It was an afternoon Truman would never forget.
It
was
an
afternoon
Truman
would
never
forget
.
Rayburn and his friend were talking in the office before Truman arrived.
Rayburn
and
his
friend
were
talking
in
the
office
before
Truman
arrived
.
The telephone rang.
The
telephone
rang
.
It was a call from the White House asking whether Vice-President Truman had arrived yet.
It
was
a
call
from
the
White
House
asking
whether
Vice-President
Truman
had
arrived
yet
.
No, Rayburn replied.
No
,
Rayburn
replied
.
The caller asked to have him telephone the White House as soon as he arrived.
The
caller
asked
to
have
him
telephone
the
White
House
as
soon
as
he
arrived
.
Truman entered a minute later.
Truman
entered
a
minute
later
.
He immediately called the White House.
He
immediately
called
the
White
House
.
As he talked, his face became white.
As
he
talked
,
his
face
became
white
.
He put down the phone and raced out of the door to his car.
He
put
down
the
phone
and
raced
out
of
the
door
to
his
car
.
Truman arrived at the White House within minutes.
Truman
arrived
at
the
White
House
within
minutes
.
An assistant took him to the president's private living area.
An
assistant
took
him
to
the
president
's
private
living
area
.
Eleanor Roosevelt, the president's wife, was waiting for him there.
Eleanor
Roosevelt
,
the
president
's
wife
,
was
waiting
for
him
there
.
"Harry," she said, "the president is dead."
``
Harry
,
''
she
said
,
``
the
president
is
dead
.
''
Truman was shocked.
Truman
was
shocked
.
He asked Mrs. Roosevelt if there was anything he could do to help her.
He
asked
Mrs.
Roosevelt
if
there
was
anything
he
could
do
to
help
her
.
But her reply made clear to him that his own life had suddenly changed.
But
her
reply
made
clear
to
him
that
his
own
life
had
suddenly
changed
.
"Is there anything we can do for you?"
``
Is
there
anything
we
can
do
for
you
?
''
Mrs. Roosevelt asked the new president, "You are the one in trouble now."
Mrs.
Roosevelt
asked
the
new
president
,
``
You
are
the
one
in
trouble
now
.
''
Truman had been a surprise choice for vice-president at the Democratic Party nominating convention in nineteen forty-four.
Truman
had
been
a
surprise
choice
for
vice-president
at
the
Democratic
Party
nominating
convention
in
nineteen
forty-four
.
Delegates considered several other candidates before they chose him as Roosevelt's running mate.
Delegates
considered
several
other
candidates
before
they
chose
him
as
Roosevelt
's
running
mate
.
That was at a time when presidential candidates did not make their own choices for vice-president.
That
was
at
a
time
when
presidential
candidates
did
not
make
their
own
choices
for
vice-president
.
Harry Truman lacked the fame, the rich family and the strong speech-making skills of Franklin Roosevelt.
Harry
Truman
lacked
the
fame
,
the
rich
family
and
the
strong
speech-making
skills
of
Franklin
Roosevelt
.
He was a much simpler man.
He
was
a
much
simpler
man
.
He grew up in the Midwestern state of Missouri.
He
grew
up
in
the
Midwestern
state
of
Missouri
.
Truman only studied through high school but took some nighttime law school classes.
Truman
only
studied
through
high
school
but
took
some
nighttime
law
school
classes
.
He worked for many years as a farmer and a small businessman, but without much success.
He
worked
for
many
years
as
a
farmer
and
a
small
businessman
,
but
without
much
success
.
Truman had long been interested in politics.
Truman
had
long
been
interested
in
politics
.
When he was almost forty, he finally won several low-level positions in his home state.
When
he
was
almost
forty
,
he
finally
won
several
low-level
positions
in
his
home
state
.
By nineteen thirty-four, he was popular enough in Missouri to be nominated and elected to the United States Senate.
By
nineteen
thirty-four
,
he
was
popular
enough
in
Missouri
to
be
nominated
and
elected
to
the
United
States
Senate
.
And he won re-election six years later.
And
he
won
re-election
six
years
later
.
Most Americans, however, knew little about Harry Truman when he became president.
Most
Americans
,
however
,
knew
little
about
Harry
Truman
when
he
became
president
.
They knew he had close ties to the Democratic Party political machine in his home state.
They
knew
he
had
close
ties
to
the
Democratic
Party
political
machine
in
his
home
state
.
But they had also heard that he was a very honest man.
But
they
had
also
heard
that
he
was
a
very
honest
man
.
They could see that Truman had strongly supported President Roosevelt's New Deal programs.
They
could
see
that
Truman
had
strongly
supported
President
Roosevelt
's
New
Deal
programs
.
But they could not be sure what kind of president Truman would become.
But
they
could
not
be
sure
what
kind
of
president
Truman
would
become
.
At the center of all the action was Harry Truman.
At
the
center
of
all
the
action
was
Harry
Truman
.
It was not long before he showed Americans and the world that he had the ability to be a good president.
It
was
not
long
before
he
showed
Americans
and
the
world
that
he
had
the
ability
to
be
a
good
president
.
He was honest, strong and willing to make decisions.
He
was
honest
,
strong
and
willing
to
make
decisions
.
It was an afternoon Truman would never forget.  Rayburn and his friend were talking in the office before Truman arrived. The telephone rang. It was a call from the White House asking whether Vice-President Truman had arrived yet. No, Rayburn replied. The caller asked to have him telephone the White House as soon as he arrived.  Truman entered a minute later. He immediately called the White House. As he talked, his face became white. He put down the phone and raced out of the door to his car.  Truman arrived at the White House within minutes. An assistant took him to the president's private living area. Eleanor Roosevelt, the president's wife, was waiting for him there. "Harry," she said, "the president is dead." Truman was shocked. He asked Mrs. Roosevelt if there was anything he could do to help her. But her reply made clear to him that his own life had suddenly changed. "Is there anything we can do for you?" Mrs. Roosevelt asked the new president, "You are the one in trouble now."  Truman had been a surprise choice for vice-president at the Democratic Party nominating convention in nineteen forty-four. Delegates considered several other candidates before they chose him as Roosevelt's running mate. That was at a time when presidential candidates did not make their own choices for vice-president.  Harry Truman lacked the fame, the rich family and the strong speech-making skills of Franklin Roosevelt. He was a much simpler man. He grew up in the Midwestern state of Missouri. Truman only studied through high school but took some nighttime law school classes. He worked for many years as a farmer and a small businessman, but without much success.  Truman had long been interested in politics. When he was almost forty, he finally won several low-level positions in his home state. By nineteen thirty-four, he was popular enough in Missouri to be nominated and elected to the United States Senate. And he won re-election six years later.  Most Americans, however, knew little about Harry Truman when he became president. They knew he had close ties to the Democratic Party political machine in his home state. But they had also heard that he was a very honest man. They could see that Truman had strongly supported President Roosevelt's New Deal programs. But they could not be sure what kind of president Truman would become.  At the center of all the action was Harry Truman. It was not long before he showed Americans and the world that he had the ability to be a good president. He was honest, strong and willing to make decisions.