On May 18 and 19, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Harry S. Truman Library will host its 10th annual Truman Legacy Symposium. This year’s topic will be Truman and Foreign Aid. The event starts with a reception at the Harry S. Truman Little White House on Friday, May 18th at 6 pm with guest speaker former Florida Governor and United States Senator Bob Graham. The symposium opens on Saturday, May 19 at the Marriott Beachside Resort with Keynote Speaker Tom Zeiler of the University of Colorado with his topic, Genesis of a Foreign Aid Revolution. The symposium will also feature notable academics and writers discussing the President Truman’s foreign aid policy and the Marshall Plan following World War II.
Admission to the Harry S. Truman Legacy Symposium is $125 and includes admission to all events, the opening night reception, breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Tickets may be purchased through the Harry S. Truman Little White House or on www.keystix.com. For more information, please contact Bob Wolz, Executive Director or visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com
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.
