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  4. Screen Gems Collection (outtakes from the television series "Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman")

Motion Picture MP2002-252

Screen Gems Collection (outtakes from the television series "Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman")

Administrative Information

Footage
290 feet
Running Time
8 minutes 16 seconds
Film Gauge
35mm
Sound
sound
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Screen Gems in association with Ben Gradus
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

Merle Miller asks Harry S. Truman what newspapers he reads in the morning, about his morning walks, including the need to obey traffic lights. Harry S. Truman discusses the statues and plaques at the Independence Courthouse. Harry S. Truman discusses why he attended the local Presbyterian Church. Sound only.

Date(s)
ca.
1961 - 1963

SD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are available for $20, and HD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are $50. Copies of motion pictures not already digitized will incur additional costs.

This item does not circulate but reproductions may be purchased.

To request a copy of this item, please contact truman.reference@nara.gov​​​​​​​

Please note that this video belongs to a different video collection than the items available to be borrowed by teachers, from our Education Department.

Moving Image Type
Screen Gems

Shot List

Audio file

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Reel 1

0:00   Unidentified voice says: "61F4588, Talent Associates, Truman Story, Take 21 from roll number 41, President Truman Library, wild continued, wild 1067 continued." (Talent Associates was David Susskind’s company, and the first producers of the "Decision" series).
    The recording begins with Harry S. Truman saying ". . . I’d have been in trouble because the Italian Ambassador’s coming out this morning . . ."
    Unidentified voice says: "wildtrack 1,067."
    This recording is an interview by Merle Miller with Mr. Truman on several subjects. There is back and forth informal questions and answers.
    Merle Miller begins by asking about what newspapers Mr. Truman reads in the morning. Mr. Truman replies he reads the Kansas City Times in the morning.
1:20   Merle Miller asks about Mr. Truman’s walks. Mr. Truman discusses the need to obey stoplights; reporters were informed they needed to obey the traffic lights.
2:10   Mr. Truman confirms that in Washington, D. C., he told the Secret Service not to regulate traffic or adjust traffic lights. About six months after he became President, he decided to begin the walks again. The Secret Service learned to wear their overcoats for the early November walks.
4:48   Harry S. Truman discusses the statues in front of the Independence and Kansas City courthouses (referring to the Andrew Jackson statues). The second casting of the statue is in front of the Independence courthouse; the first casting is in front of the Kansas City courthouse.
5:10   Mr. Truman discusses the plaque in front of the Independence courthouse. The first courthouse was built out of logs by slave labor in 1827, and is still in existence.
7:08   Mr. Truman answer questions about his early morning walks. There are not so many interruptions in the early morning, and it is a good time to think.
7:54   Mr. Truman discusses how his family went to the Presbyterian Church because it was near their home and had the best Sunday School.