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  4. Truman Family Travels – First, Second and Third Trips to Key West

Motion Picture MP2006-23

Truman Family Travels – First, Second and Third Trips to Key West

Administrative Information

Original Format(s)
Video Tape
Footage
1648 feet
Running Time
45 minutes 47 seconds
Tape Format
VHS
Sound
silent
Color
Color
Produced by
U. S. Navy
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

Footage from the William M. Rigdon collection at Georgia Southern University, who retained the original films. William M. Rigdon was President Truman's Naval Aide. This footage shows President Harry S. Truman's three vacation trips to Key West, Florida. During this footage President Truman visits a submarine and visits the Everglades.

Date(s)
1946 - 1947

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
Motion Picture

Shot List

  • Reel 1

November 17-23, 1946; March 12-19, 1947; December 3-8, 1947

     
00:00   The first portion of the film has titles, indicated in bold. The President’s Visit to Key West, Florida. November 17-23, 1946. Photographed by Major General Harry H. Vaughan, U.S.A.
00:34   Sunday, November 17th: We departed the Washington National Airport at 1015 and landed at the Boca Chica Naval Air Station at 1510. KEY WEST: The Commandant’s House at the Submarine Base – where the President and his guests made their headquarters.
01:29   KEY WEST: Scenes about the Submarine Base.
02:33   Thursday, November 21st: KEY WEST: The President visits the U-2513, a surrendered German sub, and makes a practice dive to depth of 450 feet.
04:46   Off for a bit of fishing. Harry S. Truman and other men on a fishing boat depart the base’s harbor. No actual fishing shown.
05:53   Friday, November 22nd: Embarked in the destroyer STRIBLING, the President and party depart Key West for Dry Tortugas.
07:32   DRY TORTUGAS, FLORIDA: Under guidance of Custodian Gibbs, the President and party inspect Fort Jefferson National Monument. Truman is shown on a tour with others. Some more fishing before we return to Key West. Truman is shown shirtless, wearing glasses and hat, sitting on the edge of the boat and pulls out a fish. Scenes on the Stribling as they return to Key West follow.
10:58   Saturday, November 23rd: Embarked in the Presidential Plane, the President departed Boca Chica at 1038 and landed at Washington National Airport at 1400. The End.
11:20   The second group of images begins. This unlabelled, nonlinear, repetitive footage is also shot in Key West. It begins with scenes from the Commandant’s House.
11:46   Truman sits in the sun on lawn chairs with other older men wearing hats. A younger man takes photos, possibly a photo shoot.
13:10   Another fishing trip is shown. The fishing boat passes by military boats. Then Truman and his group fish. William Rigdon is visible in group. There are shots of a camera crew as well.
18:06   The scene changes to Truman and others swimming and sunbathing at a beach.
20:02   Scenes from an airport at Truman departs.
20:58   The scene remains at the same airport, but the time shifts back to Truman’s arrival at Key West. This is followed by footage of a motorcade away from the airport.
23:24   Additional footage of enjoying the beach, followed by a submarine trip.
27:21   Scenes of touring Ft. Jefferson at Dry Tortugas, followed by more fishing.
29:27   More footage from Truman’s arrival in Key West.
31:13   A series of title placards with no footage attached: 1) Visit of the President to Key West, Florida. March 12-19, 1947. 2) Scenes about the President’s Quarters (Commandant’s House). 3) Off for some deep sea fishing near American Shoal. 4) At the Sub Base beach, Fort Taylor can be seen in the background. 5) Boca Chica: Ceremonies preceding our departure for Washington.
32:03   Footage resumes. Truman and others board a boat and fish.
34:54   The third trip’s segment begins. President Truman’s Third Visit to Key West. December 3-8, 1947. The “Sacred Cow” lands at Boca Chica. Airport scenes follow. The President is greeted by Mayor Adams and Captains Adell and Saunders. The White House correspondents and photographers are on hand, too.
37:22   Outside his quarters, the President turns his camera on the White House photographers.
37:39   At a ceremony on board the U.S.S. ex-U-2513, he is pronounced a “qualified submariner.”
38:11   Medals are presented to four officers of Submarine Squadron Four.
38:37   The President inspects the U-2513.
39:26   Working out at the Sub Base Beach. Men in bathing suits toss balls around a circle. The camera then shifts to fully clothed men playing football.
40:22   A hungry pelican ventures close in to make a catch.
40:55   At the Naples (Florida) Army Air Base.
42:24   Everglades Town and Seminole Indians.
43:41   At the fish fry.
44:09   The dedication ceremonies for the new Everglades National Park.
45:19   On the road back to Naples – some of the sawgrass and cypress of the Everglades National Park.