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