Dear Harry: December 10, 1938

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 10, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today we wish to share with you one of the relatively few “Dear Harry” letters that Bess Wallace Truman wrote to her husband Harry, this time from December 10, 1938. It’s unfortunate that Mrs. Truman destroyed most of her correspondence with Mr. Truman, but we certainly understand her personal desire of privacy. In this time before emails and text messages, and when long distance calls were expensive, letters were an inexpensive way to keep in touch. And it was simply a part of their world.

December 10, 1938

[Independence, Mo.]

Dear Harry- You will be a bit surprised to find this waiting for you no doubt. I don't know whether you meant you were starting for N.O. on Sunday or would arrive-so am getting it off in time. Thanks for the stamps-I judged you wanted them used.

Wasn't that a tricky Christmas card from the Shields-Was it in with the table-cloth? Am mighty anxious to see the cloth-am glad you didn't feel too badly stung on the duty.

Marg & I went to K.C. yesterday & bought her evening dress. She is wild about it but I'm afraid it will hurt your eyes.

Bud called up last night-He and Sharon are in K.C. on their way west-B. to Denver & S. to Dodge City-They are coming out tomorrow for a short visit.

Hope it's nice & warm in N.O.-It's chilly here but more pleasant than that warm weather was-

I got some nice cologne in attractive bottles at Wooly's for the girls & will send them to Vic & ask him to "distribute" them. (Writing on a soft magazine has its difficulties.)

Have a good time and hurry home-

Love- Bess

In one of the relatively few "Dear Harry" letters, Mrs. Bess Truman updates her husband Harry with some of the latest happenings in Independence, while Senator Truman is en route to New Orleans.

Oh, how we wish we had more of Mrs. Truman's letters!

A digital copy of the original is here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/personal-papers/harry-s-truman-correspondence-file-1919-1943/december-10-1938-postmark

Dear Bess: December 7, 1941

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

We have a special letter for you today, with a special date, December 7, 1941. Senator Harry S Truman wrote this letter to his wife Bess Wallace Truman before he learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After hearing the news, Senator Truman rushed to St. Louis to secure a flight to Washington, DC. It was an intense trip for Senator Truman, but he was able to return to the Nation’s capital in time to hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt refer to December 7, 1941, as a “date which will live in infamy.” Senator Truman then voted “aye” to declare war on Japan.

Today we wish to pause and remember the casualties of Pearl Harbor and the other installations attacked 80 years ago today. They shall always be remembered. This letter by Senator Truman represents a world lost on December 7, 1941.

Pennant Hotel Columbia, Mo.

December 7, 1941

Dear Bess:

Well it was very good to talk with you this morning. Roy and I went to breakfast immediately afterwards, looked over the hanger across the road, took a walk toward Columbia, and then he left for Springfield. I've had lunch and a nap and have been reading last night's Star and Journal along with today's Post-Dispatch and Globe Democrat. It's funny how things change around in thirteen months. I'm on the front pages of the Kansas City Star, St. Louis Star-Times, and Kansas City Journal for yesterday and am on the front page of the Post-Dispatch editorial section for today and mentioned in about three or four other places in the other parts of the paper and the Globe.

Had a nice visit with the family and with Mamma and Mary. Went over to see Aunt Ella and Nellie and Ethel. Do you know that they have never been to see Mamma since she was hurt? I don't understand 'em. I've saved their jobs and their location on two specific occasions and I'd do it again, but I think they should at least have shown some personal interest in the old lady I'm most interested in, don't you? Your mother looks fine and so do they all. I saw everybody but didn't get to call Mrs. Souter because I got your letter from Hinde as I left town and was halfway to Columbia before I read the instruction to call her. Frank said that Albert is going to stay in the OH house. He was having dinner with Frank and Nat the evening I had dinner with your mother.

I am just about to go back to bed again and get more sleep. That ought to put me in condition to meet the situation from noon tomorrow until Tuesday midnight. Hope you and Margie enjoyed the day. Kiss her for me.

Love to you, Harry.

A special letter on this anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Senator Harry S Truman was gradually returning to Washington following traveling to Colorado for a funeral of a friend. He briefly stopped and visited his family in Independence, and wrote this letter from a hotel in Columbia, Missouri. He quickly returned to Washington.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/december-7-1941

Dear Bess: December 2, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 2, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

Today, we would like to share with you a letter from this date in 1912, in which Harry S Truman discusses the upcoming Christmas holiday with his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, in Independence. Harry Truman loved Christmas, but you sense some worry that he cannot afford to do what he wants for Miss Wallace. Have you ever felt that way? If so, please take comfort that Truman did over a century ago.

Dear Bess: [Dec. 2, 1912]

Here goes for two letters from you this week, see? I'll admit that one of yours is worth two or maybe half dozen of mine still it's a bad precedent to make. Therefore I'm expecting a letter from you tomorrow also Friday. I just wonder if expectations will amount to anything. You see my paper has finally arrived. Mary brought it out. The blooming stuff is as big as a tablecloth and looks like wedding invitations. I guess they put one over on Mary and gave her more than usual for the money. You know that's customary at all jewelry stores. I suppose you are in town today causing a flurry in the mark for presents. You ought to do as I do make a flying trip on the day before the 25th at about 9:30 PM and avoid the rush. I told Myra that is I were in her place I'd give six of those seven casserols of hers for presents and then she'd have no shopping whatever to do. The main thing would be to be careful and not return them to the original purchasers. That sure would cause a disturbance but it might save her money at future Christmas times. There is only one present that causes me any worry whatsoever and of course you could never guess which one that is. I have in mind a limousine a rope of pearls or some other equally inexpensive little trinket that could be bought for somewhere around $2.98. That's the trouble of being born with multimillionaire tastes without the dough. My main ability is to spend cash not to make it. If some gold old malefactor of great wealth would only employ me as his disbursing agent I'm sure I could give him a most tasteful example of how to get rid of his money with the least possible effort and to the greatest possible good to the largest number particularly my friends, enemies and acquaintances. What I need is a guardian or something of the kind as a sort of balance to my insane desire to get rid of what I make. I am doing better than formerly but not so well as I should. I guess as Dicie said we only live once so why not go the limit within the law and good morals. (Which I fear is not so very far.)

This is a most misleading and unsatisfactory document but I'm going to let it go. Maybe you can tell what's not so and what is. The main thing is that you owe me two letters and I want em also you which seems a very very big word doesn't it. Let's hope I get em all in due season. There's another reason I should be a Wall Street Baron. Maybe you'd make a good guardian you never know til you try anyway. I'm doing my level best to get a lot of change gut as Miss Brown says His Majesty has a hand in most things and he usually takes money as his share. Be sure and send those letters. This is wash day and the boilers leakin so I've got to go now.

Most sincerely, Harry

In this letter from 1912, Harry S Truman muses about Christmas, and hints that he wishes he could do better for Miss Bess Wallace, his love, who lives in Independence, Missouri.

Dear Bess: November 29, 1913

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 29, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. Today’s letter from Harry S Truman to Miss Bess Wallace is from this date in 1913. In this letter, we hear the names of some of the hired help from the Truman Farm. This is sort of rare, because in these pre-Social Security days, it was rare for employment records be kept, and we have no good list of the non-family employees who worked on the Farm. And Truman writes about his sister, Mary Jane, and a beau she was waiting for. Mary Jane Truman was born on the family farm in 1889, and was the last of the Truman siblings to survive, dying in 1978. Mary Jane Truman was a beautiful woman in every possible way. And as we enter into the holiday season, it’s fascinating to hear of Mr. Truman musing about what he can get Miss Wallace that is worthy of her and the holiday.

Grandview Nov. 29, 1913

Dear Bess:

I got your letter this morning. I was sure glad to get it. I suppose you are on your way to the City of the Platte. (Which really means Buenos Ayres.) You must not forget to mail me a card from that burg, so that Miss Duvall will speedily discover her mistake. I have made up my mind to stay home on Sunday in order to help with the evening work. It will be the first Sunday that the men leave and you know my staying at home will look grand to daddy until he sees your card from Platte City.

The Noland girls have never said anything sassy to me about you. They are well aware that they'd better hadn't I guess. They always talk to me as if they were of the same opinion that I am regarding you.

The hired men are paid off. They beat me badly when I paid them. Wornall hadn't had a settlement since July. He had over forty dollars coming. The other fellow got thirty dollars. Just think what a lot of Christmas presents that would have bought. I wish I knew what you want for Christmas. My brain refuses the task of thinking up something really worthwhile and within my financial ability. Were I a Jawn D. [Rockefeller], there'd be no trouble whatever. There's autos and jewelry and most anything in a millionaire's line, but there are so few things an ordinary person can get that are really worthwhile. Maybe I'll have an inspiration of some kind before midnight, December 24. You may get anything from a needle to a threshing machine. I could use a threshing machine in my own business. It might be good policy to give you one. It is said that a man to be absolutely ornery must own one and a fiddle. I haven't reached either yet.

Mary's in an awful stew. Her Pleasant Hill beau has written that he'll be here one day this week. Today is all that's left, and she's got someone else for tonight I think. Then there are three extra people and I bought her the wrong kind of cheese for the sandwiches. I guess she'll be a wreck by Sunday evening. I told her I am going to stay home tomorrow evening and she said she knew I'd stay till 4:00 P.M. Won't she be surprised. You might send me about an eight- or ten-page note for this and I'll try and send you a good letter Wednesday.

Most sincerely, Harry

In this Dear Bess letter, we hear about paying farmhands, Mary Jane Truman's social life, and Harry Truman wishing he had the ability to buy a fancy Christmas present for Miss Wallace.

A digital copy of the original is here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-29-1913

Dear Bess: November 26, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 26, 2021 , a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. We have an intriguing letter for you today, written on this day in 1912. Harry Truman’s mind is in several places in this letter. But it includes a powerful description of the hard life on the family farm in Grandview. And Truman weaves in some classical references, showing the solid education he received in Independence. We thought you’d like to hear it.

Grandview, Mo. [Nov. 26, 1912]

Dear Bess:

I am going to get this one off on time or bust a hamstring. That is a classic expression because that said string holds the key to the whole set of harness. If it breaks, away go the horses and you stand in the road. Also it is the last piece of harness to break. It is either very rotten when it breaks or the rest of the harness is very strong. I've spoiled my excessive effort but I'll get the letter off.

It was well I left when I did the other evening because that car was uptown. It is a "most" uncertain quantity. No wonder people swear at the Met. They had a transfer out Sunday which said that the car ride is the cheapest thing in town and gets more knocks. A man will go to dinner and tip the waiter for five rides and then whip the con when his transfer is overdue. Mr. Ed Howe of Atchison was the composer of that. I suppose the Met will give him a life pass for it. They ought to. I wish I were a railroad attorney or some other kind of grafter so I could ride free. The depot agent at Grandview has worked for the Frisco thirty years. He gets a pass for himself and wife over the whole system for the balance of his days. He's only fifty, so he can ride some thousands of miles yet. He says he's going to California December 1 and stay a month and then to Penn. and stay a month and then go to work again. I really don't believe, though, I'd want to be a station agent until I was fifty in order to get a pass. Rather be something else. Section boss for instance. I guess I'll be a clodhopper and pay the grafters. That's his privilege.

I have to write this on the installment plan, as usual Papa keeps wanting something. Also he's anxious for me to get to work. We are going to haul some tons of hay today. It is a backbreaking job. Fine exercise though. I just wish I could get some of these white hopes and black champs in on the usual routine farm exercise. You'd hear them howl about being stale and overdone along about four o'clock the first day. They'd do their country and also their morals much better service if they spent their time producing something with their tall muscular force. I hate a prize fighter worse than a packing-house employee. They are both butchers and barbarians under the hide. Worshippers of Woden I guess. Anyway they attempt to imitate Thor when he drank an ocean of booze.

Which makes me remember that there was a Latin Bible called the Vulgate which King James used in his translation along with the Septuagint and Hebrew. I am not writing an essay or connected letter - my trains of thought are scattered as were those of Mr. Brian O'Cree's mother in perpetua. For another jump, I have diligently searched for authority to translate mores death but I can't find it. Guess I'll have to come in and say it means bad manners or something along that line. I guess we could say O horrors and make it modern couldn't we? Hang Cicero, Hebrew, Thor, and all the rest.

You owe me a letter. Send it quickly.

Most sincerely, Harry

This letter discusses Kansas City public transit, hard work on the Farm, and has some terrific classical allusions. It shows Harry Truman's breadth of knowledge.

A digital copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-26-1912

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