A Missouri-Style Presidency
The Truman Home
Independence, Missouri
Listen | Hidden in Plain Sight
Where in Missouri?
Margot and Heather travel to the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site in Independence, Missouri, a place closely connected to the life of First Lady Bess Truman and the hometown roots of President Harry S. Truman.
They explore the story of Bess Wallace Truman, who grew up in Independence and was famously private, trying their best to uncover her personality by reading letters and interviewing site park ranger at and Truman afficianado, Jeffrey B Wade. They learn that when Harry Truman rose from local politics to the presidency, he and Bess both remained deeply tied to their hometown, returning to Independence whenever they could and maintaining the house as a place of family life even while living in the White House.
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Interested in visiting the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site? Start here!
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Christenson, Lawrence O. 1999. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. University of Missouri Press.
“Bess Wallace Truman.” Dains, Mary K. 1989. Show Me Missouri Women: Selected Biographies. Thomas Jefferson Press.
Daniel, Clifton Truman. 2009. Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman. Truman State University Press.
“Bess Wallace Truman.” McMillen, Margot Ford and Heather Roberson. 2004. Into the Spotlight: Four Missouri Women. University of Missouri Press.
Truman, Harry S., and Robert H. Ferrell, Ed. 1983. Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman, 1910-1959. New York: Norton, 1983.
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