November 13, 1948
This day was a special one for the President, his party and his family. They left on the yacht, WILLIAMSBURG, at about 7 a.m. for a cruise of Dry Tortugas. They spent the morning "lounging in the sun on the main deck aft" and then ate a luncheon buffet. They departed by motor boat for the island around 1 p.m. The President and his party was treated to a tour of Fort Jefferson National Park by Mr. H. D. Goodson, historical aide at the fort. The President had so much enjoyed a visit a couple of years earlier to the historic fort that he wanted his family to visit it as well. The President served as tour guide for part of their visit and pointed out the location where Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor who had John Wilkes Booth's broken leg, had been held prisoner.
The President spent a considerable amount of his "vacation time" answering a large volume of congratulatory and other mail. He wrote the following letter to the mayor of Key West on the 13th:
My dear Mayor Adams,
Please accept from a grateful heart this assurance of my appreciation of the wonderful welcome afforded to me by yourself and the good people of Key West and community. It warmed my heart and will long be treasured among happy Key West memories.
May I also express to you and through you to the citizens of Key West my hearty appreciation of such a fine message of congratulations. I read your thoughtful expressions and want all of you to know how much they mean to me.
Very sincerely yours,
Harry S. Truman
Audrey, 11th grade
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