Get Up Close and Personal with Truman Library Artifacts

Pull back the curtains on some of the most interesting objects at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum this summer with special events showing off rare objects not usually on display. Join us every Wednesday for White Glove Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and the first Friday of each month for Talkin’ Truman discussions focusing on specific themes.

Check out what is scheduled this next month at the Truman Library and make your plans to visit:

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As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time to become a Truman Library Institute Member. Have your membership card in hand in time to view Truman Library’s fascinating new temporary exhibition and to be a part of our upcoming events this summer and fall.

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Presidents Speak Out on Harry S. Truman

Happy birthday, Harry! President Truman was born on this day 133 years ago. In honor of Truman’s birthday, we compiled quotes from other presidents on Truman’s impact. 
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On April 12, 1945, Harry S. Truman became president of the United States. The following day, President Truman told reporters that he “felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.”

President Truman’s first 100 days in office were a whirlwind of activity, including the end of the war in Europe, planning for the postwar world with other world leaders gathering at Potsdam, the successful testing of the first atomic bomb, the establishment of the United Nations, and planning for the end of the war in the Pacific. No small feat for a man who had only met with President Roosevelt twice during his 82 days as vice president, and didn’t even know about the existence of the bomb.

In addition to overseeing and planning the end of a two-front war and planning the peace, Truman also issued 52 executive orders, delivered 10 proclamations, held 14 press conferences, and received one honorary degree. In order to maintain the incredible pace of the presidency and be prepared for the decisions he had to make as Commander in Chief, Truman spent every night reading countless memos and files in his private study in the White House. No wonder Harry Truman said that “Being president is like riding a tiger. You have to keep riding or be swallowed.”

Read on for some TRU-firsts from the president’s first 100 days.
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Annual Event Celebrated Truman’s Civil Rights Legacy

What an incredible evening! The 18th Annual Wild About Harry was an unforgettable event celebrating the Civil Rights legacy of Harry Truman that raised over $500,000. We were so inspired by the stories of Rep. James Clyburn, Rep. John Lewis and Calvin Trillin, and we were inspired your generosity.

If you were as inspired as we were by this event, feel free to share the following graphics on social media:
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Statement by the President Upon Signing the Marshall Plan

On April 3, 1948, Truman signed the Foreign Assistance Act, which provided an initial grant of $4 billion to Western Europe. By the time the program came to an end nearly four years later, more than $12 billion in foreign aid had been expended. Although the Marshall Plan had its flaws, including rampant inflation in some areas, it provided some much-needed stability and stimulation for the economies of Western Europe. British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin described the Marshall Plan as “a lifeline to sinking men.” Truman issued the following statement after signing the landmark legislation:
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Author Q&A

Robert Klara literally wrote the book on Truman’s renovation of the White House. We’re excited to welcome him to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum on April 6 for a free public event and book signing (Event is free but RSVPs are requested—RSVP today).

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Event Slideshow

Truman Library Institute Members got to be the first to see the brand-new temporary exhibition, Saving the White House: Truman’s Extreme Home Makeover, on display through the end of the year. Members were welcomed after-hours with a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception and private viewing of the exhibition.

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Proclamation 2824—National Freedom Day

February 1st is National Freedom Day, a time to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the resolution that became known as the 13th Amendment. Truman built on Lincoln’s civil rights efforts, commissioning the Committee on Civil Rights, being the first president to address the NAACP, calling for civil rights legislation, desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces and U.S. federal hiring, hosting the first openly integrated inaugural gala, and issuing the following proclamation honoring national freedom day in 1949. 
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Truman’s Inaugural Address to the Nation

On January 20, 1949, Chief Justice of the United States Fred Vinson (one of Truman’s four appointees to the Supreme Court) administered the oath of office to Harry S. Truman. At 12:35 p.m., President Truman delivered his inaugural address to the nation. The address totaled 2,264 words. Read President Truman’s Inaugural Address in its entirety below.
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