February 5th, 2010
In honor of the 125th birthday of Bess Truman, the Harry S. Truman Little White House will be serving birthday cake visitors to the house on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Mrs. Truman was a frequent visitor to Key West, accompanying her husband during five of his visits to the Southernmost City. Saturday, February 13 will also mark the debut of a new exhibit Bess Truman.
Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman was born on February 13, 1885 in Independence, MO. She first met Harry Truman in the first grade and married him on June 28, 1919. Their only child, Margaret was born in 1924. In 1934, Truman was elected to the US Senate and in 1944, as Vice President of the United States. Upon the death of President Roosevelt in 1945, Bess Truman became First Lady when her husband became the 33rdPresident of the United States. An extremely private person, Mrs. Truman would spend much of her husband’s presidency in Missouri, returning to Washington only for the social season.
Bess Truman died in 1982 of congestive heart failure at the age of 97 and is the longest lived First Lady in US history. Mrs. Truman is buried next to her husband at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri.
Harry & Bess Truman on their wedding day June 28, 1919.
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December 11th, 2009
The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation is hosting its annual Holiday party for its members on Sunday, December 20 at the Little White House from 5 to 7 pm. In addition to tasty holiday treats and libations, Key West’s own Bobby Nesbit will be performing. Admission is complementary for all Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and guests can purchase memberships at the door
Harry’s Girls, the Little White House’s auxiliary group, decorated the Little White House for the holidays. The former Winter White House of Harry S. Truman is filled with lovely red silk amaryllises, bows and greenery. Two Christmas trees one in the south porch is decorated in a 1950’s style and the living room tree in a 1940’s style. Many of the antique ornaments are on loan from Denison Temple and John Brett Buchanan and Jay.Charles Walker. Completing the festive décor is the dining room that will be set with the china and stemware of the Truman era that was donated by Harry’s Girls.
Harry's Girls decorating the tree
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November 30th, 2009
On October 14, 1962 Soviet missiles were discovered in Cuba just 90 miles south of Key West. Key West, due to its close proximity to Cuba, prepared for possible invasion. Large numbers of US troops gathered here to invade Cuba and defensive measures included HAWK missiles to shoot down Soviet planes and barb wire and machine gun emplacements along the beach to deter invasion by Cuban and Soviets troops to Key West. The US Navy blockaded Cuba instead. On October 27, the Soviets agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba and the United States agreed to withdraw our missiles from Turkey and war was averted.
Forty seven years ago, on November 26, 1962, President Kennedy came to Key West to inspect the HAWK missiles sites shown above and to reassure Americans it was safe to vacation in Key West once more.
John Kennedy is one of the seven US presidents who have used the Little White House in Key West, Florida.
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November 19th, 2009
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address to dedicate the national military cemetery. “ Four Score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Starting in 1948, President Harry Truman began a series of five Executive Orders to help fulfill the dream that all men are treated as equals.
EO 9808 created first Civil Rights Commission; EO 9980 desegregated the federal workforce; EO 9981 desegregated the US military; EO 10210 and EO10308 ( issued from Key West Little White House ) required federal contractors hire minorities
The dream lives on thanks to the moral courage of Harry Truman.
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November 2nd, 2009
Harry Truman once was quoted as saying, “There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.” We at the Little White House phrased it as “History is a process of discovery”. It seems we are always learning some long forgotten fact and discovering a “new” story that has relevance to the Little White House.
Larooco Captain Morris, his wife, unidentified crew & FDR March 21,1926.
Recently, we were delighted to read the ship’s log of the Larooco. In August 1921 Roosevelt had been stricken with poliomyelitis. He became an early proponent for hydrotherapy and believed the clear salt water and warm sunshine of the Florida Keys had recuperative effects. He rented a houseboat in February and March of 1923 and was convinced of the positive results. “I have been swimming four times and it goes better and better. I am sure this warmth and exercise is doing lots of good.” (March 5,1924)
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Tags: exhibits, harry truman, Key West, Little White House
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September 15th, 2009
William Howard Taft, born born on this date in 1857, was the first United States President to visit the Little White House (then known as Quarters A). He took the train down to the Key West stopping here in 1912 before boarding a ship to Panama to inspect construction of the Panama Canal. Read the rest of this entry »
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August 26th, 2009
Harry S Truman had it right over 60 years ago when he made his first visit to Key West in 1946. For those of us who live and play in Key West, we know this as well. Let’s hope President Obama takes a look at this poll when planning his next vacation!
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/08/17/whispers-poll-trumans-key-west-bests-obamas-marthas-vineyard.html
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August 10th, 2009
MA1 Rodney Smith with Capt. Steven Holmes
Friends and family of MA1 Rodney Smith
This past Friday, the Little White House was please to host a military re enlistment. This is a very special time for us and one of our favorite the occasions at the house. MA1 Rodney Smith re enlisted for six more years in the United States Navy. He is currently stationed at NAS Key West. In addition to the base commanding officer, Capt. Steven Holmes being on hand, MA1 Smith had his friends and family supporting him as well. Congratulations MA1 Smith!
MA1 Rodney Smith sitting a Harry Truman's desk.
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August 3rd, 2009
2009 White House Christmas Ornament
The 2009 White House Christmas Ornaments have arrived at the Little White House. We were one of only three retailers to received the first shipment of the ornament. This year’s is called the Grover Cleveland Ornament and a view of the south lawn and facade of the White House on a crispy winter evening. Inside the window, a Christmas tree with bright lights and decorations illuminates the starry night from the Oval Room. These lights pay tribute to the first Christmas tree in the White House to have electric lights. The back of the ornament shows a glance of one of many famous Christmas parties that the Cleveland family was known to throw. Grover Cleveland is the only person to have served two non-executive terms as President of the United States. It is his image that is on the the front of the $1000 bill. The Little White House has the White House Ornaments dating back to 1999 available for sale.
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July 29th, 2009
Check our the Little White House on NBC’s Today Show! We had a great time with the Al Roker and the crew while they filmed the house.The show had a weeklong series called Today Takes a Vacation and we scored with Key West being one of four cities they featured.
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