923501
Harry S. Truman
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Harry S. Truman, 1884-1972. 33rd President of the United States, 1945-1953. Typed Letter Signed, Harry S. Truman, one page, octavo, on stationery of The White House, Washington, March 21, 1947.
Truman sends condolences to Felix Belair, the longtime White House correspondent for The New York Times, on the death of his mother. In full: “I have heard of the sorrow which has come to you in the loss of your dear mother and want you to know that I am thinking of you. To you and to all who mourn with you, I offer this assurance of heartfelt sympathy."
Truman's reference to "your dear mother" was poignant and likely painful for him. Truman had a very close relationship to his own mother, Martha Ellen Truman, who, at age 94, had broken her hip about a month before Truman wrote this letter. Truman had visited her immediately after the accident, had telephoned her from Washington every day after he returned, and had visited her again, on his way to a state visit to Mexico, on March 2.
Time reported that, although he was about to see her again on the Mexico trip, "he still seemed vaguely restless." "Both the President and his mother brightened as he tramped into her front bedroom," it reported. ”She was sitting up in bed. He beamed, kissed her heartily, said, ‘How are you, mamma?’ . . . Both her legs were in plaster casts, but she felt little pain, showed no signs of contracting pneumonia. But none of this was assurance that she would walk again." Truman stayed for nearly three hours.
Mamma Truman never fully recovered. She died in Grandview, Missouri, south of Kansas City, on July 26, 1947. Truman's diary entries show his anguish at her death, which occurred while he was flying home to see her:
July 26:
My sister, Mary Jane, called & said that mamma is sinking swiftly. Dr. Greene was at home in Grandview and said she'd not last long. Call was at 9 A.M. Washington time. I ordered plane set up at 12:30. Began getting things in order.
Congress quitting tonight.
Unification bill passed. Asked that it be sent up so I could appoint Defence [sic] Secretary. Printing office closed. Finally recieved [sic] bill at air port. Signed it and appointed Forestal [sic]. All favor him. Took off at 12:30 Washington time. At 1:30 Washington time recieved [sic] message my mother has passed on. Terrible shock. No one knew it.
Arrived in Grandview about 3:30 CST[,] went to the house and met sister & brother. Went to Belton with them and picked a casket. A terrible ordeal. Back to Grandview and then to Independence with Bess & Margie. They were at airport to meet me but stayed in Grandview while I went to Belton with Vivian & Mary.
Spent Sunday morning and afternoon at Grandview. Mamma had been placed in casket we had decided upon and returned to her cottage. I couldn't look at her dead. I wanted to remember [her] alive when she was at her best.
July 28:
This was a terrible day. Arose at 6:15[,] had breakfast, fixed up by Bess at seven. Didn't sleep much Saturday night or Sunday night. So took a nap after breakfast. Had a time doing it. The Mayor of Ind[e]p[endence,] Roger Sermon, a [World] War I buddy of mine[,] came in at 9:30 with Renick Jones[,] a lifetime friend of mine[,] to pay respects. When they left the house I started to take a nap and Charlie Ross my Press Secretary called and said that the Mexican Ambassador wanted to come and see me on orders from Pres[ident] Aleman to pay his respects personally. He came at 10:30.
I took a short nap, had lunch at 12:00 and went to Grandview, arriving at 1:00. All the cousins on both sides came. About fifty of them. The Baptist preacher Wellborn Bowman conducted the service. It was as mamma wanted it. We went to Forest Hill and the preacher did it excellently at the grave.
Along the road all cars, trucks and pedestrians stood with hats off. It made me want to weep—but I couldn't in public.
I've read thousands of messages from all over the world in the White House study and I can shed tears as I please—no one's looking.
Read in the light of his relationship with his own mother, Truman's words in this letter reveal his quite personal perspective on the death of Belair's "dear mother" as he offered his "heartfelt sympathy." Undoubtedly Truman pondered his own mother's frailty and the probability that she, too, would not long survive.
This letter is in very good condition. It is toned, a little faded, and trimmed at the bottom from prior framing. Truman's large fountain pen signature nevertheless is still bold.
Unframed. Please click here for information about custom framing this piece.
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