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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: March 24, 1914

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 24, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives, the keepers of the Dear Bess and Dear Harry letters.

Today’s choice was written on March 24, 1914, 109 years ago. It’s one of the most important Dear Bess letters, and here’s why. Truman makes mention of an opportunity of acquiring an automobile, specifically, a Kansas City-made Stafford. This car changed Harry Truman’s life like nothing before. It helped him as he explored social life in Grandview and elsewhere. It helped him as he eventually explored other business and small political opportunities. It helped him in his training in preparing to serve in World War I. But, most importantly, it helped him in his most important campaign…that to win the heart and hand of Miss Bess Wallace. Mamma Truman believed in this too, and evidently helped make the car a reality. The Stafford gave Truman a sense of independence and identity like he hadn’t had before, and became an important part of him.

The ongoing lawsuit that Truman mentions, that stemmed from his maternal Grandmother’s 1909 death and will, was eventually settled, but left the Trumans in a stretched way financially, with debt that snowballed.

Grandview Mar. 24, 1914

Dear Bess:

Your note came Sunday morning. I was very glad to get it. It helped to get the day by to some extent as it should have gone. Mamma said thank you for your sympathy and kind expressions. She is getting along fine. The doctor said he'd never had a case like hers to do so well.

I am still staying with her and will have to for a few days yet. Vivian was here yesterday, and I made a flying trip to K.C. to see Uncle Harry and Boxley about our infernal suit. There is a prospect of settlement now. It will stretch our finances until they crack, but I guess we'll get over it eventually.

I made an effort to call you up but didn't even succeed in getting Independence. I didn't get another chance because I had to go with Mr. Ferson to buy a carload of hay and when I got to the train there were only about four minutes to spare.

Ferson wants to sell me a Stafford car for $650. It's an old one but will outlast and outlook some of the new ones they are selling now. I told him that unless I could filch the amount from the Young estate while the settlement was being made there was no prospect of my owning a car. It sure is a bargain though. Uncle Harrison thinks we'll have to sell some of the farm, but I hope not. It will bring probably $200 an acre now but in four or five years it may be worth three times that. I hope I never have anything more to do with an estate like this one. It is a hoodoo from start to finish. If there are any other pieces of bad luck loose, I suppose they'll come our way before long. There's no use bothering about what may happen though. I've got my hands full looking after the results of what's already taken place. The gamblers say that fate can't always hand out one brand of luck and I'm hoping strongly for a change in our brand. A bigger crop than ever was raised is what would convince me we were in good again. I got that oat sowed as I told you before, the hired man is just now finishing up with the harrow. We thought we were going to lose him Sunday. I gave him $15 Saturday night and he said he was going to pay some bills he owed. I guess he must have hit a crap game first because he didn't get home until Sunday morning. He came up here about noon looking rather dilapidated and said his wife had given him a round with the poker. Said he guessed he'd have to leave as it looked as if he wasn't going to be able to stay home. I guess they must have patched things up because he hasn't said anything more about leaving. He's a great big man, and his wife won't weigh over a hundred pounds. I'm going to work your mother's system and pay on Monday after this. I wouldn't have this fellow leave for anything. He's the best man we ever had. Mamma is of the opinion that he needed braining, but there is always a bond of sympathy between women when a man has been shooting craps and every good man has his failings. I mean good hired men. Luke, for instance!

Vivian is going back to Cass County this morning. He rode up horseback on Thursday night and is going to drive back. I think it is safe for him to leave, Mamma is doing so well.

I am hoping to see you before the week is out. As soon as she can have company there'll be someone here all the time, but we don't allow her to walk any yet to amount to anything.

Please send me a long letter as it has been some years since a week ago Sunday.

Sincerely, Harry

Harry Truman talks about his mother's recovery from her recent recovery from a hernia surgery, and talks about buying a car. This car, a Kansas City-made Stafford, changed his life like nothing else before ever did. https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-24-1914-postmark

Dear Bess: March 20, 1918 (postmarked)

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 20, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives, the keepers of the Dear Bess and Dear Harry letters.

Today’s selection was postmarked on March 20, 1918. Harry Truman and his men of the 129th Field Artillery were being mobilized for their deployment for France to fight in the Great War. It was what they had been training for for all these months. No doubt they were all excited, yet nervous, scared, and worried about those loved ones they were leaving behind.

As for Harry Truman, this included Bess Wallace, who he met in 1890 at Sunday School. He was six, she was five. But it wasn’t for another twenty years that they started courting. Once Truman had re-enlisted in the Army, and it was certain that he was going o France, they talked of marriage, and Miss Wallace wanted to marry immediately, but Mister Truman declined, saying that it wasn’t fair to her, in case he came back crippled or maimed, or if he didn’t come back at all. When Truman wore his uniform he carried in his breast pocket a special picture of Miss Wallace…a picture that still sits on his desk at the Truman Library today.

As always, thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Dear Bess:

We are moving out at last. Sat up all night last night waiting for the train. It pulled in at 1:30 A.M. this Wednesday morning. We have a fine Pullman observation car with all 129th officers except five or six. They are 130th. We are going north and hoping to hit Kansas City. They say we'll go around the outer edge if we do. Your package was just in time and sure was fine. I never tasted such good candy in my life and the cakes were just as fine. This train is so rough I can hardly write but I am afraid if I wait I won't get to mail it. We are sure glad to leave Ft. Sill but we may see the time when it will look good to us. They turned down Lt. Lee at the last minute. I was so mad I could have cussed all the doctors in Christendom off the map if I could have done it. They sent him before a physical efficiency board and he beat them there and got his baggage loaded into the car after spending all day chasing back and forth to division headquarters. Then they made him stay behind and sent a substitute. He was the most thoroughly disappointed person you ever saw. I hated it almost as badly as he did. We don't know where we are going but it looks like we might come through Kansas City now as we are going north on the Rock Island. I'd give anything in the world to see you and Mamma and Mary before I go across but I doubt very much if that is possible except by good luck. I shall keep you informed by wire where I am until I leave this country. All cables will come to Boxley through the chief cable censor so you will be informed immediately on my safe arrival across. You can write me Detachment 35th Division, 129th F.A., Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and I'll probably get it. The train is slowing and I'd better quit, will write some more tomorrow and wire you today.

Yours always, Harry

This brief letter to Miss Wallace was written by Mr. Truman as he and his men of the 129th Field Artillery were en route eastward, being mobilized, bound for France to fight in World War I.

Maybe you know that feeling, and remember what it felt like, that feeling of nervousness, anxiety, and more.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-20-1918-postmark

Dear Bess: March 17, 1914 (postmarked)

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 17, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives, the keepers of the Dear Bess and Dear Harry letters.

Today’s selection was postmarked on March 17, 1914. There’s a lot in this letter. But listen closely to the section about the Post Office. Later that year, Harry Truman was indeed appointed Postmaster for Grandview, Missouri. On December 2, 1914, in fact. But Truman didn’t really perform the tasks of the job, nor collect the pay. He, instead, turned the job and pay over to a woman who needed the work, and the pay. We wish we knew more about that. So his appointment was short lived.

As always, thanks for listening. Here’s the letter. [postmarked March 17, 1914]

Dear Bess:

I did not arrive at home at the proper time. It has taken me all day to get here. I took the drill casting to an auto welding co. down on 19th Street. They agree to have it done at a quarter to nine. I went back at that time and the thing was so hot it couldn't be touched for a half hour. I got a 19th streetcar and made it to Swope Park as fast as I could. Missed the train by about 200 yards. The 200 yards is all I lacked making a mile run. My breath is coming in spurts yet. By the time I'd made it back down town it was after twelve and I supposed it would be too late for lunch anyway so I didn't call. I caught the K. C. S. [Kansas City Southern] at 1:45 and almost got home. Got as far as Hickman's Mill where a freight train was off the track, after sitting a half hour I got off and walked home. Arrived at 4:30. That's some record. From 9:15 to 4:30 covering twenty miles. I could have walked it in half the time. Uncle Harry wanted me to go see the lawyers with him but I refused because I didn't have time! After I got home the confounded casting was too tight and I had to file it for an hour. I am hoping to get an oat sowed tomorrow all day anyway. Papa said he was getting on fine sowing by hand by I noticed him stop when I have in sight. It seems that there are times when Fates are in a contrary mood with some people. Today was evidently their off day with me. Had I have followed my own inclination, I'd have arrived home just as soon. My casting would have been finished smoothly and I'd have been in a most agreeable frame of mind in place of the opposite. I hope you had better luck and got your wedding present all right. Luella is here with the babies. She is nearly well. I have been trying to teach the boy to say Uncle Val. Out of pure revenge Mary tried to make him say Aunt Lizzie. I nearly had to pour a glass of milk down her neck before she came to her senses. (This pen is feeling good or something the ink won't stay on it at all.) Mary and Val nearly came to Independence last night. They said they were afraid they'd cause me too much embarrassment. I told Mary she needn't have worried it wouldn't have been at all necessary for them to have seen me.

It seems that there is going to be some fun over the post office after all. There's an old politician out here by the name of Lindsay who is acquainted with Kim Stone and The Hon. W. J. too. He has a nephew-in-law who took the exam and is trying to have him appointed. This kid has agreed to put the office in Dr. Bradford's Drug store. It is merely a booze emporium. Therefore we've got to beat him for the office. I don't know if we can or not but when I get done sowing oats I'm going to try my luck.

I forgot to ask you if I should get your cousin a seat to Roddy by ours. I can do it as well as not if you say the word. I am hoping to get in some day this week but I have so much to do there's no telling what I'll get to do.

Anyway I'll see you Sunday if not sooner. You needn't worry about not sending me a big to your party I knew you were only entertaining her friends and I don't know her when I see her. I only met her once and then she sat on my hat. You must send me a long letter if you can find the time (do it anyway.)

Sincerely,

Harry

A fascinating Dear Bess letter, postmarked on this date in 1914. Before Truman bought his car, it took a lot of effort to get back and forth from his family farm in Grandview to Independence or, well, anywhere, as the first paragraph shows. And Truman gives an indication that he is trying for a Post Office appointment.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-17-1914-postmark?documentid=NA&pagenumber=7

Dear Bess: March 13, 1913 (postmarked)

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 13, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives, the keepers of the Dear Bess and Dear Harry letters.

Today’s brief Dear Bess letter was postmarked on March 13, 1913, exactly 110 years ago. Of biggest note in this letter is Harry Truman’s reference to a lawsuit.

Technically, Harry Truman, his parents, and siblings were living and working on land that belonged to Truman’s maternal grandparents, Solomon and Harriet Louisa Gregg Young. Solomon Young died in 1892. His widow, Harry Truman’s grandmother, owned the land, then, with her brother, Harrison Young, the future president’s namesake. When the Truman family moved back to the farm near Grandview, in 1905 and 1906, they, technically, formed an interesting business arrangement with Grandmother and Harrison Young. Farms were, and are, after all, businesses. Harriet Young died in 1909. In her will, she left the land to the Trumans, including her daughter, Martha Ellen Young Truman.

Martha Ellen’s siblings almost immediately filed suit, and the feeling seems to be that the Trumans manipulated Grandmother Young into doing what she did in the will. Well, this litigation took a long time to resolve. Ultimately, the court sided with the Trumans. But financial settlements continued into the early 1920s, even after Harry Truman left the farm and moved to Independence as a married man. The litigation drained the Truman family’s financial resources, and, according to Truman, crippled the profitability of the Farm. Eventually “Mamma” Truman had to add mortgage after mortgage on the property, and her debt snowballed. In 1940, Mamma and Mary Jane Truman lost the Farm, the Farm Home, and had to move elsewhere. Unfortunately, most of the papers from this litigation seems to have been lost. It’s not clear what kind of relationship Harry Truman and his brother and sister had with those Young relatives after this litigation was resolved.

Thankfully, via these Dear Bess letters we know of this lawsuit, and know some of the details. As always, thanks for listening.

Grandview Mar. 12, 1913

Dear Bess: Your most highly appreciated letter arrived this morning. I certainly was glad to get it. My head is still swollen over the remark you made about my photo.

There was a man here to buy the cows Tuesday. I had to come home at one o'clock or you may be sure I'd have tried 64 before the Orpheum. He bought the cows so it was a good thing we came home. I am riding around in all this rain getting testimony in our lawsuit. You know it comes up Monday. I certainly wish I was like Gaul divisa in tres partes because I'm needed at home, in K.C., and in Belton this afternoon. I just called up Blair telling him I couldn't come up and he jumped about a foot high. The lawyer won't let me go, and Papa wants me to help drive the cows to Belton. So there you are.

I got the Orpheum tickets today. They are in the fourth row but on the side. I guess if we understand French we'll hear it all anyway. Diner is waiting on me and if I don't run and eat a bite I'll surely starve this P.M.

Thanks awfully for that Friday letter.

Sincerely,

Harry

In this brief Dear Bess letter from March, 1913, Harry Truman again makes reference to an unfortunate lawsuit that was tearing his family apart, stemming from the will of his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Harriet Louisa Young.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-13-1913-postmark?documentid=NA&pagenumber=2

Dear Bess: March 10, 1914

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 10, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives, the keepers of the Dear Bess and Dear Harry letters.

Today’s brief letter was written on this date in 1914. It’s unfortunate that it’s one of the brief ones, as it’s clear that Truman had much more to share with Miss Wallace.

By the time Harry Truman wrote this letter to Miss Wallace, he had been involved with the Masons for several years now. What did the Masons mean to Harry Truman? Well, if he were here to explain it to us, he might say that the Masons were a way to meet and learn about people, do good for others, share a spiritual fellowship, and a way to learn a special type of leadership. Harry Truman rose as far in the Masons as possible, the 33rd Degree. Truman was very proud to be a Mason, and the Masons were proud to claim Harry Truman as one of their own. They still do.

In this letter, too, Truman’s father, John Anderson Truman, makes an appearance as does Harry Truman’s brother, John Vivian. By 1914, John Vivian Truman had married the lovely Louella, started a family and farm of his own. John Vivian and Louella Truman had a lovely family, part of a larger family that continuously supported each other when it counted.

Here’s the letter.

[March 10, 1914]

Dear Bess:

I am not going to let Tuesday get by this time without getting you a letter written. It's been quite a while since I had one from you. The week's never complete without a least one; the more the better. You would never guess where I am writing this. Frank Blair sent me word to come to Belton today to meet Mr. McLachlan the Grand Lecturer of the Masons. I am in the Masonic Hall writing while the rest have gone to dinner. It only took me minute to grab something to eat. I am hoping they won't come back for a good while so I can get this letter off on the proper train. Well I lost another of my good bachelor friends last week. He sneaked off and got married without so much as saying boo. Delbert Weston, it was. His father didn't even know what he'd done until he came home and brought another Mrs. Weston. I saw the old man yesterday and he said he didn't know whether to soak the kid one or hug him. He decided on the latter course. I have an idea that it was the better one. I haven't seen her yet but I'll bet she's not over five feet high. The mean part of the job was that I was out and spent Saturday and Sunday with him immediately preceding the performance and he didn't tell me about it. Anyhow I won't have to dig up a present.

Papa has gone down to the bottom of Cass Co. with Vivian this morning. I've an idea they really reach bottom in some places. You see therefore I am in charge at home for two days at least. I thought up some seventeen jobs for the hired man this morning and pulled out. It will be necessary for me to go home tonight and see if he did them. Bess there's a confounded Mason up here now and he insists upon talking to me so I can hardly write. I suppose I shall have to stop but I hope to see you Thursday and make up the lack of what I have to write by some E. H. Sothern tickets. I am hoping papa will be home that day. Please save Thursday until the last minute anyway and be sure to send me a letter. Not that this crazy note deserves one but I hope you'll think so.

Most sincerely,

Harry

If only this letter from March 10, 1914, were longer!

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/march-10-1914-postmark

Dear Bess: March 2, 1948

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for March 2, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives.

Today’s letter was written 75 years ago today, March 2, 1948. 1948 was one of the most pivotal years in Harry Truman’s life. He was planning to run for a term as President in his own right, but was, according to the polls, unpopular across the country and even in his political party. But rarely will you ever sense any pessimism in anything Truman ever wrote that year. He sensed all along that he would win.

Some fun references to film star Boris Karloff. Forever known as Frankenstein’s monster, Mr. Karloff, like most actors, was eager to show that he had depth beyond that. But the best part of this letter, simply, is the radiant way that Truman writes about his relaxing time at Key West, Florida. Today, where Truman stayed in Key West is another terrific Truman related site that you can visit.

Thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Key West Mar. 2, 1948

Dear Bess:

Surely was glad to get your 28th letter and one from Margie in yesterdays pouch.

Glad you & Margie & Drucie had a chance to see Boris Karloff. The play, I'd judge, is depessing [sic]. Wish I could hear the skit.

Had a press conference and it turned out well - believe it or not. The setting for it was beautiful and the press boys showed their appreciation. Only one smart aleck present John O'Donnell and he got no answer to his question. One asking what I thought Farley thought and intended to do. I told him that Farley himself would be his best source of information.

Went to the beach and had a good swim had lunch at 12:30 and went fishing. We drew sides, Adm. Leahy in charge of one side and I'm charge of the other. I had Clifford, Dr. Graham, Col Landry, & Bill Hassett and the Adm had Vaughan, Capt Denison, John Steelman Eben Ayers & Stanley Woodward. We made up a pot, putting $500 apiece, $1000 to go for the longest fish $1000 for the heaviest fish and the balance to be distributed among the people on the side that caught the most fish by night.

On our side Dr. Graham caught two, a barracuda & a grouper, Clifford a nice grouper & Bill Hassett a 25 pound amberjack. Total weight 421/2 pounds.

Capt. Denison caught beautiful mackerel weight 291/2 pounds and about 3 ft long. So he won both prizes of $1000 but our side divided up the pot. I made a dollar getting six back for my five.

We go again tomorrow. I hope the wind won't blow so much. It rained nearly all night last night but is clear & sunny now. Will have to quit the pouch is leaving.

Lot of love

Harry.

Tell Margie I'll answer after some deliberation.

1948. Perhaps the most consequential year of Harry S Truman's political life. This letter, written while on vacation at Key West, Florida, radiates the optimism that became Truman's trademark that year.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/march-2-1948

Dear Bess: February 27, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, for February 27, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives.

Today’s Dear Bess letter was written on this date in 1912, and sort of revolves around family. Harry S Truman, farmer, talks about some of his cousins, his paternal grandmother, in a very rare mention, and more. Of his four grandparents, Mary Jane Holmes Truman was the only one that Harry Truman never met and, of course, had no memory of. Mary Jane Holmes Truman died about five years before Harry Truman was born. Truman’s baby sister, Mary Jane, was named after her.

Truman also makes note of the ongoing litigation against him and his family. This litigation had its roots in the will of his other grandmother, Harriet Louisa Gregg Young, who left almost everything, including the land to Harry Truman, his parents, and Harriet’s brother Harrison. After years of dreadful and expensive litigation, the will was upheld. But it cost the Trumans dearly…not only financially, but in terms of family relations. Harry Truman did his best to be a peacemaker in this situation. Unfortunately, much of the paper trail for this litigation has been lost, and a lot of what we do know comes from these “Dear Bess” letters.

As always, thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Grandview, Mo. February 27, 1912

Dear Bessie: There. I got it that time without any scratches whatever. It really doesn't look so well as the other but if you like it best that way why that way goes. It sounds better though.

I had the pleasure of escorting Nellie to the airline and Ethel to Maywood the other morning. They saw us going to church alright and joshed me considerably about spending a weekend in town. But it put them in a better humor than they had been when I stayed Sunday night with them. Ethel and I were on our usual footing again but Nellie will have to be extra good to me yet before I forget her nice remarks.

Did you have a good time at Miss Nellie's? I am sure you did though. I am scheduled to appear in Belton this evening as assistant to the Deputy Grand Master. I am going to begin forgetting from now on. The calls are coming too thick entirely. I have to go to Freeman on Saturday and Friday our own session comes off. That dispenses with three nights on which I receive nothing but hot air and get my hatband sprung. I am hoping that the said hatband will soon reach its greatest diameter, in which case I can stay home on at least every third evening. I am hoping to be in town tomorrow, in which case I shall call you up and if you feel inclined, we can go to a show. I have forgotten how to spell the word for afternoon performance. I shall have to go out to my Colgan cousins in the evening and discuss Wedding Marches and such things. Of course Myra says she won't need to worry about such a thing until June or September but she appears very anxious that I know the march right away quick. The cousins are all going to chip in and buy her some silver. I think it would be better to do that than for each of us to give her something useless, don't you? My working days are slowly and surely approaching. Vivian moves on Friday and the following Wednesday it is goodbye hired men. Then Lent sets in for a year and a day with Harry. But work is the only way I see to arrive at conclusions. This thing of sitting down and waiting for plutocratic relatives to decease and then getting left doesn't go with much. I intend making my own way if it takes ten years, which sounds like Mrs. E.D.E.N. Southworth or Mary Jane Holmes. Some Gilliss expressions are good anyway aren't they? Mary Jane Holmes was my grandmother's name before she married a Truman but she was no kin to the famous one. A person would feel better and could wear a much larger hat if he made his own change than he could if someone gave it to him. If we can just settle our lawsuit this farm will produce about six or seven thousand a year clear and that means about three more than that in town. Such things though take bushels of time and barrels of money. Such things make awful dry letters too but I am hoping that when the seven thousand stage is reached I can persuade you to help spend my half of it. Our dear relatives may take the whole works yet and then we'll have to begin again. That sure would be awful, but I guess we'd live through it.

Don't forget a grand opera some night next week. How would you like to see the Orpheum Road Show in the afternoon and then go to dinner somewhere and then go to the Shubert? We could end up the season in one big splash for there is no telling when I'll get to a show after the sixth of March.

I don't suppose Miss Andrews would care if you ditched her for one afternoon and evening, would she?

I hope to see you tomorrow but if I don't you'll know I couldn't come in until four o'clock.

You owe me a letter. When I send you Montgomery Ward's catalogue you'll owe me a 1,250 page one.

Sincerely, Harry

Lots of family in this wonderful letter from early 1912. Harry Truman always prided himself on being able to be a peacemaker in the family, and you pick up on that in this letter.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-27-1912

Dear Bess: February 21, 1918

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, for February 21, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, part of the National Archives. The Truman Library does a marvelous…absolutely marvelous…job preserving these letters for present and future generations.

Today’s Dear Bess letter was written on this date in 1918, while Lieutenant Harry S Truman was still training in Oklahoma, and while he and his men were still awaiting orders to ship to Europe to fight in the great war effort. It’s difficult for us, perhaps, to understand the sense of anticipation, fear, and other emotions that Truman and all his colleagues were feeling. They knew who and what they were leaving behind, and after seeing the headlines, they knew what they were heading into. They, too, were a greatest generation. Thank you for listening. Here’s the letter.

February 22, 1918 Lawton, Okla.

Dear Bess:

This day has been a bright one. So was yesterday. I got your letter both days, and I have been the delinquent party this week. I hope you won't blame me when I tell you what has been happening. The overseas detachment is again having spasms of preparation to leave. I am still on it, thank heaven, and so of course I am having spasms too. I had a regular one yesterday when Colonel Danford ordered me up before an examining board not for efficiency but for promotion. I think I failed miserably because General Berry was so gruff and discourteous in his questions that I forgot all I ever knew and couldn't answer him. He said, "Eh huh! You don't know, do you? I thought so. You don't know. That'll be all, outside." He kept me and the two others, Lieutenant Paterson and Lieutenant Marks, standing out in the cold so long that we took a terrific cold and I couldn't get up this morning for reveille. I got up for breakfast and outside of a slight headache I am all in good health and spirits. That is as good spirits as could be expected in a man when he falls down on an examination. We had no opportunity for preparation and I suppose that it would have been no better if we had. I have been looking for them to say that it was a mistake and that an efficiency board is what I needed instead of an examining one. Please don't say anything about it until the announcement is made as to whether I get the promotion or not. If I don't get it then we won't say anything. If I do then we can tell it. I guess it is a compliment anyway to get ordered up even if I didn't pass. They almost sent me home on a physical, too, yesterday but I talked past the M.D. He turned my eyes down twice and threatened to send me to division headquarters for a special examination and then didn't. I guess I can put a real good conversation when circumstances demand it. You see by taking everything together if I hadn't gotten your letters, I'd sure have been a blue person. In addition to all the other things I did yesterday I turned the exchange over to Captain Butterfield and sat on a general court martial. Some day, wasn't it? Can you wonder that I didn't get up for reveille and still have a slight headache?

I shall cable you as soon as I arrive in Europe. I thought I told you I would once before. I intended to anyway. I am glad Uncle William was landed safely and I hope to see him when I get across. I don't know much to tell you about leaving, but I'll let you know immediately I start. I shall also let you know if I get the two bars. Please don't say anything about that though until I hear that I'm turned down, which is what we all think. I am no longer Trumanheimer. Did I tell you I met a pretty girl in Guthrie who was nice to me until someone told her my name was Trumanheimer, and then she wouldn't look at me anymore. She thought I surely must be of Hebraic descent with that name. She of course didn't know that it is little I care what she thinks or doesn't.

Please write me as often as possible because the days are sure brighter and not so hard when your letters come.

I think of you always.

Yours, Harry

In this letter from 1918, Lieutenant Harry S Truman writes about his anxiety stemming from an examination for promotion. Will he be promoted to Captain? Stay tuned.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-22-1918?documentid=NA&pagenumber=1

Dear Bess: February 13, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for February 13, 2023, brought to you by the staff of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, in partnership with our best friends at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

Today’s letter was written on February 13, 1912, which happened to be Bess Wallace’s birthday. We wonder if Truman celebrated Miss Wallace’s birthday all along in some manner, going back to the time that they met 22 years earlier. They met at a Presbyterian Sunday school in Independence in 1890. But now, in 1912, Harry Truman was working on his maternal grandparents’ farm in Grandview, Missouri, and Miss Wallace was living in her maternal grandparents’ home at 219 North Delaware Street in Independence.

When Mr. Truman refers to his Aunt Ella, he is speaking of his Aunt Ella Truman Noland. Ella Noland was his father’s sister, and, in 1912, lived almost across the street from Miss Wallace and her family, at 216 North Delaware Street. When you come and do a tour of the Truman Home today, you can visit the Noland Home!

Grandview, Mo. February 13, 1912

Dear Bessie:

Since this is your birthday and tomorrow is St. Valentines's and I have neither a present nor a valentine to send you, I shall try and make some amends by sending you a very ordinary letter. Which all sounds very stilted and set just as if it was copied from some ancient work on how to write letters. Doesn't it? Well, anyhow (with emphasis on the how) I wanted to send you something but hadn't brains enough to think of anything decent enough that would properly fit my present assets. So I thought I would get nothing and just tell you about it. That probably won't do you any good but then a good intention ought to count for something even if Pluto does pave his front yard with them.

Would it be the proper thing, do you think, for me to buy some Pink Lady tickets for you and your San Antonio friend for some day next week? If you think so, I would be most happy to do it. I told Mary this morning that Aunt Ella is expecting her to stay all night at Independence Friday, and now I shall have to call up my dear Aunt and tell her Mary is coming down Friday evening. When they come together they'll compare notes and consign me to the Ananias Club, I guess. Anyway Mary jumped at the chance to go to Aunt Ella's, saying she was mighty glad she was asked because she hadn't made up her mind where to stay. Aunt Ella is always glad to have us come down there, so there is no harm done and I won't have to stand an unmerciful grilling from now until Friday just because I want Mary to go to Independence with you. Mary doesn't know yet that we are to be present at the recital. She has already wanted to borrow my glasses, and I am going to be very generous and lend them to her so I won't have to make my pockets sag with them all day. I fear this letter makes me appear as a very sordid and unscrupulous person-but in some cases, you know, the end justifies the means. Miss Maggie would be terribly shocked if she knew I had any slick Jesuit beliefs in my system. She did her very level best to impress us with the fact that the end never justified the means if a person had to overstep the ten great laws to obtain his end.

I think most people are like the man I read of the other day who was waiting to see a friend and picked up a Bible. It fell open at the twentieth chapter of Exodus and he just read the commandments while he waited. When he got through he thought awhile and then said, "Well, I've never killed anybody anyway." I heard a man tell another one on the train last night, that he would have stolen a Bible if he could have gotten it to go into his pocket. Then he went on to describe what a fine one it was with a red leather back and fine wood engravings. Said he wanted it most awful bad but the owner watched him so closely he couldn't get away with it. Now, I think a man ought to draw the line at stealing a Bible. Of course, I suppose it is no worse to steal one than it is to steal any other book or piece of furniture, but it sounds rather sacrilegious, to say the least. I am sure that if I were in the stealing business, I'd be rather superstitious about stealing one.

Say, it sure is a grand thing that I have a high-school dictionary handy. I even had to look on the back to see how to spell the book itself. The English language so far as spelling goes was created by Satan I am sure. It makes no difference how well educated or how many letters a man can string to the back of his name, he never learns to spell so he is exactly sure i shouldn't be e or a, o. I can honestly say I admire Roosevelt for his efforts to make people spell what they say. He really ought to begin on his own name though. Tell Frank that so far as I have sounded, which is only very little, Mize has the bilge on Chrisman, and Gentry is not so well thought of as formerly. I am sure that George would make a good race in this township because he has a great many personal friends around here.

The heavenly geese are certainly shedding feathers around this neighborhood this morning. About two inches of them have fallen already. I guess old man winter is going to stay until March, sure enough. We sure ought to produce a crop out of all proportion to former ones if hard winters count for much! All the oldest inhabitants say they do.

I didn't get any breakfast this morning but I told Mamma I didn't want any because I had some most awful good waffles at about 100:00 P.M. They sure were good.

This is one bum epistle (emphasis on the bum) and I have no excuse to offer for I am doing my level best. As the country newspapers say, news in our burg is on the run and I can't catch up. Anyway, I hope you'll live a thousand years if you want to and never get a day older than you are.

I shall call you up on Friday as soon as I can get to a phone and you can decide if I shall come for you or not. It seems as if I should since I shall desert before Mr. DePachmann gets done throwing fits. He is going to play Mendelssohn's "Spinning Song" and Chopin's great Ab waltz.

Please, I think you owe me a letter even if this concoction is a substitute for something else.

Sincerely, Harry

It's the first known time that Harry Truman wrote Bess Wallace on her birthday...and he combines it with a Valentine's Day greeting. But he regrets he doesn't have the ability to do much more than this letter. But what a fascinating letter it is!

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-13-1912

Dear Bess: February 11, 1918

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for February 11, 2023, brought to you by the staff of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, in partnership with our best friends at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

Our Dear Bess letter for today was written on this date in 1918. Lieutenant Harry S Truman, still training with his men in Oklahoma, preparing for their eventual mobilization to Europe as part of the Great War, covers a lot in this letter.

In the first paragraph, Truman references training on how to prepare for a gas attack. Gas warfare was one of the horrors introduced in World War I, and it was obviously on the minds of troops in training. No doubt they were hearing of the horrible effects of gas on their colleagues.

Truman also makes a sweet reference to how Miss Bess Wallace’s voice sounded on the phone. How we wish we had more recordings of her voice. But Bess Wallace Truman was always adverse to having anything recorded, so we have precious few examples of her beautiful voice. And it was, too!

Thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Lawton, Okla. Feb. 11, 1918

Dear Bess:

Your letters were all waiting for me when I got back and I got one last night. I hope you got my last Oklahoma City letter Sunday. (Filled my pen here. It's always dry when I need it.) I have been going like a horse since I got back. Went over and took some special instructions on gas protection. Had to take a mask like a diver's and get into it and then go into the gas house and sit there ten minutes. Some of the men were very uneasy about going on. They were afraid they'd get gassed and never see the Kaiser. I don't see that it makes any very great difference where a person gets gassed or shot either provided he's slated for either one, because the same result takes place. Still I reckon there's more honor in getting battle wounds than training ones. Don't you worry about what's going to happen to me because there's not a bullet molded for me nor has Neptune any use for me. Had I have been on the boat that went down, I'd have been in Dublin by this time with some Irish woman at a dance (if she looked like you) or taking a look for the man who invented corks and corkscrews. Ireland's a great country so they say.

Mr. Lee is back and says that he sure likes the sound of your voice over the phone. I told him that he had good judgement [sic] and so have I. You don't know what I'd give to see you or even listen to your voice over the phone. You know what, the poet says that Spring time does for young men.

I can't imagine why my letters arrive unsealed because I am always very careful to given them an extra pat at both ends. This one will surely get there sealed. Col Klemm was here today. He seemed very glad to see me and so did Col Elliott. They go to the School of Fire today for ten weeks.

Please wire me if you get sick because I am terribly uneasy if I think the least thing is the matter. I am going to wire you tomorrow if I don't hear that you are all right. For goodness sake don't worry about me. I have so much to do I can't be into meanness and when I have a minute I'm writing to you or mamma. I took some sergeants out riding today to show them how to figure a deflection and also how to sit on a horse. We rode up Signal Mtn and down again and one or two were very glad to get back to camp. One of them informed me that he would stand up to rest for a couple of days. I must be getting to be a tough guy because I don't get tired and I can ride all day without unpleasantness. I have decided to make good and not get an efficiency test (therefore I may get it). You know very well you wouldn't have me home for that even as badly as I'd like to come and you'd like to have me. I'd be forever disgraced. They may have to send me to the supply department or some where like that but I don't reckon they'll give me a test just yet.

I wanted to come home last Sunday so badly I nearly did anyway. I guess I was too cautious but if I'd get kick out for disobedience it would be worse than the other way. I am writing under difficulty. My board keeps slipping and if I go to the canteen I'll have so much conversation I can't write.

Please send me a wire or letter to let me know you are all in good health and spirits and not doing any worrying over a good-for-nothing person like me. I am awfully glad you think I'm well enough without a D.S.O. because I'll never get one. The Huns can't run fast enough to catch me. I don't think they could make another like yourself because perfection comes but once.

Yours always, Harry

Lieutenant Harry S Truman wrote this letter to Miss Bess Wallace while still in training for his eventual mobilization into war.

Check out the last line...it's a beauty!

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/february-11-1918

Dear Bess: January 30, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess, Dear Harry podcast for January 30, 2023, brought to you by Harry S Truman National Historic Site, in partnership with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

Today’s letter was written on this date in 1912. Truman begins his letter by writing “Grandburg.” Why? We don’t know. Was it a simple error, or a humorous allusion? We’ll never know. But Harry Truman covers a lot in this letter, from some of the dirty work he has to do on the farm, to some of the efforts he was making with the Masons, to some of his other social excursions. One of the things that living on the farm did for Harry Truman was allow him to become more involved in the social scenes in Independence, Grandview, Kansas City, and elsewhere. Today, we call it networking…and it served Truman well in his eventual public service career. This letter is wonderful, too, in that his brother Vivian, sister-in-law Louella, his father…all make an appearance.

Thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.

Grandburg January 30,1912

Dear Bessie,

Give me credit for a very early response. You certainly did write me one fine letter (put emphasis on fine, not on one, because they're all fine) and I am going to answer it immediately.

I am going to start in real earnest now to get some of the dirty pelf, for what you say sounds kind of encouraging, whether you meant it that way or not. I am glad Mary Paxton and I can agree on one subject if it is unintentional. We never could when we were kids. But Mary's correct this time. I hope she gets her millionaire someday. I am not resting up to go to work-I have been working up to get in trim. Shucked shock corn all day Saturday and got my eyes so full of dust that I could almost scoop it out. They looked like a professional toper's the next day. We have about four hundred shocks left to shuck before we are done. It is a job invented by Satan himself. Dante sure left something from the tenth circle when he failed to say that the inhabitants of that dire place shucked shock corn. I am sure they do. I hope never to see another year when it is necessary to save so much of it. We are lucky, though, to have it, as it takes the place of hay at twenty dollars a ton. Papa pretends he doesn't mind doing it, but he does just the same.

I went down to Drexel last night with Mr. Blair and acted as assistant district lecturer. Went down on the K.C.S. and got back at 5:50 a.m. Got four hours sleep. You ought to see me teach blockheaded Masons how to talk. (Don't ever say that to anyone, for we don't admit that there are any of that kind.) They'd have to be blockheads if I taught them. We had lots of fun. There was a big, old fat guy present who got me tickled and I lost all my high-and-mightiness in short order. We met an old fellow at the hotel who was a cow buyer and a character. He'd quarrel with anybody on any subject. He bet a dollar that Taft would be nominated and then bet two that Teddy would. He fussed with the hotel man because the damper on the stovepipe was not turned at the proper angle. I guess he must have been seventy, but he was six feet tall and straight as a boy. Everybody thought he was funny. He didn't mean half he said but it sounded mighty mean when he said it.

I have to go help Mr. Blair out when it is possible for me to get away, because he has paid my expenses a couple of times to State Lodges of Instruction. I saw his wife on the train the last time I was in town, and she said he had gone off somewhere that day. Said she guessed it was on Lodge business because he always told her where he went except when he went to Lodge.

I won a pound-box of candy on your name the other day. What do you think of that? I went up to Grandview and a man in the confectionary business had one of those cards all full of girls' names. Each name had a number under it on a slip. I took a shot at the best name in the bunch and won a sixty-cent box of Louney's for a dime. That's the second time I've done it. Before, I tore off Elizabeth and won two pounds. I was going to bring you that box but those cousins of mine came out, and Mary knew I had the box and so I had to give it up. They never knew how I got it though.

I shall sure be glad to go to Salisbury's for dinner Sunday. But don't you think people would think I am a terrible tightwad if we walk? I'd like to walk all right and would certainly enjoy it, but please be sure I am perfectly willing to invest in a rig for one day. I hope Miss Dicie does loosen up for Saturday evening, because my time is getting short and I am dying to see Mrs. Polly (as I said before.) I hope this baby hasn't whooping cough. She would think her visit was hoodooed sure if anything was to happen to it.

If Miss D. takes a notion for Saturday, will you call me up? Have it reversed because I'll be the one who benefits. I wonder if her ears burn. Maybe writing doesn't have the same effect on a person's ears as talking. If it does, Miss Dicie's ears ought to be about done enough for sandwiches. Don't you think? I ought to be helping Vivian and Luella to move, but Papa sent the hired men and I am putting my time to better use-at least I think so whether you will or not. Maybe you'll wish I had helped more. I hope not though. And I also hope you'll think you owe me a letter. Two of these tablecloth-size sheets are equal to almost four of your size, so I send more words if you do send more sense. I am glad to get them though, any size or style. Hope to see you Saturday and shall Sunday anyway.

Sincerely,

Harry

A fascinating letter for you today, from this date in 1912. At the very beginning, Truman writes that he is writing from "Grandburg." Why? Was it a simple mistake, or an in-joke? We'll never know. But this letter shows you how busy a fellow Harry Truman was in early 1912, between his work on the farm and his social efforts.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/january-30-1912

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