This last Friday (April 16) the Harry S. Truman Little White House hosted Florida Governor Charlie Crist. It was the governor’s first visit to the Little White House. The event was private but not without a notable figure or two including former Miami Dolphins Head Coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Don Shula.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Former Miami Dophins Head Coach Don Shula
James Matray
James I. Matray is professor of history at California State University, Chico. His books include Korea Divided: The Thirty-Eighth Parallel and the Demilitarized Zone (2005), Japan’s Emergence as a Global Power (2000), and, as editor, East Asia and the United States: An Encyclopedia of Relations Since 1784 (two volumes, 2002). Dr. Matray served as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Graduate Institute of Peace Studies, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea in 1990.
http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/key-west/harry-truman-symposium/index.htm
On this day, April 12. 1945, President Franklin Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia and Vice President Harry S Truman was sworn into office as our 33rd US President. Over the next eight years Truman would end World War II, alter forever our position as a world power and bring racial and religious equality to untold Americans.
What a month it has been for presidential relatives. On Thursday, we had a visit by Luci Baines Johnson, the younger daughter of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Luci was visiting Key West with her husband, Ian Turpin and commented that both her father and President Truman shared the fact that they both came to the presidency due to death of the president, in this case Roosevelt and Kennedy. We were captivated by Luci all and hope that she will join us in February of 2011 for our fundraiser with the other presidential children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
She left a lovely note in our guest book, part of which we will share here:
The Truman’s and Johnson’s shared so much. It was a real privilege to visit the home that game him (Truman) peace for President Truman gave us all peace.
(l-r) Ian Turpin, Paul Hilson, Luci Baines Johnson, Bob Wolz and Jane Vetter
We had a wonderful event this last Friday, March 26 at the Little White House. The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and Harry’s Girls hosted Clifton Truman Daniel, Margaret Hoover and her husband author and political commentator, John Avlon. The conversation and discussions were wonderful as was the food and drink. We are hoping to have them back next year for an event that is not to be missed!
John Avlon, Margaret Hoover and Clifton Truman Daniel
Imagine our surprise when American humorist, essayist, storyteller and radio personality Garrison Keillor stopped by the Little White House on Saturday for a tour with our own Bob Wolz. As one of America’s greatest storytellers, it was quite an honor for us to share our stories of Harry S. Truman and the history of the Little White House. 
2010 is a census year in the United States, which is basically the government’s way of doing a head count. In 1950, another census year, the Truman family was vacationing in Key West. While on the island, the census caught up with the president and his family and they were interviewed on the lawn. As the picture shows, the Truman family, especially Mrs. Truman and Margaret enjoyed the line of questioning directed at the president. Even the the President of the United States is not immune to the questions of census as he was asked, “What is your occupation?”
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.
Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover worked on opposite sides of the political aisle, but were smart enough not to let that keep them apart. In Truman, Hoover saw a chance to re-enter the public service arena he so loved. In Hoover, Truman saw a brilliant and dedicated public servant who could help rebuild Europe in the aftermath of World War II. Together, they forged a partnership and close friendship that would endure for 20 years.
On Saturday, March 27, Margaret Hoover, President Hoover’s great-granddaughter, and Clifton Truman Daniel, President Truman’s grandson, will discuss the Hoover-Truman friendship, how it began, how it endured, what it meant to the men themselves, and what it brought to the nation and the world. They will be joined by Ms. Hoover’s husband, John Avlon, for a follow-up discussion on the current polarization in American politics. The dinner event will be held as a fundraiser for the Harry S. Truman Key West Foundation at the Marriott Beachside Resort. Tickets are available by calling (305)294-9911.
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)