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  4. President Truman’s Trip to Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Key West, Florida

Motion Picture MP2011-2

President Truman’s Trip to Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Key West, Florida

Administrative Information

Original Format(s)
Motion Picture
Section: Reel 1
Duration: 13 minutes 20 seconds
Section: Reel 2
Duration: 9 minutes 50 seconds
Section: Reel 3
Duration: 6 minutes 34 seconds
Film Gauge
16mm
Sound
silent
Color
Color
Produced by
U. S. Navy, Gift of Gen. Wallace Graham
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

Good quality color footage of President Truman’s trip to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guantanomo Bay, Cuba, and Key West, Florida; more footage than is contained in film MP76-59. 

Date(s)
February 20, 1948 - March 5, 1948

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

(See also MP-76-59 for similar footage of Reel 1)

     
00:00   Title: “President Truman’s Trip to the Caribbean Area and Key West, Florida, February 20-March 5, 1948.”
00:16   Title: “ ‘The Sacred Cow’ lands at the Boca Chica (Florida) airfield – February 20th.”
00:21   President’s car at airfield, with view of plane.
01:19   Title: “Honors at the main gate of the Key West submarine base.”
01:24   Marine Corps honor guard at attention, and Presidential motorcade.
02:05   Marine Corps and Navy officers in parade.
02:23   Title: “San Juan – February 21st.”
02:30   View of propeller and clouds from window of plane.
02:35   View of San Juan from plane.
03:30   Title: “Ceremonies at Isla Grande (Naval Air Station).”
03:35   Navy officers carrying flags in procession; Navy officers assembled at Air station, with civilian dignitaries.
03:58   President Truman behind podium outdoors at Air Station giving speech.
04:35   Title: “Through El Fanguito, San Juan’s notorious slums district.”
04:40   View of slums.
05:00   Title: “Puerto Nuevo – a modern housing development.”
05:05   Views of Puerto Nuevo.
05:10   Title: “In the mountains near Aguas Buenas – 30 miles south of San Juan.”
05:15   View of mountains.
05:25   Title: “Scenes about the Hotel Jaqueyes, near Aguas Buenas. We had lunch here and then returned to San Juan.”
05:30   Views of Hotel with officers and civilians standing outside, an American flag is flying in front.
06:05   Dr. Francisco Susoni (Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives), and standing with him are Luis Muñoz-Marin (President of the Senate of Puerto Rico), Admiral Leahy, Dr. Antonio Fernos Isern (Resident Commissioner), and others.
06:10   President Truman on veranda with military officers and distinguished civilians. He leaves in automobile with unidentified Puerto Rican official.
06:45   Additional views of exterior of hotel and people after the President’s departure.
06:57   Title: “St. Thomas in the Virgin Island s is next on our itinerary. Embarked in the Williamsburg, we put in at the beautiful harbor of Charlotte Amalie.”
07:02   Views of harbor.
07:45   Title: “Charlotte Amalie – February 22nd. The President is greeted by Governor Hastie, then he inspects the guard of honor.”
07:52   Welcome sign at Charlotte Amalie: “Welcome President Truman and visitors” with views of military and civilians lined up along street.
08:04   President Truman and Governor Hasty shake hands, with Admiral Leahy and Secretary Krug in background.
08:10   President Truman reviews troops with Governor Hastie.
08:16   Title: “At Emancipation Park, Charlotte Amalie”
08:21   Governor Hastie behind podium at park under banner “Welcome President Truman Champion of Human Rights.”
08:24   Crowds watching Governor Hastie’s address.
08:52   President Truman addresses crowd.
09:06   Title: “On an auto tour of the Island of St Thomas.”
09:13   Views of the island.
09:28   Title: “Magens Bay and, in the distance, some of the British Virgin Islands.”
09:32   Views of the Bay.
09:58   President Truman with Governor Hastie overlooking Bay.
10:05   Views along motorcade route – crowds on streets.
10:19   Views of houses along hillside.
10:25   View of unidentified ship in distance.
10:38   Title: “The western coast line of St. Croix – the ‘garden isle’ of the Virgins.”
10:42   Views of the St Croix coast line.
11:18   Another distant view of ship seen in 10:25.
11:25   Scenic views around St Croix and views of ships.
11:50   Secretary Krug and William D. Hassett on ship.
11:55   Title: “Mr Hassett takes a preview of Frederiksted and the crowd waiting there.”
12:05   William D. Hassett with binoculars on deck with other unidentified men.
12:41   Title: “The President goes ashore at Frederiksted; addresses the populace – February 23.”
12:45   Exterior view of yacht.
12:47   Ship pulling into port.
13:10   President Truman making address (from ship?), Governor Hastie also on stand.
13:20   END.
  • Reel 2
     
00:00   Title card: “Happy islanders line the country roads all across the island.”
00:05   View of islanders gathering along street.
00:14   View from car window.
00:18   Scenic views of country side.
00:38   People gathered along roadside as car passes, some hold American flags.
01:07   View from car window. Sign: “Welcome” seen.
01:11   Title card: “Speaking at Christansted, St. Croix, February 23rd.”
01:16   President Truman behind microphone with Governor Hastie.
01:29   View of crowd.
01:35   Gen. Harry Vaughn, Adm. William Leahy and other dignitaries listen to speech.
01:42   President Truman speaking behind microphones, he is holding a plaque or clipboard with typescript of speech he’s reading.
01:51   Motorcade leaving.
02:01   Crowds.
02:15   Title card: “Back at Frederiksted, where we return to the Williamsburg.”
02:22   Crowds outside building that has sign “St Croix, the Garden of the West Indies greets you.”
02:38   Views of crowd on dock.
03:09   View of ship in distance.
03:20   Title card: “The Commandant’s quarters at Guantanamo.”
03:26   Commandant’s house at Guantanamo, on hill overlooking ocean.
03:32   Title card: “February 25th – we disembark from the Williamsburg at Guantanamo and put ashore at the Fleet Landing.”
03:42   Views of landing.
03:51   Title card: “A panorama of the Guantanamo countryside.”
03:55   Views of countryside.
04:15   Barracks?
04:30   Title card: “The President stops at the Base school where children greet him and young Bill Barrett presents him with a scrapbook.”
04:42   President’s car outside.
04:48   School children.
04:53   President Truman smiling with children.
04:56   President Truman receives scrapbook
05:00   Title card: “Late afternoon – February 25th. Airborne again, gorgeous cloud formations encountered enroute Key West.”
05:11   View of plane wing and clouds.
05:22   Title card: “Fort Taylor – an old Civil War fort at Key West.”
05:28   Views at Fort Taylor, overlooking the Caribbean.
05:43   Title card: “’Truman Beach’” at the Sub Base, Key West.”
05:47   Views of submarine base, Key West.
06:05   Title card: “Key West – A submarine stands out to sea.”
06:11   View of submarine with nearby ship.
06:28   Title card: “Come out in the sun, Arthur!”
06:33   Unknown black man standing in shade.
06:53   Title card: “Fun? At the Beach.”
06:58   Men on beach throwing ball and lounging.
07:49   Men arriving in open top automobile. One is wearing a pith helmet.
07:59   Title card: “February 27th – Mr. Hassett, General Graham, and Colonel Landry spend the day in Havana.”
08:09   Man opening wooden window cover outside house – there is a roundabout (turntable) inside it.
08:11   Two unknown men and William D. Hassett arrive with man in uniform (possibly a Cuban military officer).
08:15   Exterior views of Havana skyline and highways.
08:28   Building “Museo Nacional Turismo Clorieta.”
08:38   Night time – buildings lighted.
08:48   Day – exterior of building, church, statue and outdoor scenes.
09:33   “Title card: “Key West – February 28th. The President visits the Submarine ‘REQUIN.’”
09:40   Navy officers in formation – salute with whistle.
09:50   END.
     
  • Reel 3
     
00:00   Title card: “Key West – March 1st. The president holds a press conference on the lawn of the Little White House.”
00:10   President Truman addresses reporters. He is standing outdoors in white suit with aides nearby.
01:30   Title card: “Key West, March 1st – on our way to the fishing grounds.”
01:37   View of two boats in distance, then view of Key West from boat.
02:15   Presidential aides and guests on boat fishing.
02:28   Title card: “The President gets the first strike, but loses his fish—and hook!”
02:35   Fish being reeled in (by HST?).
02:43   Title card: “Mr. Clifford lands his—an 8 lb. grouper.”
02:50   Clark Clifford reeling in a fish, with close-ups of caught fish.
03:00   Exterior view of boat.
03:05   Title card: “Mr. Hasett’s patience is finally rewarded with a 25 lb amberjack.”
03:15   Close-up view of caught fish.
03:20   Title card: “Going Home”
03:25   Exterior views of boat returning to port.
03:45   Title card: “Bautista and Santiago display the party’s catch.”
03:50   Two Philipino naval aides hold up fish.
04:00   Title card: “Back, again, at Fort Taylor. Colonel Landry, Captain Dennison and Mr. Ayers do a bit of exploring.”
04:10   Three men sightseeing at historic Fort Taylor. Boat is seen in the distance.
04:40   Title card: “’Spring training’ (assorted forms) at Truman Beach.”
04:45   Men sitting on porch – HST in pith hat.
04:55   HST in fishing hat and sunglasses behind steering wheel in open-top automobile, with aides. He waves to camera.
05:07   Men on beach tossing football.
05:41   Men lounging near beach house overlooking ocean – HST in pith hat.
06:24   Man laying on cot by beach.
06:34   END.