Description

Easton Press leather edition of "Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman," Edited by Robert H. Ferrell," a COLLECTOR'S editions, one of the LIBRARY OF THE PRESIDENTS series, published in 1989. Bound in hunter green leather, the book has decorative paper end leaves, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in FINE condition. COLLECTOR'S NOTES is included. Harry S. Truman, who lived from 1884--1972, was the 33rd President of the U.S., 1945-1953. Born in western Missouri the Trumans lived a hard, farm life, typical of turn-of-the-century people. With no formal education beyond high school, he was 33 before he left the family farm to enlist in the army. When he returned from the army, he married his childhood sweetheart, BESS WALLACE. At 38, after his haberdashery business went bankrupt, Truman was plucked from obscurity by KANSAS CITY'S Democratic political boss, TOM PENDERGAST, the uncle of an army buddy. Pendergast orchestrated Truman's election to county judge, and then, in 1934, to the U.S. Senate. Once in Washington, Trumann was often scorned as the "Senator from Pendergast." "Give 'em hell, Harry. . .that's what Americans expected of Truman and he never disappointed." He spoke his mind by what he called "horse sense" and wrote as he spoke. "Mr. Prima Donna, Brass Hat, Five Star McArthur", the sabotage press" the Great White Prison": Truman wasted no words in how he felt. He became President Franklin D. Roosevelt's running mate in 1944 and less than a year later, he assumed the Presidency. Truman dealt with GEORGE MARSHALL, DEAN ACHESON, and WINSTON CHURCHILL. He was responsible for reconstructing America's foreign policy after WWII, and for the MARSHALL PLAN, NATO, and the BERLIN AIRLIFT. He established the Defense Department, started the CIA, approved the development of the hydrogen bomb, and made a forceful response to the invasion of South Korea. He even stood up to DOUGLAS MACARTHUR over the principle of civilian control over the military. Including Truman's diaries, memoranda and letters, "Off the Record" covers from the years of the Truman presidency. John Hopkins University history professor David McCullough said: "As much as any president since Lincoln, he brought to the highest office the language and values of the common American people. He held to the old guidelines: work hard, do your best, speak the truth, assumer no airs, trust in God, have no fear. . .qualities that made him a figure of world stature, both a great and good man, and a great American president." Truman visited KEY WEST, FLORIDA ten times as President and later bought a home there that houses a Truman Library. 602 pages. I offer Combined shipping.