Word: trumans
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Whitmore claimed he knew less about Truman than anyone there, that he got the part in the play because of "bone structure." But in that confession there was a bit of Harry. "I have no story about Mr. Truman," said the actor. "I never met him. I voted for someone else...
...most eloquent moment in his Truman portrayal, said Whitmore, is the little bit where the President writes a letter to his daughter, then takes a 3? stamp out of his wallet and puts it on the envelope. "Very often the audience applauds," said Whitmore. "When you think about that, and I have, we have a hunger and thirst for simplicity and for people of integrity...
Clark Clifford, the White House counsel in Truman's time, told a story of how the President dragged General Harry H. Vaughan, the controversial military aide who hated the water and boats, along on a fishing trip. When Truman caught a fish called a Schoolmaster, he showed it with pride to Vaughan. "Look, Harry," said Truman, "I caught a Schoolmaster." Vaughan, slumped miserably on the deck, said, "I don't give a damn if you caught a superintendent of education...
When Vaughan's turn came, he remembered how he had tried to stop "all this foolishness" of Vice President Truman's playing the piano with Lauren Bacall draped languorously over the top of the instrument at the National Press Club. Of course the picture became famous...
Beth Short, Truman's correspondence secretary, contributed an anecdote about the Truman reputation for salty language, much of which is faithfully reproduced in the new play. She told about the time she was on an elevator with Truman and a bunch of men. He used a swear word. "When we got to the lobby," recalled Mrs. Short, "he saw that I was on the elevator. He came over not only to speak to me but to say, 'I beg your pardon, Beth. I didn't realize you were on the elevator or I never would have said...