January 23, 1999

Harry Getting Glasses

  When Harry Truman was a child, he loved reading books more than anything. However, one day when he was reading, the words started to blur. Harry didn't tell his parents because he was afraid they would tell him to stop reading.

  On the Fourth of July, Harry told his mother he could hear the cracking noises but he couldn't see anything. The next day Harry's mom took him to see the doctor and he began wearing glasses. Harry was made fun of at school and hated his glasses.

  From then on, Harry's "glasses" tried to get in the way of things that Harry wanted to do. However, Harry never let those glasses, anyone or anything get in the way of what he wanted to accomplish in his life.

Jennifer and Christina
Barry School
Kansas City, Mo.

Harry with Glasses

Truman and the 1948 Campaign

   In 1948, Harry Truman was nominated for re-election to the presidency. He wanted to reach out to many Americans. The Whistlestop Tour was one of the major ways he campaigned in 1948. Some people feel that his tour was one of the reasons he won that election.

  Truman traveled on the train, because he felt that he could travel slowly and safely through a big crown. The train was called the "Magellan". It had a total of seventeen cars, two dining and three lounge cars and one car for the press. It traveled about 30,000 miles on the tour.

  Truman would stand on the back platform of the train and give speeches. It was a good place to stand for Truman because every one could see and hear him.

  He began his campaign in September near Michigan. He traveled to Missouri, Colorado, Arizona, Washington and Massachusetts. He traveled to big and small cities. Truman would sometimes make eight speeches a day. He made a total of two hundred and one stops.

  There would always be a big crowd waiting to hear President Truman speak. The crowds would greet him with cheers and smiles. The people would stand on the tracks and all around the train to hear Truman speak.

  As the train pulled away, Margaret, Truman's daughter, would throw a rose to the photographers.

Jessica and Katie
Barry School
Kansas City, Mo.

Truman at the beginning of his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign