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Join us in person or online as we honor Thomas M. Hoenig, recipient of the 2024 Truman Medal for Economic Policy. The Truman Medal recognizes exceptional economic policy contributions and reflects the role President Harry S. Truman played in the creation of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Awarded biennially, the Truman Medal for Economic Policy provides a forum to recognize exceptional economic policy contributions. The award’s name reflects the role President Harry S. Truman played in the creation of the Council of Economic Advisers.

About the Truman Medal for Economic Policy

Join us for an unforgettable in-person event! The Truman Library Institute and the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, in partnership with the Truman Library, invite you to a captivating book event with author David L. Roll.

Ascent to Power chronicles Franklin Roosevelt’s final days and unravels the riveting tale behind Harry Truman’s remarkable transformation and our nation’s most pivotal presidential transition.

Truman’s ascent to the presidency was a twist of fate due to Roosevelt’s ailing health and the sway of big-city Democratic bosses. With a mere 82 days as VP under his belt, Truman was abruptly thrust into the presidency following FDR’s passing in April 1945. Ill-prepared, he faced the aftermath of Germany’s collapse, a war-torn Europe, the establishment of the United Nations, high-stakes negotiations with Stalin and Churchill, the decision of whether to employ atomic bombs against Japan, and mounting antagonism from the Soviet Union.

Truman’s journey, chronicled in Ascent to Power, is a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience. Truman’s legacy stands strong, from a relatively unknown senator from Missouri to a globally influential figure. His improbable comeback campaign in the autumn of 1948, his steadfast advocacy for civil rights, and his pivotal role in liberating millions from oppressive regimes and harsh occupations all reflect his unwavering commitment to his ideals. Truman’s decisions during these critical years reshaped the trajectory of the world, leaving an indelible mark that reverberates into the present day.

This event, originally scheduled for July 16, is free and open to the public. The 6 p.m. in-person program will be preceded by a wine reception at 5:30 p.m.

This event is expected to sell out; registration is required. 

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2024 Howard & Virginia Bennett Forum on the Presidency

Save the date for the most anticipated Member event of the year! In the wake of the presidential election, join political commentators and presidential historians Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy (authors of The Presidents Club) for an exclusive conversation moderated by David Von Drehle, historian, New York Times best-selling author and Washington Post columnist. Together, they will look to our nation’s past to better understand the opportunities and challenges created by the 2024 election—and what it means for the future of American democracy.

Click here for full event details and guest bios.

The 18th Annual Bennett Forum on the Presidency is offered exclusively to Truman Library Institute members and VIP guests. 

• Student / Teacher level = 1 free ticket
• Basic level = 2 free tickets
• Family level and higher = 4 free tickets

Save the date! Members will be notified when registration opens.

Become a member today to receive your exclusive invitation to this special event.

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Regional high school teams are invited to compete for honor and prizes in the Truman Library’s annual High School Trivia Contest. Encourage your students to test their knowledge of history and the presidency. This event for students in grades 9-12; only one team per school. Private, parochial, public and home schools are all welcome to register for the contest. There is no fee to participate, but teams are encouraged to register early—this popular event fills quickly!

Prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third-place teams, along with certificates of participation for each student. Light refreshments will be served.

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“In today’s troubled times, with authoritarianism escalating at home and abroad, Sparrow’s book reads like an all-hands-on-deck wakeup call. Highly recommended!”—Douglas Brinkley

Franklin Roosevelt awoke at 2:50 a.m. on September 1, 1939 to the news that Germany had invaded Poland, signaling the start of World War II. The president had warned for years that Hitler’s fascist regime posed an existential threat to democracy, but the American public remained stubbornly isolationist as fascist sympathizing groups, egged on by right wing media stars promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, plotted to overthrow the president.

The situation was dire, and Roosevelt quickly found himself facing an unexpected adversary: Charles Lindbergh. Wildly popular, the famed aviator’s youthful charm, plainspoken rhetoric, and media magnetism earned him a massive following as he led an aggressive attack on FDR’s policies. Millions listened to Linberg’s radio broadcasts and attended his rallies. Powerful individuals including William Randolph Hearst, Henry Ford, and members of Congress supported him. The German government provided secret funds to Lindbergh’s Nazi followers as he led the radical America First Committee in an effort to prevent Roosevelt from aiding England’s survival—and the world’s.

Awakening the Spirit of America brilliantly shows how Roosevelt overcame the forces aligned against him in a war against fascism. Paul Sparrow, former director of the FDR Presidential Library, reveals how FDR’s triumph of leadership was by no means a foregone conclusion. Roosevelt’s astute political maneuvers and persuasive use of language to preserve what he termed “the spirit of America” changed history and can still inspire today.

Sparrow brings you into the rooms where key decisions were made, focusing on the crucial role words, media, and propaganda played in the transformation of America into the protector of the free world. Awakening the Spirit of America provides a riveting, inside account of FDR’s ultimate victory over pro-Nazi isolationists and provides vital insight into American history and an iconic president.

6:00 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres Reception
6:30 p.m. Program
7:30 p.m. Book Signing

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Get up close and personal with some of the unique artifacts in the Truman Collection. “White Glove” talks are offered in the Mural Room every third Wednesday at 11 a.m., allowing Museum visitors to view rarely seen artifacts, hear from the experts, and ask questions about specific collection items and the Truman archive, generally. White Glove Wednesdays are included with Museum admission; Members free.

October 16: Join Museum Curator Mark Adams for a timely conversation centered on political cartoons. Mark will draw on the Truman Library’s extensive collection to share several Joseph Parrish (Chicago Tribune) political cartoons from the 1948 presidential campaign.

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum presents a new temporary exhibition titled Artistic Views of the Truman Home. The prominent Victorian home at 219 North Delaware Street in Independence, Missouri, has been a source of inspiration for artists who have created sketches, paintings, photographs, scale models and other depictions of the home. President Truman and his wife Bess lived together in the home for 53 years, from their marriage in 1919 until the President’s death in 1972.

Artistic Views of the Truman Home features more than a dozen different artistic renditions of the first family’s “Summer White House,” as well as a scaled replica and more than 50 photographs. The exhibition is included with regular museum admission; Members free.

A new temporary exhibition, UPSET! Harry Truman and the 1948 Election, allows visitors to travel back in time to see how the most stunning surprise in U.S. presidential election history came about. The exhibit, which includes more than 200 artifacts, original political cartoons, interactive displays, diary entries, photographs and videos, opens May 30, 2024, and runs through February 1, 2025, at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum.

This special exhibition is included with general admission. Truman Library Institute Members enjoy free admission.

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