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Screen Gems Collection

Outtakes from Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman

Compiled by Brent Pennel, Pauline Testerman, and Amy L. Williams (2003); Pauline Testerman (2007, 2009).


The Screen Gems Collection consists of outtakes created during the production of the film series, Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman. Included is material created by both Talent Associates, Ltd. and Screen Gems, Inc. Material ranges from informal interviews with Truman, members of his family, and associates, to more formal, scripted readings by Truman. There are a few instances of historical footage from unknown sources that was gathered for use in the production. The subject matter includes Truman's personal life as well as his decisions as president. Sound recordings comprise about 90% of the collection. Formats include 35mm and 16mm black and white film, reel-to-reel tape, and 35mm and 16mm soundtracks.

The outtakes are listed below by accession number, which is the number researchers need when requesting to view or obtain a copy of an outtake. All of the films in the Truman Library's collection are available for viewing at the Library and for copying. The films are not loaned. For additional information about the Screen Gems Collection, please contact the archives staff by telephone at 816-268-8228, by e-mail at truman.reference@nara.gov, or by writing to the Library at 500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri 64050.

Keyword Search

Search Results: 551

Screen Gems Collection

/30 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaks of calling a meeting of the cabinet after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death. He mentions a cabinet member who returned from Yalta a weary man (probably Harry Hopkins). This segment was probably used for episode 1. Sound only.

35mm/3 minutes 52 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses his county court race for judge and early elections. Sound only.

35mm/50 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses the Nuremberg Trials. Mr. Truman speaks of the difficulty of getting the British to agree to have trials. Sound only.

35mm/42 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses why he didn’t want the same thing to happen to Hitler that happened to Napoleon. Mr. Truman says, “Hitler was the greatest murderer in the history of the world.” Sound only.

35mm/34 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses his visit with Prime Minister Anthony Eden about the Nuremberg Trials. Sound only.

35mm/2 minutes 45 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman recalls working as a young man for a bank for $35.00 a week. Farmers deposited money when times were good and withdrew money when times were bad. He learned the prosperity of the farmer was important for the country as a whole. Sound only.

35mm/3 minutes 16 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses his visit to Phoenix, Arizona. He gave a lecture on the presidency. Over 10,000 people were at the airport. He was pushed into a post and broke his ribs. Mr. Truman discusses with Merle Miller the possibility of doing a television program on the six great decisions of history. Sound only.

35mm/5 minutes 44 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses the Truman and Young farms in Missouri, Mr. Truman’s visits with his grandparents, and Mr. Truman’s sister Mary Jane’s commentary on the Truman Corners Shopping Center. Sound only.

35mm/6 minutes
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses taking the trip on the Frisco train from Sheffield to Grandview, Missouri, then walking one mile to visit his grandparent’s farm. Sound only.

35mm/7 minutes 8 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses talking with children and young people at the Harry S. Truman Library. Mr. Truman says he wants to give the students a chance to ask him questions about how government works and what they have seen. Mr. Truman is asked about his association with his secretary and asked about past jobs. Sound only.

/13 minutes 49 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails, Truman's ancestors, and Missouri and Kansas during the Civil War. Sound only.

35mm/10 minutes 27 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as planning the Jackson County Courthouse, the Truman balcony on the White House, Missouri and Kansas during the Civil War, and qualities of leadership and greatness in men. This clip includes Truman's cousin, Ethel Noland, speaking about Truman's youth on the Grandview farm. Sound only.

35mm/2 minutes 7 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses the Harry S. Truman Library and describes the kinds of people who come to the Library. Sound only.

35mm/7 minutes 40 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as Truman's piano lessons, the Civil War in Jackson County, Missouri, and his grandmother Young's experiences with the Union Army. Truman is asked to read his letter to his mother for the recorder, but emotionally expresses that he cannot do it. Sound only.

35mm/8 minutes 12 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as Abraham Lincoln, poker, and Truman's friendship with Tom Evans. Sound only.

35mm/10 minutes 38 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as Independence, Missouri and the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails, the history of his grandparents and how they came to Missouri, the county form of government, and the early history of Kansas City. Sound only.

35mm/8 minutes 42 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as books, high school friends, the burning of the original house on the Grandview farm, and his father's job as a road overseer. Sound only.

35mm/4 minutes 56 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller the subjects of the history of Independence, Missouri and the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails. Sound only.

35mm/9 minutes 57 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as Native American tribes in the area of Independence, Missouri, how Truman's ancestors came to Missouri, and slavery in the area. Sound only. NOTE: Mr. Truman uses a racial slur in this recording.

35mm/9 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman at a desk speaking about the Bill of Rights and that the best way to understand it is to read it. Film with sound.

/1 minute 18 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman discusses his time in the Senate when he was chairman of the Truman Committee, which investigated military spending. He asked the War Production Board and the Federal Reserve Bank to use their tools to control the situation if they possibly could. Film and sound. 

35mm/3 minutes 4 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman talks about the Truman Committee and its investigation of the national defense. Film with sound.

35mm/38 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman says, "Prices rose more than they should have, but all things considered, we did very well…" speaking on economic inflation. Film with sound.

35mm/1 minute 27 seconds
Description:

Mrs. Eddie Jacobson discusses the friendship of her husband, Eddie Jacobson and Harry S. Truman. Sound only.

35mm/9 seconds
Description:

Film clip showing Harry S. Truman uttering one part of a sentence: “You know after I
became . . .”. Film with sound.