Dear Harry....Love, Bess

Bess Truman, like several other First Ladies, burned most of her private papers to stop them from being able to made public. But when the Truman home was cleared out in the 1980s (Bess Truman died in 1982 in case you don't remember), some of her letters (180, in fact) were found mixed in with other things - like being used as bookmarks in old books. These letters are going to be released by her grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, in a couple of years, but he has provided a preview of these letters in an article in Prologue. This article isn't available online (unless you want to purchase it), but it is usually pretty easy to find a copy of Prologue if you are interested (I have a subscription myself).

In the bit on the website, they talk about the content of two of the letters - one that was written to Harry by Bess while he was in National Guard training camp in 1923 and one that was written in 1925 by Bess trying to convince Harry to let her bob her hair (she eventually won).

Margaret Truman Daniel used these letters when she wrote her biography of her mother, but did not release them, Clifton wrote that was probably in deference to her mother's wishes for privacy. She did allow 15 to be displayed in 1998 at the Truman Library, but Clifton, now the owner as Margaret Truman died last year, will release them in four years.

The letters span twenty years from 1923, when the Trumans were newlyweds to 1943, when Truman was a US Senator. These letters, when released, will be a huge asset to historians of the Truman family since they finally reveal something about the extremely private Bess Truman.

Franklin Pierce and the Battle of Churubusco

Franklin Pierce served in the Mexican-American War. He achieved the rank of Brigadier General. He was reportedly a good commander but his reputation was damaged at the Battle of Churubusco.

Here is how Wikipedia reports this:

His brigade was designated the 1st Brigade in the newly created 3rd Division and joined Scott's army in time for the Battle of Contreras. During the battle he was seriously wounded in the leg when he fell from his horse. He returned to his command the following day, but during the Battle of Churubusco the pain in his leg became so great that he passed out and had to be carried from the field. His political opponents used this against him, claiming that he left the field because of cowardice instead of injury.

This became a huge political liability for Pierce during the Presidential Election of 1852. Nathaniel Hawthorne (a good friend of Pierce) wrote a campaign biography of the future president titled The Life of Franklin Pierce. In Chapter Five, he describes how Pierce handled the war injury at the Battle of Churubusco:

The commander-in-chief had already heard of the accident that befell Pierce the day before; and as the latter approached, General Scott could not but notice the marks of pain and physical exhaustion, against which only the sturdiest constancy of will could have enabled him to bear up. "Pierce, my dear fellow," said he,--and that epithet of familiar kindness and friendship, upon the battle field, was the highest of military commendation from such a man,--"you are badly injured; you are not fit to be in your saddle." "Yes, general, I am," replied Pierce, "in a case like this." "You cannot touch your foot to the stirrup," said Scott. "One of them I can," answered Pierce. The general looked again at Pierce's almost disabled figure, and seemed on the point of taking his irrevocable resolution. "You are rash, General Pierce," said he; "we shall lose you, and we cannot spare you. It is my duty to order you back to St. Augustine." "For God's sake, general," exclaimed Pierce, "don't say that! This is the last great battle, and I must lead my brigade!" The commander-in-chief made no further remonstrance, but gave the order for Pierce to advance with his brigade.

The way lay through thick standing corn, and over marshy ground intersected with ditches, which were filled, or partially so, with water. Over some of the narrower of these Pierce leaped his horse. When the brigade had advanced about a mile, however, it found itself impeded by a ditch ten or twelve feet wide, and six or eight feet deep. It being impossible to leap it, General Pierce was lifted from his saddle, and, in some incomprehensible way, hurt as he was, contrived to wade or scramble across this obstacle, leaving his horse on the hither side. The troops were now under fire. In the excitement of the battle, he forgot his injury, and hurried forward, leading the brigade, a distance of two or three hundred yards. But the exhaustion of his frame, and particularly the anguish of his knee,--made more intolerable by such free use of it,--was greater than any strength of nerve, or any degree of mental energy, could struggle against. He fell, faint and almost insensible, within full range of the enemy's fire. It was proposed to bear him off the field; but, as some of his soldiers approached to lift him, be became aware of their purpose, and was partially revived by his determination to resist it. "No," said he, with all the strength he had left, "don't carry me off! Let me lie here!" And there he lay, under the tremendous fire of Churubusco, until the enemy, in total rout, was driven from the field.

Hawthorne has made Pierce's collapse during the battle sound heroic. Further, his 1852 political opponent for the presidency (Winfield Scott) is portrayed as having begged Pierce to leave the battle with Pierce refusing! This is very good political propaganda. Hawthorne did a good job.

White House Halloween

Check out this video of trick-or-treating at the White House this year!

James Buchanan Resource Center

When I was at Wheatland, I got a brochure on the Buchanan Resource Center, so I thought I’d include it here as well. Here is a good synopsis of the site:
Developed for educational use by teachers, students, and other researchers, the James Buchanan Resource Center offers a wealth of information regarding this Pennsylvania politician, international statesman, and 15th President of the United States. Collected here are several books on the life of James Buchanan as well as contemporary reviews of those books. Buchanan's published writings are presented, along with a selection of unpublished letters held by Dickinson College. An extensive bibliography of resources is also available to aid those interested in further study. Finally, this site includes a detailed timeline of Buchanan's life set alongside important events in U.S. history.

What is really awesome about this site is the amount of materials available full text online. They are all excellently scanned and so make a great resource if you want to study any of the primary source documents. The documents are all searchable as well, which makes it easy to find what you are looking for. The letters are also well indexed so you can flip through the list and see which you’d like to read if you just want to browse.

This really is a fabulous resource, so go check it out!

Which President was most deserving of winning the Nobel Peace Prize?

The poll has closed for the question, "Which President was most deserving of winning the Nobel Peace Prize?" Thanks to all who participated by voting.

Teddy Roosevelt won easily with 55% of the vote. Jimmy Carter was a distant second with 17%. President Wilson got 15% and Barack Obama got 10%.

Let us hope more American presidents win this award in the future.