Signature Events
ASCENT TO POWER: How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt’s Shadow and Remade the World
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri
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 SOLD OUT.
Reach out to Laura O’Brien to be added to the waitlist.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRACY
6:30 PM (CT), Online & Onstage
Kansas City, Missouri
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.
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
Not yet a Member? Annual memberships start at just $35 and offer nationwide benefits.
JOIN OR RENEW TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT.
When you activate your Membership, you will receive an email with your Member-Only registration link for the 18th Annual Bennett Forum on the Presidency. Both in-person and virtual tickets are currently available, but seats are going fast for this popular annual event.
TRU Education
Truman Library Presents
Truman Presidential Museum
ARTISTIC VIEWS OF THE TRUMAN HOME
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri
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.
UPSET! Harry Truman and the 1948 Election
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri
With the world watching the pivotal 2024 election, a new Truman Library exhibition recalls the biggest political upset in U.S. history. Promising Americans a “Fair Deal” while campaigning against a “do-nothing Congress,” Truman changed the nation’s tune—from MILD to WILD about Harry.
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.
