From Precinct to President The Elections of Harry S. Truman.

From Precinct to From Precinct to PresidentPresident

The Elections of Harry S. The Elections of Harry S. TrumanTruman

Truman as Missouri farmerTruman as Missouri farmer

Truman as businessmanTruman as businessman

► Interior of Truman and Jacobson Interior of Truman and Jacobson Haberdashery, ca. 1919.Haberdashery, ca. 1919.

World War IWorld War I

► A World War I Color Guard marches down a Kansas A World War I Color Guard marches down a Kansas City Street, May 1919 (left). HST in uniform (right).City Street, May 1919 (left). HST in uniform (right).

Comic Book Comic Book

►Harry Truman’s life, 1919-1921Harry Truman’s life, 1919-1921

1922 Jackson County campaign1922 Jackson County campaign

1922 Jackson County campaign 1922 Jackson County campaign

► 129129thth Field Artillery poster Field Artillery poster


► Poster of Harry TrumanPoster of Harry Truman


► anti-KKK poster anti-KKK poster


► Portraits of Thomas Pendergast (left) and James Portraits of Thomas Pendergast (left) and James Pendergast, 1955 (right).Pendergast, 1955 (right).

McKim oral historyMcKim oral history► FUCHS: Why did you feel

that he didn't belong in politics?

►MCKIM: Just felt that he didn't. I felt he was more the business type, but he said things hadn't been going too well in the haberdashery and he was going into politics. I think he'd always had a hankering for politics.

1924 Jackson County election1924 Jackson County election

► Anti-Truman Broadside.Anti-Truman Broadside.

Jackson County JudgeJackson County Judge

► Truman with fellow judges and clerks, ca. 1927.Truman with fellow judges and clerks, ca. 1927.

1926 Jackson County election1926 Jackson County election

► Truman is elected Presiding Judge of the Truman is elected Presiding Judge of the Jackson County Court.Jackson County Court.

Presiding judge of Jackson Presiding judge of Jackson CountyCounty

► Truman takes oath as judge, 1931.Truman takes oath as judge, 1931.

Comic BookComic Book


Pickwick Hotel diary, 1930sPickwick Hotel diary, 1930s

[the other two judges] “…[the other two judges] “…used to shoot craps while used to shoot craps while court was in session down court was in session down behind the bench while I behind the bench while I transacted business….I got transacted business….I got a lot of good legislation for a lot of good legislation for Jackson Co over while they Jackson Co over while they shot craps.shot craps.

I was able to expend I was able to expend $7,000,000 for the $7,000,000 for the taxpayers benefit. At the taxpayers benefit. At the same time I gave away same time I gave away about a million…to satisfy about a million…to satisfy the politicians. But if I the politicians. But if I hadn’t done that the crooks hadn’t done that the crooks would have had half the would have had half the seven million.”seven million.”


► Button supporting Truman’s bond issue Button supporting Truman’s bond issue concerning roads.concerning roads.

Roads, court houses, etc. Roads, court houses, etc. c.1933c.1933


► Map of roads built under Truman’s bond issue.Map of roads built under Truman’s bond issue.

Presiding judge of Jackson Presiding judge of Jackson County County

► Truman with fellow judges at Jackson County Truman with fellow judges at Jackson County Barbeque, 1932.Barbeque, 1932.

Senatorial Campaign, 1934Senatorial Campaign, 1934

► Truman gives a speech in Thayer, Missouri, 1934.Truman gives a speech in Thayer, Missouri, 1934.


► Truman speaks in Webb City, Missouri in 1934.Truman speaks in Webb City, Missouri in 1934.


► Truman’s campaign poster for the 1934 Senatorial race.Truman’s campaign poster for the 1934 Senatorial race.


► Flyer illustrating Labor support for Truman.Flyer illustrating Labor support for Truman.

Senatorial CampaignSenatorial Campaign

► Truman’s letter to Bess Truman, 6/28/1935.Truman’s letter to Bess Truman, 6/28/1935.

1936 Democratic Convention1936 Democratic Convention

► Truman with Tom Pendergast and othersTruman with Tom Pendergast and others


► Banner in Sedalia, MO supporting Truman in Banner in Sedalia, MO supporting Truman in 1940.1940.


► The Truman family beneath an FDR banner The Truman family beneath an FDR banner during the 1940 senatorial campaign.during the 1940 senatorial campaign.


► Truman letter to Bess regarding Senator Truman letter to Bess regarding Senator Bennett Clark’s support for him Bennett Clark’s support for him


► Truman campaign poster.Truman campaign poster.


► A Truman-supporter card.A Truman-supporter card.


►MatchbookMatchbook

The Truman CommitteeThe Truman Committee

Comic BookComic Book


Vice Presidential CampaignVice Presidential Campaign

► Margaret Truman with newspaper at Democratic Margaret Truman with newspaper at Democratic Convention, 1944Convention, 1944


►Margaret and Bess Truman at Democratic Margaret and Bess Truman at Democratic Convention, 1944Convention, 1944


► FDR to Robert Hannegan, chairman of the FDR to Robert Hannegan, chairman of the Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National Committee

1946 Congressional 1946 Congressional CampaignCampaign

► Truman letter to his Mother, Truman letter to his Mother, July 1946: “I just gave Mr. July 1946: “I just gave Mr. Smart Alec Slaughter a kick in Smart Alec Slaughter a kick in the pants yesterday….Now we the pants yesterday….Now we must beat him.”must beat him.”

► Margaret Truman, Margaret Truman, Harry S. Harry S. TrumanTruman, p. 329., p. 329.

► Truman voting in 1946 (with daughter Margaret)Truman voting in 1946 (with daughter Margaret)

1948 Presidential Campaign1948 Presidential Campaign

► Truman’s World War I actions result in votes Truman’s World War I actions result in votes thirty years later.thirty years later.


► Clifford-Rowe memorandum, November Clifford-Rowe memorandum, November 19471947


► Truman’s election forecast by electoral Truman’s election forecast by electoral votesvotes


► Truman’s diary relating his conversation with Truman’s diary relating his conversation with Dwight EisenhowerDwight Eisenhower


► Truman to Ernie Roberts re. civil rightsTruman to Ernie Roberts re. civil rights





► Bess Truman, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bess Truman, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall look on as Truman gives a speech.Bacall look on as Truman gives a speech.


► Truman and reporters on train car, Truman and reporters on train car, Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan


► Anti-Truman campaign buttonAnti-Truman campaign button



Congressional relationsCongressional relations

► Truman’s troubles with a Democratic CongressTruman’s troubles with a Democratic Congress

The Fair DealThe Fair Deal

1950 Congressional 1950 Congressional CampaignCampaign

► Unsent telegram from Unsent telegram from Truman to McCarthy, Truman to McCarthy, February 1950: “…you are February 1950: “…you are not even fit to have a hand not even fit to have a hand in the operation of the in the operation of the government of the United government of the United States.” States.”

► Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI)Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI)


► Truman greets Adlai Stevenson and Chicago Truman greets Adlai Stevenson and Chicago mayor Ed Kelly at Democratic conference, 1950mayor Ed Kelly at Democratic conference, 1950


► Truman and Margaret campaign for StevensonTruman and Margaret campaign for Stevenson


► Truman greets Stuart Symington (D-MO), Truman greets Stuart Symington (D-MO), Lamar, Missouri, 1959Lamar, Missouri, 1959


► Truman greets John Kennedy (D-MA), Truman Truman greets John Kennedy (D-MA), Truman Library, 1959Library, 1959

From Precinct to President The Elections of Harry S. Truman.

Documents

presidential campaign

jackson county campaign

matchbook slide

truman campaign poster

daughter margaret slide

ferdinand magellan slide

dwight eisenhower slide

fair deal slide