Thus did Martha Truman describe the experience of her son who for 11 years operated the family farm at Grandview, 20 miles southwest of Independence. She added that he would "plant the straightest row of corn in the whole country."

His proud mother put her finger on a trait that stood out in the public service career of Harry S. Truman - from his days as county judge to those of world leadership in the critical period following World War II. "Common sense" was a factor in the decisions he was called on to make.