It was soon time to pick up the pace with regards to my Presidential Library visits and next in chronological order was that of our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman. His library's in his hometown of Independence, Missouri, just east of Kansas City, so that’s where I found myself headed one chilly January afternoon. I flew out from #RDUAirport on #united through #Dulles_Airport. Both flights were on Bombardier CRJ 700 aircraft operated by Mesa Airlines under the United Express banner. The 6 seats in First Class were arranged in 2 rows, each with a single window seat on the port side of the aircraft and 2 seats across the aisle. These seats enjoy 37” of pitch and 19” in width, rather roomy for a regional jet. My first leg was only about 1 hour in duration but we enjoyed a full beverage service and our choice from a premium snack basket which also included fresh, whole fruit. I had about 1 hour and 45 minutes connecting time in Washington, one of United’s hub cities, so I visited the United Club on the D Concourse closest to Gate D8. Friendly agents welcomed me to the lounge which featured free Wi-fi and offered snacks along with hot soups, crudités, cheese and crackers and complimentary beer, wine and spirits. My second flight of the day to #KCIAirport was in the late afternoon. At just over 3 hours in length, this leg featured a dinner service up front. The service began soon after takeoff with a ramekin of nuts accompanied by a beverage of choice. For dinner, I opted for the Asian-style ginger beef and sweet chili glass noodle salad with cucumber, red pepper and sesame dressing served with a dinner roll and a side of fresh fruit. It was pretty good but the best part was the snickerdoodle cookie for dessert!
The Kansas City Airport is roughly 20 miles north of the downtown area so my Uber didn’t take too long to arrive at the #SheratonKC Hotel at Crown Center. This 40-story hotel is located in the Crown Center complex, a shopping and entertainment district that is also home to the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. It's dominated by a mall which overlooks a plaza-complete with an ice rink. With a multitude of locally owned shops and restaurants to suit nearly every taste, the Crown Center has become an area favorite. There’s even an aquarium and a Legoland Discovery Center! I was fortunate to book a Club level king-bedded room with points as #sheratonhotels are now part of the #MarriottBonvoy collection. The hotel features 676 rooms and 43 suites. My 276 square foot, king room was decorated in a contemporary style and came with free Wi-fi, a flat-screen TV, large work area, in-room safe and a mini fridge (which I never used). The marble bathroom featured a shower/tub combination. The Club Lounge was open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week offering a hearty and filling buffet breakfast and evening cocktails (for a fee) along with canapés and desserts.
I picked up a #Hertz rental car the next morning and made my way out of the city and over to Independence in time for the Library opening at 9:00 AM. This was the first presidential library to be created under the provisions of the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act. Upon entering the lobby, your eye is drawn immediately to a large and lovely mural titled “Independence and the Opening of the West” by famed American Regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton. Begun in 1960, just a few years after the opening of the Library, the mural depicts 3 decades (1817 to 1847) of life in Independence and successfully shows a conceptual view of the founding of the city which became known as "the last city before the frontier.” Although it’s been reported they had their differences at first, by the time the mural was completed, the artist and the former president were well on their way to becoming lifelong friends.
"The Presidential Years" is the first of 2 permanent museum exhibits that begins with the viewing of a documentary film about President Truman directed by 4-time Academy Award winner Charles Guggenheim. Here we learn about the president’s public side, including his ideas, opinions and important decisions gleaned from speeches, broadcasts and dozens of interviews with Truman scholars, White House staff from his administration, and residents of Independence. This exhibit also includes 2 “Decision Theaters,” that are inter-active in nature and give the visitor an opportunity to express personal views and vote on whether or not you agree with President Truman’s many consequential decisions.
“Harry S. Truman: His Life and Times” is the second permanent exhibit and examines the personal lives of the president and his family as told through the vast collection of original letters, artifacts and photographs from the extensive Library holdings. Truman’s life, from his birth in Lamar, MO, through his early years in Independence and on the family farm in Grandview to his service in World War I. It also traces his rise to power, starting with his tenure as Jackson County Judge, through his terms as US Senator, Vice President and finally, President. It concludes with his retirement years as an “elder statesman” in Independence where he could often be found working in his Presidential Library.
Of special note is the painstakingly accurate replica of his Oval Office as it appeared in 1950, including period furnishings, desk accessories, and the television which made its first appearance in the Oval Office during the Truman Presidency. I paused for reflection here thinking about how he was thrust into the presidency, having had only 2 meetings with FDR before that fateful April 12, 1945 day. He assumed the mantle of office at a pivotal time in American history. Unaware of the Manhattan Project when he took the oath of office, he lead the nation during tumultuous times. These included the closing weeks of the war in Europe, victory in the Pacific Theatre, the Potsdam Conference, the opening of the United Nations, the beginnings of the Cold War, the Berlin Airlift and the start of the Korean War. A small sign reading "The Buck Stops Here" can be seen on the Oval Office desk. This saying is always associated with President Truman and served as a stark reminder to all that the ultimate decision making responsibility rested with the president.
Out in the courtyard, I paid my respects at the gravesite of Harry and Bess Truman. From here, one can see the office President Truman used daily, from the Library’s opening in 1957 until 1966, where he met with visiting dignitaries and carried out many other activities during the years after he left the White House. The cremated remains of the president’s daughter Margaret Truman Daniel and those of her husband Clifton Daniel are also interred in the Library’s courtyard.
I couldn’t leave Independence without a visit to the Truman home at 219 North Delaware Street. After serving 10 years in the US Senate and nearly 8 years in the White House, Harry Truman returned to his beloved home in Missouri and happily wrote, “I found myself right back where I started.” This was his home for more than 50 years, starting with his marriage to Bess Wallace in 1919 until his death in 1972. During his presidency, it was often referred to as the “Summer White House.” After he left office in early 1953, it became a sanctuary for Harry and Bess as they returned to their lives as private citizens. The home is only open to the public by guided tours and tour tickets must be purchased at the visitor center, which offers an orientation film, exhibits on the Truman family and a bookstore. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis only as tour sizes are limited. I was not aware of these restrictions and had to content myself with a slow drive by his residence. It surprised me that there was no traffic on this January day and the street was very quiet, much as I imagined it would have been in times gone by.
Returning to the Sheraton after a full day at the Library, I discovered the National World War I Museum and Memorial was nearby. This is the nation’s official institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and contains the most comprehensive collections of World War I objects in the world. It tells the story of the “War to End All Wars” and related global events from their origins before 1914 and through the 1918 Armistice and Paris Peace Conference held the following year. You will enter the exhibit space, within the 32,000 square foot facility, across a glass bridge above a field of 9,000 red poppies, symbols of the war’s remembrance. Visiting this museum was a fitting end to a very informative day which gave me even greater insight into Harry Truman the man and what shaped Harry Truman the President. I spent an extra night in Kansas City as I headed out to the Eisenhower Library the next morning. More about that in a future post.
Until next time…safe travels.
Very informative , once again. Look forward to the next blogs.
What a cool journey! What happens when you run out of presidents? You’ll have to come up with a new challenge.