No, this is not a blog about Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Today’s entry is about what happened on November 8, 1991. After sitting dormant and decaying for years, the Harry S. Truman Little White House was rededicated after a $1.7 million renovation from private funding. Over 200 people attended the ceremony and heard then Secretary of the Navy (and now Senator, D-Virginia) James Webb give the keynote address.

Fast forward 20 years to 2011. With any wooden structure in a sub tropical climate, restoration never ends. Even with all that we have accomplished, we still have a long way to go. There are lots of ways you can get involved. You can join the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation. Physical items are always appreciated and we have a couple here that we are in search of. Or consider us in your will. If it had not been for the generous donations in 1991 the Little White House might still be sitting in disrepair. But its not. It is alive and well and continues to share the legacy of President Harry S. Truman to visitors of Key West.

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On Saturday, February 27, we had a great group of young men at the Little White House the Boy Scouts from troops 573 and 578 that represent Key West and Big Pine Key.  They were to here to plant a tree on the grounds of the Little White House as part of their Centennial Project.  2010 marks the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America and troops around the country are all taking on a special service projects in honor of the this special year. The Centennial Tree that was planted was a jacaranda, which when mature, will produce large purple flowers and really look fabulous in our garden.

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We had a wonderful turnout for Bess Truman’s birthday celebration on Saturday, February 13.  Over 200 folks joined us for cake.  We even had Bess (the wonderful Debbie Rothstein) help us serve the cake and she brought along her husband Harry (Debbie’s husband Tom Lavender).  A good time was had by all and many thanks to the Tom and Debbie for making this a special day.

Bess Truman (Debbie Rothstein), Bob Wolz and Harry Truman (Tom Lavender)

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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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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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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.

Taft, was an Ohioan just like our executive director, Bob Wolz.  He attended Yale and later the University of Cincinnati Law School.  Before entering politics, Taft served in several judicial positions including the Ohio Superior Court and U.S. Court of Appeals.  In 1900, Taft was appointed Governor General of the Philippines Taft by President William McKinley  later served as Secretary of War by President Theodore Roosevelt.

As president,  Taft made six appointments to the Supreme Court, including his predecessor as Chief Justice, Eward Douglass White and successor as Chief Justice, Charles Evans Hughes.  Arizona and New Mexico were admitted as states to the Union while Taft was in office. Taft’s presidency also saw the passage of the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, no doubt everyone’s favorite, income taxes.

Following his term as president, Taft severed as the Chancellor Kent Professor of Law at his alma mater Yale and was later the president of the American Bar Associaiton. A true jurist, Taft’s passion the law was fulfilled in 1921 when President William Harding appointed him as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the only president to have served on the high court.  He served until his death in 1930.

Taft’s came from a very political family.  His father was Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and his own sons, grandsons and great grandsons have served as United States Senators from Ohio, mayor of Cincinnati, Governor of Ohio and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

President William Howard Taft in front of the USS Arkanas in Key West on his way to inspect the Panama Canal in 1912.

Taft died on March 8, 1930 and was the first president buried in Arlington National Cemetery, one of only two, the other being John F. Kennedy.  He was also the first of four Chief Justices of the Supreme Court Justices to be buried there as well along with Earl Warren, Warren Burger and William Rehnquist.

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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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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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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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Photo courtesy of Kendrick Meeks

President Obama has heard about the Little White House. Congressman Kendrick Meeks was here a few weeks ago and purchased one of our presidential vacation shirts for the President. On board Air Force One , the Meeks presented our shirt to the president and the president’s smile says it all !!!!

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