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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: April 14, 1918

Transcript

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

A most important letter for you today, a letter written by First Lieutenant Harry S Truman, recently arrived in France, writing home to Miss Bess Wallace in Independence, Missouri. Lieutenant Truman shares his first impressions of France, shares a little about the voyage, and makes reference to the world of censoring letters, common practice in wartime. This letter is a splendid example of how Truman used his letters to Miss Wallace as a canvas, on which he painted wonderful illustrations with words.

Here's the letter.

Somewhere in France April 14, 1918

Dear Bess:

I landed today and have been trying to find a cable office that hasn't a U.S. censor in it. They won't let us cable for things like informing our people we landed safely because the wires are so crowded they can't send them. I guess you've got my cable I left in New York by this time anyway. My cussed pen went dry right up there and I had to get up and fill it. I am in a French hotel room about as big as your grandmother's room and the front hall combined and the floor's as cold as the top of a lake when it's frozen and the grip with the ink had to be as far from the bed as it could be. The electric switch turns off the light in the center of the room, and another turns lights on over the head of the bed. You can't light both at once—when one's on the other goes off automatically and as the bed is the warmest I am writing this in bed. We go to work tomorrow and I have been seeing this town, which is quite wonderful to me. It isn't Paris, but if Paris is as much livelier as it is bigger, Paris is some town. Wine and beer are sold here and most of the 35th Division have been in Oklahoma so long that they are trying to drink all there is here. They can't as the supply seems to be inexhaustible. Prices are marked strictly on the American plan in French money and they skin us alive. Our dinners cost as 10 francs apiece, about $1.80, so you see things are not so cheap. One fellow bought him a Sam Brown belt for 40 franks (I don't know why I spelled that with a k) and gave the man a ten-dollar bill. He got 60 francs in change and the belt so he made a belt and 3 francs by the deal and didn't know it until someone told him that ten dollars was 57 francs.

This is a beautiful place. I wish I could tell you where it is. (Call Boxley up.) The room I have at the Hotel des Voyageurs is furnished in mahogany with double lace curtains at its windows. It has a picture of Henry IV and his children on one side and Henry VIII of England at some state function on the other. There is a fire place (no fire) with a white marble mantelpiece, which has a Dutch clock under a glass case. (The clock doesn't run, probably on account of its age.) It is a beautiful gold affair with a couple of seventeenth-century pikemen on top of it. It is flanked by two exquisitely beautiful lamps and there is a large mirror over the whole thing about four feet square. The chairs are upholstered in red plush. It looks more like some count's bedroom than a hotel room.

I went to a picture show and saw Pearl White in one of the sections of a spasm that has been running a year or so over in U.S.A. The name and explanations were in French and I've forgotten its name but it was good old mellerdramer and I had not seen this episode. There was a comedy and another complete film that was good and a dancer named Miss Theer. We got tired and left before the show was over or I guess we could have been there yet. It began at two-thirty and we left at five-thirty, all for 1 franc 45 centimes—about 35 cents.

We had a most pleasant voyage and I found a well-formed rumor that we were sunk when we got to port. The navy has the army beaten forty ways for wild stories.

I've got to quit because it's 10:00 P.M. and lights go out at nine o'clock and I'm liable to get arrested.

Write me as below.

Yours always, Harry S. Truman, 1st Lt. 129th F.A. Det. 35th Division, A.E.F.

Today we feature an important letter from First Lieutenant Harry S Truman to Bess Wallace...a letter written shortly after Lieutenant Truman arrived in France.

A digital copy of the letter can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/april-14-1918

Dear Mamma and Mary (Truman): April 5, 1947

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for April 5, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Well, no Dear Bess or Dear Harry letter today…we thought we would try something different. Today, we would like to share a letter that President Harry S Truman wrote to his mother, Martha Ellen Truman, and his sister, Mary Jane Truman, on this date in 1947.

In a way we are lucky to have these letters. While preparing his memoirs, Harry Truman reviewed a lot of these letters, and his staff made photocopies. Mary Jane Truman, however, unfortunately destroyed the originals, so the photocopies are all that we have left. In letters to his family, Truman felt comfortable sharing his joys and frustrations as president. His family had the ability to be tonics for his soul. By the time this letter was written, Mamma Truman was in the last few months of her life. Mary Jane was the last surviving sibling, living until 1978.

Here's the letter.

The White House Washington

April 5, 1947

Dear Mamma & Mary:- I have, as usual been up to my eyes in work and haven't had a chance to write promptly. I was glad to get the Dr.'s letter and am hoping to see the pictures next time he takes them. I am glad Mrs. Lester i there with you and I hope you will be able to get Lillie when she leaves.

This has been a right hectic week. The Congress acts like a lot of school boys or even worse. They have been piddling around now for 90 days and have sent me four or five little bills affecting special things like extention (sic) of war powers in certain things and some special things for special sections of the country. But for real policy legislation - nothing.

The Atomic Energy Commission fight finally came to a test vote. Mr. Taft has succeeded in making a real fool of himself as have several other so called "leading" Republicans. I am of the opinion that the country has had about enough of their pin head antics.

Tonight I am to make a nation wide speech to the Democrats on policy. I hope it comes out all right.

Margaret will go to Independence Tuesday to be in Mary Shaws wedding. If the weather is good I may come out next Sunday. But don't count on it too much. Love to you both

Harry

We have a special treat for you today...not a Dear Bess or a Dear Harry letter, but a rare letter that President Harry S Truman wrote to his mother and sister. We're grateful to have these letters. Writing letters like these to his family was quite important to Harry Truman.

You can see a digital copy of the "original" here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/165318606

(The "original" is actually a photocopy...unfortunately Harry Truman's sister, Mary Jane, destroyed the originals.)

Dear Bess: April 1, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for April 1, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site.

This is not an April fool prank, but Harry Truman refers to April 1 in this letter from this day in 1911. This may have been about four months into their fabled courtship. It provides an exciting insight into his life on the farm in Grandview. Today, it takes us only minutes to get from Grandview to Independence. In their world, it was a much more extensive experience.

The Truman Home will be reopening for tours starting Wednesday, April 6, 2022, after a significant closure from COVID. We are open Wednesdays to Sundays. Come and see 219 North Delaware Street! And please visit the Truman Library, which has a wonderful exhibit focused on these marvelous letters.

Here’s the letter.

Grandview, Mo. April 1, 1911

Dear Bessie,

April Fool Day. Mamma says it is always customary to send blank sheets of paper today instead of written ones. Well perhaps you'd rather get the blank ones, but I am going to fill these and spoil the spirit of the day.

You see I have been sowing oats all week, got done Thursday night, and hauled about six tons of hay yesterday. My face is a sight, as the girls say. You know the wind blew something "fierce" last Tuesday and Wednesday and the sun also had some effect. Between them I look like raw beef or a confirmed "booze fighter." My voice is also somewhat weary from yelling at the horses. You know we drive four plugs to a drill-have them abreast. It is an impossibility to have four with inclinations alike. I had four whose names may be some index to their character-William, Samuel, Jane and X. X is a bronc-if you know what that is-he has an insane desire to arrive at the other end of the field in the shortest possible time. You dare not touch him with a whip or let him hear one if you can help. William-Bill we call him of course-is an ex-buggy horse. He hasn't much idea of work but to get out of it if he can. I yell at him in my sleep sometimes. When I am not hallooing "Bill, Bill go on," I am saying the same to Sam. Sam is a very large ex-dray horse and he never hurries under any consideration unless I poke him with a sharp stick or land on him with a baling wire whip. Jane, as Mrs. Barclay would say, is just right. She goes as she should. Well when I land on Sam and Bill, Jane and X want to run away. So I have to take it out in lung work and unprintable names. You can just bet that I am glad I'm done. I always sow Vivian's and mine too. This time I sowed seventy acres in five days. That is moving some. Vivian is well had has been hauling hay for me while I sowed his oats. (I do wish I had your new bottle of ink.) Did you get an invitation to the high school reception for Professor Bryant? I did but I can't go. I have a "previous engagement" to a tacky party. I am going as I usually go when at home and I bet I take the cake. My very best friends would refuse to recognize me if they ever saw me in town in my farm rags. They are dirty and tattered and torn with hog snoot marks, splashed milk, and other things too numerous to mention in their makeup. You ask Ethel what a pretty figure I cut when I pretend to work. Mamma ropes me in once in a while and makes me exchange for a clean set, but they don't feel right until I wear them a day or two.

I am glad your "umbrell" is a useful as well as ornamental article. You know they generally are not both.

I would certainly be glad to attend church with you in Independence and hear your choir.

I guess you will have a fine time at the river tomorrow morning. I haven't been down on those bluffs since I was a time-keeper for L. J. Smith. You know I was once a hobo paymaster. Not a pleasant job either.

I am sorry to hear of Miss Dicie's illness but I guess she'll soon recover. Lively people are never sick long. I hope your mother is well by this time. Our whole family is in good health. Papa only has to hop on crutches but he'll soon be over that.

You say you have gone back to W. D. Howells, well I have never come to him yet. He must be all right for he was a particular friend of Mark Twain's. It's luck I guess but I have never read one of his books. I certainly did enjoy The Mistress of Shenstone. I have read The Rosary since I read it and they are both good. I have also been reading the history of Jenghiz Khan the Tartar. He is the only great man in history who had no effect on American history, according to Miss Phelps. You know she began with Adam and came down. But I never heard of Jenghiz till recently. Well I am wound up but shall quit here. Please write me when you have the time as I enjoy your letters very much. I am

Sincerely, Harry

A charming letter from Harry Truman to Bess Wallace from April 1, 1911. Some fascinating insight into Truman's work on the family farm in Grandview. Plus insights into what Mr. Truman and Miss Wallace were reading, and more.

A digital copy of the original is here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/april-1-1911

Dear Bess: March 28/29, 1918

Transcript

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

A significant Dear Bess letter for you today, postmarked on this date in 1918. After several months of difficult drilling and training, Harry Truman is prepared to make the trip across the ocean to serve in the Great War. We can only imagine how conflicted he was feeling inside. On one hand, he volunteered for this duty, and felt it his noble calling as a man and as an American. But on the other hand, he was leaving behind his mother, his sister, the family farm, and a beautiful blonde haired girl with the most beautiful blue eyes, who he has loved now for 28 years. She wanted to get married before he left, but he declined. He knew the risks of what he was doing, and didn’t want to leave Bess Wallace a widow. Note how Truman briefly explains how the censoring of letters would work. But he needed letters from Miss Wallace more than ever. In his uniform shirt pockets, Harry Truman kept photographs of his mother and sister, and one of Bess Wallace. They were like a forcefield for him.

Here's the letter.

Jersey City, N.J.

Dear Bess:

It is eleven o'clock and I've got to arise at three in order to get my goods and chattels in readiness to go on the boat, but I am going to write you one last letter on this side on the last day I can. I didn't get to see Gates because they kept me here until nearly two o'clock reading orders and instructions as to how we must act, what we must say and not say when we arrive in General Pershing's jurisdiction. About all we can write is "I am well if you are well it is well," and if we were to put that down S.V.B.E.V. they'd destroy the letter and probably hang us for spies. I don't suppose I can even say I love you, because some heartless censor would cut it out as a state secret and spoil what was on the other side. If you get any letters with strips cut out of them you'll know that is what I said and that I'm always saying it. I am awfully sorry but I didn't get to go to White's for the same reason I didn't get to see Gates. It was too late by the time I got through here to do anything whatever in town. If I'd stayed here another week I'd be writing home for money and I haven't got anything for it either only a very uncomfortable pair of feet because of their not being well acquainted with hard pavements. Have two immense blisters, which I never had in all my Ft. Sill marching and countermarching. Bought me a Sam Brown belt today and I look real fussy in it. They're the kind that have a strap over the shoulder and a broad red leather belt in the center with loud brass trimmings. Have to carry a can of brass polish to keep it looking well. It has a hook for a saber but I never expect to wear one.

I didn't get a letter today and I'm terribly disappointed. I know its Uncle Sam's fault on the delivery and I may get it on the boat anyway. Hope so.

My new address is 129th Field Artillery Detachment, 35th Division, A.E.F. via New York. It will take two envelopes to get it all on. Wired you today and as you are reading it I'll probably be going out of Sandy Hook behind a warship.

Remember that I've always loved you and shall continue to no matter what happens, and when the Great God Ammon Ra weighs me for good and for bad I'm hoping that will be for the main and principal cause of the good outweighing. I am hoping to cable you from Berlin soon.

Yours always, Harry

A very significant letter for today...written by Harry Truman to Bess Wallace as he is preparing to ship to Europe to serve in the Great War.

A digital copy of the letter can be seen here, courtesy of the Truman Library: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-29-1918-postmark

Dear Harry: March 16, 1919

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess, Dear Harry podcast for March 16, 2022, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

We have a treat for you today…the oldest known letter from Bess Wallace to Harry Truman…from March 16, 1919. Unfortunately, it appears as if Mrs. Truman destroyed most of the letters that she wrote to Harry Truman, but we are more than grateful to have the ones we do. In this letter we get a fun insight into the upcoming nuptuals, which were to happen once Captain Truman returned home from serving in the War in France.

Here's the letter. It’s wonderful!

[Independence, Mo.] Sunday, March 16, 1919

Dear Harry, According to the Star's latest information you are on your way to Le Mans and I'm wondering if any of these last letters will ever be delivered. It seems to take them long enough to get to you even when postal authorities know where you are exactly-and if you begin to move again, what will happen to the letters?

Was mighty glad to get your letter of Feb. 18. Hadn't heard for such an age was afraid you were sick! Mary was worrying too, so I wrote her a card at once telling her I had had my letter in case she didn't get one in the same mail.

You may invite the entire 35th Division to our wedding if you want to. I guess it's going to be yours as well as mine. I guess we might as well have the church full while we are at it. I rather think it will be anyway whether we invite them or not, judging from a few remarks I've heard. What an experience the review etc. must have been. I'll bet D Battery looked grand and no wonder they led the Division. I couldn't help spilling that little bit of "info" to C. C. I hope you don't mind. Were you at all overcome at greeting the Prince of Wales? He doesn't mean any more to me than the orneriest doughboy but I know I'd choke if I had to address him. It was splendid you got to shake hands with Pershing.

I'll be just about ready alrighty when you come and then we can settle the last details. Mary said Mr. Morgan had a job waiting for you and if you should decide to put in part of your time there, you'll have another home waiting for you in Indep. for nothing would please Mother any better. She said we could have either floor we wanted. I wore my new spring bonnet out to Helen's last week and she said she hoped I wouldn't wear all the newness off it before you got here and I told her I hoped I wouldn't have the time to.

Polly and Ben and the kiddies are coming tomorrow. I don't know why in the world they are coming right now before Miss Jessie gets out of school. She won't enjoy them much, I'm afraid. Wish they could stay 'til after the wedding.

Hold on to the money for the car! We'll surely need one. Most anything that will run on four wheels. I've been looking at used car bargains today. I'll frankly confess I'm scared to death of Fords. I've seen and heard of so many turning turtle this winter-but we can see about that later. Just get yourself home and we won't worry about anything.

Did you hear that Mr. Morgan said he was going to give you a suit! Pretty fine-eh? Are you longing to get back into cits? Eugene says they sure feel fine.

Am glad you gave Colonel Elliot the calling down-in spite of Colonel Smith. I bet he needed it. It's strange that such widely different things as war and picnics will so surely show a man up. I've liked lots of people 'til I went on a picnic jaunt with them and you can say the same thing about several men 'til you went on a war "jaunt" with them-eh? The dear ex- Colonel landed Friday.

I must quit. Hope you have the chance to cable as you said.

Loads of Love, Devotedly, Bess

Mother sends her love.

This certainly is some scratching but I'm sitting in the big chair under the light and it isn't easy to write.

A real treat today...the oldest known letter from Bess Wallace to Harry Truman! Full of some wonderful tidbits and a few insights into their upcoming wedding. While we wish we had more of Mrs. Truman's letters to her husband, we are grateful to have what we do, and grateful to the family for sharing them with us!

A digital copy of the original is here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/personal-papers/harry-s-truman-correspondence-file-1919-1943/march-16-1919

Dear Bess: March 10, 1913

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 10, 2022…brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Our letter for you today was postmarked on this date, March 10, in 1913. It’s certainly one for which we wish we had a corresponding “Dear Harry” letter, yet none from this period from Mrs. Truman are known to survive. We can only imagine the conversation that led to the opening line in this letter, whether it was on paper, over the phone or in person.

Here’s the letter. It’s fascinating.

Grandview Postmarked March 10, 1913

Dear Bess: You are muchly mistaken if you think I was in a bad humor when I penned your last epistle. It may have sounded as if I was because I laid such emphasis on having no mammy at home or because I was at the time disgusted with pinheads in general and myself in particular. You see I'd just succeeded in bringing on my stiff neck again and I was sure it was a mollycoddle stunt. I'll try and be more cheerful this time. For one thing I've been to see Mamma this morning and she's promised to come home and visit us a few minutes tomorrow. I took Uncle Harrison down to see his grandnephew and niece. The girl laughed at him and was glad to see him, but the boy yelled every time he came near. I guess the girl was flirting young, showing plainly that she is a girl by smiling sweetly on an old bachelor. Ethel says widows and old bachelors have the fun anyway.

I sealed your letter and the thing came unsealed after it started. The stickum on these envelopes is not of the best. I shall put some extra paste on this one. (I said paste because I can't spell the other word.) If there is any other apology I ought to offer, except for a lack of brain power which I can't help, it is hereby offered for that last spasm of mine called a letter.

I don't know what I was intending to prove by your letters. It was something important at the time. I guess I'll read them back for six weeks or so and then tell you. I was reading of a girl not long ago who read a letter to her mother and told her it was from one of her young man friends. The mother raised sand with her and told her she never heard of such gush. The girl showed her her father's signature and it is said you could hear the snow falling out in the backyard. I think that was a most awful mean and undutiful daughter. My dear uncle is sawing logs on the couch. Every once in a while he hits a splinter and such a choking and scraping of saw teeth (false teeth) you never heard. He holds the record for snoring. He was cussing the jail system this morning. He said if he had his way he'd close every church and jail in the country. Just build a stockade and head the criminals into it and give them a hundred stripes with a whip for the first offense and hang 'em for the second. Then he said judges and marshals and all other such truck would be unnecessary and useless. I don't know why he included churches in the destruction but I guess it's because he hates preachers so badly. He says a highwayman is a gentleman alongside of a preacher or detective. He can almost convince you that it's so, too. I don't think they are quite so bad as a class but there are individuals among preachers who ought not to be able to look a good highwayman in the face. There was once a Presbyterian one in Belton who was a quack doctor and a genuine dinky hoss trader. He's the only really great character that burg ever produced. They tell a story about him when he was going to medical college in St. Louis. He was very hard up for cash and went away from school for two or three weeks, when he came back he had plenty of money. One of his classmates asked him where he'd been and he said, "Oh I'se been down here in Kentucky preaching like ----- for the last three weeks." He'd been holding a camp meeting and industriously passing the hat. It is said that he could preach a sermon that would make a marble statue weep. He could also make a horse trader weep over his bargain. He finally did some shady medical practice and they fired him. And do you know every woman and kid in the church cried and the men hated to see him go. I guess he was a genius with a screw loose. I wish you'd go to the Orpheum Saturday, but if you won't I guess I'll give Boxley a hint to take me tomorrow. I have to go see him tomorrow. Will try and call up this time. Our lawsuit comes up next Monday and I guess I'll be busy as a cranberry merchant on the twenty-fourth of December for the rest of this week. Here's hoping Warfield has a comedy show instead of one to make the caryatids weep as he did last season.

You now owe me a letter. You can let one of them come Wednesday and the other Friday.

Most sincerely,

Harry

A fascinating letter today, with a lot in it. Harry Truman is apologizing to Bess Wallace for what must have been an interesting dialogue...we wish we had Bess' letters to gain a clearer picture. And it's always fun to hear an insight into Truman's Uncle Harrison Young, whom the future president was named after.

A copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-10-1913-postmark?documentid=NA&pagenumber=7

Dear Bess: March 1, 1919

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 1, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We’d like to share with you a fascinating letter today, written on this date in 1919, shortly before Captain Harry S Truman returned home from serving in France during the Great War. Please take the time to follow the link and take a look at the original letter on the Truman Library’s website. Truman wrote it on Knights of Columbus letterhead. The Knights of Columbus was, and is, a Catholic fraternal organization. Captain Truman had many Catholics in his artillery battery, and remained close to them for the rest of his life. In the letter, Captain Truman talks some military politics with his fiancée Bess Wallace.

Here's the letter. Rosieres, France, near Bar-le-Duc March 1, 1919

Dearest Bess: This has been a beautiful sunny day - the only one for a long time and the first one this month! It was made more joyous by two letters from you. The days are always fine when mail from home comes even when it's raining. My first sergeant reminded me of a day in the drive when I was chasing around figuring a barrage and raising sand with everyone in sight when the mail man gave me a letter from you and I calmed down at once and forgot the barrage, battery and everything else for a while. You won't be the only one to weep when we meet I'm afraid. I'm glad you like the pictures. They flatter me considerably but then we all like picture that make us look better than we are. It was no joke about that fool horse inspector wanting us to cook oats for our horses. He was canned shortly afterwards though and my horses are gone to Germany or somewhere else now and I don't have horse inspectors to worry about any more, and I hope I never have. We only have inspection of the men now - clothes, billets, mess etc etc. I didn't take any pleasure in making that fellow cry who overstayed his time in Verdun and I'd rather be beaten than call a man down but I have to do it to make 'em behave and to keep my job with honor and efficiency. It's one of the many requirements in Army Regulations to make men obey the rules but I don't like to do it. And as for ever thinking of calling you down - why I'd go jump in the river first. I can't even remember of having called Mary down for anything badly as she needs it sometimes. You'll have to do all the disciplining in our household because my heart fails me on cronic [sic] rule breakers and hard cookies in the army if they put up the right kind of talk.

I'm so sorry to hear of Mrs. Bryant's death. Please extend my heartfelt sympathy to Helen. There's nothing much you can do or say in a case of that kind because it's something we've all got to look forward to but may the day be far distant when either of us have to face the same situation. We have two mothers that are only produced once in the world and if I had my way they'd live forever, or at least as long as I do. But we don't order such things and I reckon it's as well for us we don't.

I had hoped that C. C. Bundschu would keep his mouth closed and state only the real facts relative to himself and let the rest of us alone. As far as I've heard he seems to be making some statements that may make it rather unpleasant for some of us when we get home. K. D. K. [Col. Klemm] was not popular with officers nor men but he played no favorites. He was just as mean to one as another and I think it was a policy he inaugurated from some mistaken idea of German discipline being the best brand. He's been transferred to the 106th at his own request because it's going home before we do. To give him his due he is an efficient officer and would have been a Brigadier General had the war gone on another sixty days. I'm off of him for life but I don't care about its being made public property just yet. He didn't treat me any worse than he did the rest of his B. C. but my Irish thought he did and probably conversed more about him than they should have. Take all the early talk from the first arrivals with a grain of salt because I'm sure they'll talk too much. I hope I shan't have to say a word when I get home either in public or in private about anyone of the 129th to hurt his standing at home. As I told you C. C. was sent home for inefficiency - unjustly we all thought but if he goes to talking too much we won't be so sure about the unjustness of it.

Capt Thatcher is Major Thatcher now and Major (Doctor) Wilson is a Lt. Col. They both deserve the promotion and we're all glad they got it. Col. Elliott is still with and so are Maj's. Miles & Gates. Col. E. T. Smith of the 106th FA is our new commanding officer and he's a good one. Regular Army man, not a West Pointer which is in his favor.

My Battery is still producing champions. I have the Division Featherweight and Lightweight boxers in my organization. Have a man on the Division football team and two men on the basketball team. I lay claim to having had the shootingest outfit, I hope to have the best marching one and I know that when it comes to hand to hand combat no other battery has me beaten. If we can't find someone to lick in an adjacent organization we begin on ourselves. One of the men came into my office this morning and informed my clerk that two of my hearties had just had the best fist fight he'd ever seen. I was not supposed to hear of it and I didn't. I saw 'em both afterwards and from the appearance of 'em it must have been a right successful go. They are friends now and no harm done. I sure feel sorry for Henry Allen if this outfit ever gets to him.

Be sure and keep writing because the letter'll follow us up even to Funston. I love you

Always Harry.

Harry S. Truman Capt 129 FA American E. F.

Captain Harry Truman wrote this letter to his fiancee Bess Wallace shortly before returning home to Jackson County, Missouri. It's full of some fascinating tidbits. Please be sure to check out the digital copy of the original, as it's a wonderful example of a well-written letter! It's here, courtesy of the Truman Library:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-1-1919?documentid=NA&pagenumber=3

Dear Bess: February 25, 1919

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for February 25, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

We have a gem of a letter for you today, written by Captain Harry S Truman, still in France following the cessation of hostilities of World War I. He wrote it on this date in 1919. Captain Truman is anxious to board a transport ship and come home to America, mostly because soon after he gets home he will marry Miss Bess Wallace, whom he has loved for about 29 years.

Harry Truman was quite proud of the men under his command. Although some of his men died from illness and disease, not one man from the 129th Field Artillery was lost in battle. Harry Truman was proud of the service he and his battery provided during the war.

Here’s the letter.

February 25, 1919 Rosieres, France, near Bar-le-Duc Dear Bess:

I scored again today. Got a letter from you and it had a Hershey in it praise be. Of course the letter is a joy forever, but a letter and a Hershey - well its worth two praise be's and several thank you's. We can't obtain Hersheys over here and in my opinion there's hardly any chocoloate that equals it for flavor and satisfaction. We get a brand over here that's made by an old party named Menier. It's called Chocolat Menier and it's like Walter Bakers brand that you put in cakes only it's sweet. I hope you'll encore that stunt, and do it often. Yes we are ordered to Le Mans and are schedule to sail April 20, 1919. But don't put too much faith in that date because such festivals are movable and not fixed. If we shouldn't succeed in getting our men altered to fit their service records it may require an unreeling of pink tape to such an extent that we'll be delayed thirty days. What's a mere 30 days to G. H. Q. (which some say means get home quick - I doubt it myself)? There's also a new General Order out to the effect that all battery and company commanders whose funds are messed up will be detached from their organizations and held in France until a proper balance is struck. Now they may reach out and yank me off the gang plank just as I'm getting aboard in order to have me untangle my money from the company's but if they do I'll be much richer by some hundred of francs. You know a battery commander has as many duties and as much prying around to do as the chairwoman of a Ladies Aid; besides having to write to various wives, widows, mothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and paw in laws as to the general health and financial condition of Privates James William O'Grady, King and O'Toole, you've got to keep 'em clothed and fed. If they lose their clothes or trade 'em for Vin Rouge and don't make 'em pay for the loss the B. C.'s stuck. If your reserve ration goes up in Willie Stew by a careless mess sergeant the B C pays. If the battery fund gets tangled the B. C. pays etc etc ad lib. One bird I have refused to write to his mother because Uncle Sam fined him $60.00 for going A W O L to see her and I got a letter from the Commanding General of the Second Army wanting to know why I didn't make him write her. Well he did all right, all right but he wound up his epistle by saying he was only doing it because the Captain would put him in the jug if he didn't, and I let it go because it was true.

They aren't all like that though. I have an overwhelming majority I wouldn't trade for a million dollars. They have real Irish hearts and they love their mother and sweetheart just that way. Some letters to mothers I've censored are masterpieces and I know they are meant because I know the men.

I don't think there's any of 'em thought who are as deeply in love as their own Captain to whom they bring their troubles and I guess that's why he can sympathise with 'em.

Please write as often as you can to one who loves you madly.

Always yours Harry. Harry S. Truman Captain 129 FA American E. F.

A most charming letter for today, written on this date in 1919, as Captain Harry S Truman and his men are awaiting word that they'll be coming home after serving nobly in France in the Great War.

Harry Truman was most fond of the men under his command, and he writes about them a bit in this letter. And he's ready to come home and marry Miss Bess Wallace.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-25-1919

Dear Bess: February 16, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for February 16, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

We have a compelling letter for you today, written February 16, 1911. It has everything you could want in a Dear Bess letter. Harry Truman relays to Bess Wallace some of the daily happenings on the farm in Grandview and elsewhere. His fascination with and devotion to Miss Wallace is most evident. But note Truman’s line about being an optimist. It’s a key line in understanding Harry S Truman. No matter the situation in life, Truman had the remarkable ability to be positive about the situation. It was an important part of his personality. And it served him well when he eventually served in government office. And it served America well from 1945 to 1953 while he was President of the United States.

Here's the letter…

Grandview, Mo.

February 16, 1911

Dear Bessie,

I caught the train I was after Tuesday night. I got off at Sheffield and walked about a mile and a half north to Air Line Junction. I was scared to an icicle almost, but it was all for nothing. I didn't even see a hobo. You know not so long ago a man was held up on the Kansas City Southern tracks right where I had to go. They made him exchange clothes and then knocked him on the head for luck. I would not mind the knock on the head so much but I certainly wouldn't enjoy the other. I am not going where I'll even get knocked in the head though if I know it.

I certainly did enjoy myself Tuesday night. That stew couldn't be beat. You know I have always had a kind of a desire to be a chafing dish artist, but I never even had the dish. Ethel had one you know and I got so I could make fudge on it. Farmers have no use for chafing dishes. They have to plow, put up hay, and trade horses. A fellow traded me a horse yesterday. That is, he parted me from a hundred dollars and I have a horse. You know horse trading is the cause of the death of truth in America. When you go to buy they'll tell you anything on earth to get your money. You simply have to use your own judgment, if you have any. I haven't much but I think I got my money's worth. Can't tell though until I work him a few days. A neighbor of ours once had a sale of his furniture and stock. He had a great may horses and some that were no good. He had one that was probably an octogenarian in the horse world. He was very aged anyway. This horse he wanted to sell to a poor lame man who had tried to by it before the sale. So he took a quart of bad whiskey and soaked the poor lame one and then told him he wasn't going to put the horse up. Well that fellow begged so hard that the horse was sold to him for $170. Just about $100 more than it was worth. The owner had a "buy bidder" to run him up. So that between the booze and the bidder he was mulcted for $100. O' the honest farmer. I have found that they sell gold bricks now. That is what rural delivery and party-line phones have done for our uplift.

I am not a pessimist though. There are some honest ones and they are always well thought of even by the crooks. They are always the last ones you get acquainted with too.

We have moved around quite a bit and always the best people are the hardest to know. I don't know why that is either.

My ink is in the same condition as yours. Mary has ordered ink for the last half-dozen times. I have been where it can be bought. But I can never remember it until I go to write. I sincerely hope you forgive this excuse for a letter. You know I am somewhat behind on sleep and the wheels that constitute my brain refuse to run smoothly and therefore I cannot write a decent letter. When a person has hired help he has to be up and thinking all the time to keep them busy as well as be busy himself all the time. If they can draw your money and do nothing, they are all willing to do it. I know because I've been there myself. You've probably heard of George Ade's man who bothered the directors so much for more money that they made him a director, and he was the best man to browbeat the clerks in the whole establishment ever after.

That's usually the case. It's all a matter of viewpoint. A man's might lucky if he has two.

I am not going to bore you any longer. I hope you answer it though.

Most sincerely, Harry

A gem of a letter today. Harry Truman again allows his pen to tell Miss Wallace about his travels, about some horse trading...and talks about how he is an optimist in life.

That is one of the most key lines from all of the Dear Bess letters...that Harry Truman is an optimist.

A digital copy of the letter can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-16-1911?documentid=NA&pagenumber=1

Dear Bess: February 11, 1913 (postmarked)

Transcript

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

We have a great letter for you today, postmarked on this date, February 11, in 1913. If you ever need proof that Harry S Truman was ever completely head over heels in love with Bess Wallace, the first few lines of this letter will suffice. It’s wonderful, too, to hear Truman refer to his father, John. John A Truman was a much respected livestock trader, with a good reputation in Grandview, Independence, Kansas City, and elsewhere. It’s unfortunate that John Truman, who died in late 1914, didn’t live to see the successful adults his children became, including one President of the United States.

Here’s the letter.

Postmark February 11, 1913 Grandview Feb. 10, 1913

Dear Bess: You have succeeded in enlarging the size of my hat. The idea of anyone, especially you, ever wanting to decorate my striking likeness with a silver frame has almost made me unable to contain myself with any degree of satisfaction. I even smiled when Mary informed me we were out of water at 6:30 P.M. after a hard day's work too. You know it is necessary for us to haul water a half mile. Also it was dark at six-thirty this evening. I had to hitch up a horse to get that water and eat supper all alone. I can only attribute my good humor to that request. Hang the chaperon. She generally (he I should say) doesn't know straight up about common sense. She (he) can write piffle about how may fingers to stick out when you eat salad and if it's proper to eat pie ala mode with a spoon when ice cream is slushy but for good sense she (he) is no authority. You may be sure I'd never have the effrontery to offer my photo to you because that, it seems to me, would be a case of rank egotism. You want one, you ask for it, you swell my head, make me feel good which is a good deed anyway Q.E.D. Hang the chaperone. I have had a very strenuous day my reason factory is not very good, but you'll get that tintype if I have to bust one dozen cameras. A silver frame! I can't live it down. Now don't forget I want yours worse than ever.

My dad arrived with his two loads of cows last night at seven o'clock. Mamma said he was on his ear in proper fashion when I wasn't there to meet him. He called me in the morning from Lowry City, and the K.C. central had to repeat the message, and instead of leaving that town at 5:00 P.M. he left at noon. She called at twelve o'clock and five o'clock. I'm glad she did. There was no harm done and I spent the evening where I wanted to. We have more old cows now than you have chickens I guess. Fifty-two new ones and thirty we already had. It sounds like the stockyards on a busy day. Of course there are some calves and the cows have more trouble sorting out their proper calves than the people did their babies after the Virginian's mixing them up. Instead of being two hours night and morning tending to the cows it is now twelve hours all day. I am of the opinion it will grow pretty old before grass comes. Anyway Papa is very happy he can get up at unearthly hours and cipher around with a lantern and stay out at night long enough to use one. He would rather yell at a cow than eat a meal. I would rather eat. His being away from home has caused me to get in bad with the W.C.T.U. The mayor of Grandview arrested the saloon man for selling whiskey. He asked me to go his bond to keep him out of jail. I went it same as I'd go a preacher's if he asked me to. This man's a pretty good fellow only he sells booze. I don't suppose it would have done him any good to stay in jail and I'm sure he likes me better. The only ones who will have it in for me are the "backyarders" as Uncle Harrison calls the North Carolinians. I'm not hankerin' for their friendship anyway. They yell temperance and want to lynch a saloon man but they'll go to the city and get gloriously stewed. I told them if they wanted really to shut up the saloon to do as I do and drink no booze, then the saloon man would have to get a pick and shovel and go to work.

I am going to send for Mr. Faversham's tickets for Thursday evening of the week he's here. Will that suit you? We have a man from St. Claire County here. He came home with Papa. It is my duty to show him K.C. tomorrow. Do you envy me my job? I don't. He's a fine man and I like him but I'd rather do something else. He's never been to K.C. and I don't know what to show him except Emery, Bird, Thayer's Eleventh Street entrance and the Shubert (from the outside). Maybe he'll get down to the stockyards and be so interested we can spend the day there. Let's hope so.

You owe me a letter. Also may I come Sunday as usual? Wait till we sell a cow and I'll get you that tintype.

Most sincerely, Harry

Another fun letter for you today. Miss Wallace wants to frame Mr. Truman's picture! In a silver frame!

And always nice to hear a little bit about Harry Truman's father, John. He died too soon, and too young.

Dear Bess: February 7, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for February 7, 2022, from Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

A fun letter for you today, with a lot in it. This is the fourth-oldest known Dear Bess letter, written on this date in 1911. Harry Truman is very much on cloud nine from experiencing a recent visit to 219 North Delaware Street in Independence. Was it on this visit that Truman played the piano for Bess Wallace’s mother, Madge Gates Wallace? Mrs. Wallace’s father, George Porterfield Gates, who built the 219 North Delaware Street we know today, bought the piano that Truman likely played in June of 1883, from the Smith American Organ Company, which had an office in Kansas City. It may be that the Steinway piano in the home today, bought around 1932 by the Trumans, replaced this piano.

In this letter, too, Harry Truman makes mention of his memories of First Presbyterian Church in Independence. It was there that young Harry Truman, age 6, met Miss Bess Wallace, age 5. There was never another girl for Harry Truman. They had a destiny. They just didn’t know it yet.

Here’s the letter.

Grandview, Mo. February 7, 1911

Dear Bessie: You were right. I was about to send you another epistle but thought I had better wait, maybe you would remember that you were indebted to me for one.

I certainly enjoyed myself the evening I was there and you may be assured I shall repeat the offense as often as I can or you will allow me. That cake and coffee couldn't be beat. I am like a girl that once boarded where I did. She said there was nothing better than cake but more cake. I heartily agree with her. It makes no difference about the variety just so it's cake.

I think you and Nellie could probably get some religious excitement on Ethel's part if you would do as a certain woman did Aunt Susan was telling me about.

You know they used to hold outdoor meetings when the weather was good and everyone for miles around attended and stayed sometimes for weeks. Along in the fifties they were holding a meeting not far from here and the preacher had exhorted and ranted and done everything else they usually do when they try to get something started as they call it, but it was no use. He wasn't a quitter though. Finally down one of the aisles one of the good sisters jumped out and began screaming and dancing up and down as they usually do when they get religion. The preacher made a dive for her with his hand extended saying, "Oh! Sister I am so glad to see you come out and say you have religion." Her answer between screams was, "I haven't got it. I haven't got it. There's a lizard on my dress." And she kept on dancing until Aunt Sue and someone else took her outside and one of those little lizards fell off her dress. Try it on Ethel. It will work I think.

I remember Miss Southern very well. Your opinion of her is good. Mary said that the preacher was giving dancers, card players, and theater-goers fits. Well he has done all these things until he is tired of them. Now he has taken to no preaching for a change. I also have strayed from the Presbyterian fold, though I remember my Sunday school days very well. I am by religion like everything else. I think there is more in acting than in talking. I had an uncle who said when one of his neighbors got religion strong on Sunday, he was going to lock his smokehouse on Monday. I think he was right from the little I have observed.

We had a neighbor out here who could pray louder and talk more fervently in meetin' than anyone I ever heard. He'd say in every prayer, "O Lord help this congregation to stop and think where they's a going at." We finally found that he beat his wife and did everything else that's "ornery".

I think religion is something one should have on Wednesday and Thursday as well as on Sunday. Therefore I don't believe these protracted meetings do any real good. They are mostly excitement and when the excitement wears off people are as they always were. I like to play cards and dance as far as I know how and go to shows and do all the things they said I shouldn't, but I don't feel badly about it. I go when I feel like it and the good church members are glad to hear what it's like. You see I'm a member but not a strenuous one. I suppose I am getting to be a bore by this time but I like to get letters so well, especially from you, that I do the best I can to deserve them. I shall be in Independence on the fourteenth to attend the probate court (think of it), and if you are at home I should like very much to come around again.

I am glad your mother likes my efforts on the piano. I am ashamed of it myself. But you know a farmer can't be a pianist much as he'd like to be. Mary is getting to be a pretty good piano player. Ivory tickler, as Shorty Short says. He says his piano has a wheelbarrow movement and a fire escapement. It was an old-fashioned square.

Write when you can to

Yours sincerely, Harry

This is a fascinating letter. Harry Truman, exuberant after a visit to see Miss Bess Wallace, thanks her for welcoming him. He also shares his thoughts on religion, including a humorous story in the style of Mark Twain. He also mentions his piano playing, which was better than he gives himself credit for.

A digital copy of the letter can be seen here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-7-1911?documentid=NA&pagenumber=6

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