Motion Picture MP2002-324
Administrative Information
Harry S. Truman speaks informally with Merle Miller, Truman Library staff, and technicians regarding a photograph showing him and Vivian as children. Mr. Truman discusses the importance that reading has held in his life. Mr. Truman details his favorite works by William Shakespeare. Sound only.
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Shot List
Reel 1
| 0:00 | Unidentified voice says "wildtrack 1,040, President Truman’s office anteroom, background noise, typing." | |
| Much of tape is sound of typewriter and muffled conversation between Harry S. Truman, Truman Library staff, and technicians. Mr. Truman jokes with technicians | ||
| 3:19 | Harry S. Truman: "The whole thing's gonna bust your camera." More noise and laughter. Conversation not audible. | |
| Unidentified voice says "wildtrack 1,048, supercedes previous slating." There is some noise, then the voice says "wildtrack 1,045, President Truman." | ||
| 5:50 | Harry S. Truman discusses a picture in an album showing him and Vivian, ages 3 and 5, in kilts. He states wearing kilts was customary at the time. Merle Miller asks him about the picture. Voice says: "Wildtrack 1,046, President Truman." Question and response were repeated. | |
| 7:21 | Mr. Truman confirms that his mother encouraged reading. He and his mother saved dimes to purchase books including Shakespeare, "Plutarch's Lives," and other books. "This is what we read as we grew up." Later he read all 3,000 books in the public library. He claims he remembered what he read. | |
| 8:30 | Mr. Truman discusses the four volume set of "Great Men and Famous Women," which he still had in his office library. | |
| 10:45 | Mr. Truman states he had read all of Shakespeare with his favorites being "The Merchant of Venice" and "Julius Caesar." He confirms that he had recommended "Plutarch's Lives" and Shakespeare to Judge Al Ridge who had been a member of his battery in France. | |
| 12:26 | Mr. Truman states he gets 4 or 5 newspapers a day. He emphasizes the need to read more than the front page. He believes newspapers have an editorial slant. He prefers the Independence Examiner to the Kansas City Star. | |