The Personal Correspondence of Harry S. Truman

President Truman's papers are comprised of over 7 million pages and were donated to the US government in his will. These papers are divided into three main categories: prepresidential papers, presidential papers, and postpresidential papers. Included in his papers is a family correspondence file, which consists of over 1400 handwritten letters that Truman wrote to his wife, daughter, mother, and sister.

 The file is divided into four sections, the first of which is called Correspondence from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace. These are letters that he wrote to her between 1910 and their marriage in 1919. The first of these were sent while both were living in Missouri, later he continued to write Bess while at military training camp and while stationed in France during WWI. The second section within the family correspondence file holds letters that Truman wrote to his wife while they were married. Truman had to travel frequently for work, both before and during his presidency, and during these times he usually wrote to Bess daily, and sometimes even more than once a day. The next section holds letters that Truman wrote to his daughter, Margaret Truman. There are over 100 letters from Truman to his daughter in the collection, some of which were written before she was even able to read. The final section of the family correspondence file contains letters addressed to his mother and sister, written between 1945 and 1948. The mass of personal correspondence shows how extremely devoted Truman was to his family.

 An excerpt from a letter Harry Truman wrote to Bess Wallace during their courtship:

"...Bess are you ever going to give me that picture of you? If you knew how very badly I wanted it you surely would hurry it up some. I can't see why anyone who is as little likely to smash the Kodak as you should hesitate so long about getting in front of one. If I owned one I'd want you to get in front of it every time it went off.  

Now since I've told you that you are the nicest looking mortal in creation and the superlative in every other descriptive way you ought to at least give me your photograph..."
 

 Later, Truman also shared a great deal of correspondence with former president Herbert Hoover. Shortly after becoming president, Truman received the following telegram from Hoover: 

This was the first contact between the two men. Hoover hoped for an opportunity to become involved again in political affairs, but he knew little of Truman or whether the offer to help would be accepted. 

Soon after, Truman sent the following response: 

Especially significant was the hand-written note at the bottom: "I assure you I shall feel free to call upon you. Thanks for the offer." This suggested that Truman was indeed open to getting advice from the former president. 

The Truman administration soon found itself dealing with worldwide food problems post WWII. They considered Hoover, who had experience as a famine relief administrator, as someone who would be able to provide valuable insight on the matter. Hoover was eager to be of assistance, but would not go to the White House unless specifically invited by the president. On May 24th, 1945, Truman sent a hand-written letter to Hoover, which read as follows:

My dear Mr. President: --
If you should be in Washington, I would be most happy to talk over the European food situation with you.
Also it would be a pleasure to me to become acquainted with you.

Most sincerely
HARRY S. TRUMAN

This letter was especially significant for Hoover, as it ended his long separation from the White House and public service. The invitation initiated a close collaboration and friendship which would serve the self-interest of both men.

Hoover accepted the President's invitation and set up a meeting. The two met on May 28th, 1945 and discussed various international issues, primarily the need for food relief in Europe. Hoover advised that the military should, at least for a time, take charge of administering the food program. Truman accepted the advice, asking Hoover to set this up with the Secretary of War, Henry Stimson. Following this meeting, Hoover wrote up and sent to Truman a memorandum on various issues that they had discussed.

 Truman responded by thanking Hoover, both for the memorandum and his visit.

 On June 1st, 1945, Truman reflected in his diary on his visit with Hoover, saying:

". . . Saw Herbert Hoover day before yesterday and had a pleasant and constructive conversation on food and the general troubles of U.S. Presidents -- two in particular.

We discussed our prima donnas and wondered what makes 'em. Some of my boys who came in with me are having trouble with their dignity and prerogatives. It's hell when a man gets in close association with the President. Something happens to him . . ."

 Truman and Hoover at their first meeting 

May 28th, 1945

In the following months, correspondence on various matters continued between the two presidents. In February 1946, Truman asked Hoover to serve on the famine emergency committee, an offer which Hoover was glad to accept. Over the following three months, the two wrote each other frequently regarding the ongoing world food crisis. Hoover traveled to 22 different countries in the course of 57 days, conducting press conferences and spreading awareness. Upon returning from his travels the committee carried out many of his recommendations and he continued to provide insight for the Truman administration.

 Hoover reporting to Truman following his trip to South America

 During Truman's presidency, correspondence between these two men was formal, but polite. Truman was very grateful to Hoover for his work in the famine relief effort, and also undertook the project of restoring Hoover's name to the dam that had been built on the Colorado. In 1930 the dam was named "Hoover Dam", but during the Roosevelt administration there was a great effort to ensure that the dam instead be referred to as "Boulder Dam". In 1947, the name was changed back to "Hoover Dam", a great show of respect for the former president. 

 Political cartoon depicting Ickes trying to remove 

the "Hoover" from Hoover Dam.

The relationship between these two men, however, was not without its rough patches. During the campaign for the presidential election of 1948, Truman made several scathing remarks about Hoover and his time as President. In spite of this, Hoover did not end his contact with the White House, instead continuing to occasionally offer his ideas to the President. 

On November 1, 1950, there was an assassination attempt on President Truman. Hoover made a public statement that same day expressing his gratitude that the President was unharmed, and  sent Truman a telegram the next day reiterating that message. The President's response read as follows: 

Dear Mr. President:
It is impossible to tell you how much your letter of November second means to me. Please know that I am truly grateful for these expressions, especially because they come from you.

Very sincerely yours,
HARRY S. TRUMAN

I hope you are in good health.

This correspondence reflects the growth in their regard and affection for one another. 

Upon Truman's leaving office, there was limited correspondence between the two men for several years. Their communication was renewed in 1955 when Truman asked for help in raising money to fund the Truman library. After that, the two kept in touch, then the only members of the "exclusive trade union" of former presidents of the United States.  

On May 8th, 1957, Truman wrote to Hoover to personally invite the latter to the Truman Library opening. He explained "A more formal announcement is being sent to you, but because of my high regard for you and our common interest in the proper care and use of Presidential papers, I want to add my personal invitation." Hoover attended the opening and gave a brief speech praising Truman's work. Truman later reciprocated by speaking at the dedication of Hoover's library, and the two remained in contact until Hoover's death in 1964. 

Truman wrote to Hoover's sons, following their father's death, "I was deeply saddened at the passing of your father. He was my good friend and I was his."


Sources 

"Family, Business, and Personal Affairs." Truman Papers. Truman Library, n.d. Web. 21 July 2015. 


"Hoover and Truman: A Presidential Friendship." Truman Presidential Library and Hoover Presidential Library, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. 

"A Last Look at the Hoover Dam." Hoover Online Digital Archives. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 4 Sept. 2002. Web. 24 July 2015.

"The Washington Post: Historic Newspaper Fronts." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 24 July 2015.