toward her staff travel to tacoma, washington to learn about the rich history. learn more about the stops on our tour at c-span.org/cities tour. you are watching american history tv, all weekend, every weekend on c-span3. >> up next on american history tv, david clark talks about former president harry s truman's relationship with celebrity athletes, politicians and entertainers using letters, photos, and old film footage. the presidential library in independence, missouri posted this event. it is about 45 minutes. >> we would like to welcome you all to the truman library. i am a archivist europe the

truman library. i have been here 16 years, working here. over the years we have developed different programs and presentations for the public, i doingcross an idea of harry s truman and the rich and famous. i saw a number of documents and photos related to those people. i liked watching tv and movies of those growing up. to do awere asked presentation, i said this is something people might be interested in. this presentation has documents, wants, sound clips that i you to enjoy. as we get to the photos, i like to have this interactive, i will point out people and say, let me know if you know who that is. as soon as people are well-known, they may not have been well known in the 1940's and 1950's. there are different categories we will go through.

athletes,rs, politicians, military people. if you have questions or comments let me know. we will start. the first section is entertainers. can anybody identify who is in the photo beside president truman? ny.k ben this is president truman and jack benny. he filmed one of his shows here in the truman library in 1959. a newspaper clipping from 1948's election. somebody had it -- somebody added comments to it. there is a collection here at the truman library. many of the letters that are in truman, heion from

expresses interest in their families. as well as people writing back i hope theyss -- are doing well. this is a letter that talks -- the clipping he is referring to. memories ofack fond our press club engagement. they have a corny joke, i like it. all good wishes and congratulations to your family. if you need anybody for entertainment purposes, let me know. president truman did not seek out entertainers, or well-known people, yet, he cultivated relationships with them. he had a good friendship with jack benny. here they are again at the truman library. umm, at the library again. uh, a clip.s,

birthday on violin] [laughter] [applause] >> i don't know, one night you are the star of a big hour-long coast-to-coast television show, then the next night you are playing fiddle at a birthday party. [applause] serve, do you remember the time you florida me with one of your remarks -- floored me with one of your remarks? i am not making this up.

it is when mr. truman was president. i called on him, by appointment of course, as i left his office after a brief chat, i said something that sounded a little silly. mr. president, i would give anything for in autographed picture of you. the president looked at me and said, jack, i have been listening to your programs and i wonder just how much would you give. [laughter] anyways, in my home in beverly hills i now have a very handsome autographed picture of president truman hanging in my den. the hot weather, facing mr. truman, i have a picture of general macarthur. would be surprised how much i save on air-conditioning. [laughter]

david: this is the next picture. nationalt the convention american legion on october 10, 1962. harry truman is on the left. jimmy duranty, that is correct. then we have a little bit of correspondence between jimmy duranty and president truman. i like the letterhead on this one with jimmy up here. thatlks about some things are going on. president truman's daughter did shows together an interesting things they talked about. he was hoping he would get to truman again..

-- him and mrs. truman. there is another letter from -- letter from jimmy that talks about being around for at least 100 years and mr. president, i want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your lovely letter. there is not a lot of correspondence between president truman, but they are fairly heartfelt letters that they send. -- this is a telegram wishingmy durante president truman happy birthday. truman --resident sincerely, jimmy durante. another one, anybody want to venture who is the one on the left? a couple of people over here.

that is right, harper marx. in the left-hand corner it is hard to see. it is said -- it says, i am just wild about you, harry. fairfield air force base in california. president truman was on his way to meet general macarthur in 1950, he stopped there to visit some of the troops that were wounded during the korean war. letter, a couple of letters back and forth between the two. it was appropriate to write you after the election. he wanted to let him know he would be back in the seat again. my best to mrs. truman and margaret -- mr. truman and margaret. how are you in the key of d flat? they also have a good sense of humor relationship with the

people. from the man who says nothing, to the man who always says the right thing, respectfully, harpo. marks, i ams gaucho wild about you, old piano player. this is a letter sound by harry, talks dear about several different things. you remember me but i am that guy with the lack mustache, glasses and increasing list -- increasingly baldness. he goes on to say that i just want to join the thousands who are wishing you a speedy recovery and many years of our only living ex-president. oh, i forgot, hoover is still alive. i don't think he cared much for hoover. this is after president truman

has appendix and gallbladder removed, after he was out of office. anybody want to guess who the person is on the right? right here. >> bob hope. david: yes, thank you. this is harry s truman and bob hope kicking off the american red cross fundraising campaign in 1948. and this is a christmas card from the bob hope family to president truman, 1967. a number of christmas cards from the whole family in the presidential papers after truman left office. this is written really colorful , just showing their friendship as it developed over the years. 20 years after the previous photo. hope again. on may the truman home

11, 1968. president truman is looking a little older in the mid-1960's, his health to client. he would come to the library to work after it was opened in 1957. was 80mid-1960's, he years old and his health started to decline. he was not able to did -- to come to the library as often. when he did come, he would greet people and give them tours of the library. he was happily -- he was happy to meet people and have them here at the library. here is a letter from bob hope. it talks a little bit of making in thejack benny second paragraph there. played of course jack the fiddle, i guess i will have to go back to my old papers. anybody want -- how about this?

the lady on the pno good gentleman in the back -- on the o.o -- pian gentleman in the back. this is when harry truman was vice president. this photo did not go over well. [laughter] like thisdid not photo, but it is a fairly famous photo. we like to include that. this one may be a little harder. the person on the right, anybody want to guess? ok, right here. no, good guess. no, not surely temple. >> loretto young. david: no.

and -- go ahead bankhead. it was a little harder to figure out who that was. this is when truman was camping in 1948. here is a letter from tallulah president truman sent a message about her performance. he said, i was never so surprised in my life when it led to the assembled guests, your mym and generous telegram on receiving of the award. he was appreciative and took time out of his schedule to send a note. the thin on the right, anybody recognize that person -- the person on the right, anybody recognize that person? thomas.ight, danny unfortunately, we do not have

information about when and where this was. quitehe years we received a number of different collections that were donated. unfortunately, there are many that do not have dates, names, or places. i did recognize him, you are right, that is danny thomas. this might be tough. let's see if you can recognize the person on the left. yes, this gentleman here. >> it looks like jimmy carter. david: no, it is not jimmy carter. anybody else? douglas fairbanks junior. this is during a visit to new -- thatesident truman is what is written, it is a little hard to see. that was a gift from douglas fairbanks. this was taken here at the

truman library. native of independence. anybody want to venture a guess? on this side of president truman. you want to repeat that? >> ginger rogers. david: yes, thank you. this is here at the library in 1964. the next few -- some of the next few are multiple people. we will do some guessing. does anybody want to see who the person in the middle is there? >> lucille ball? david: no. >> marilyn monroe? david: no, not marilyn monroe. this was march 1945.

this was at the u.s. capitol. admiral halsey and senator buckley became senator truman's vice president. right. person on the yes red skelton. wife was walking down the street and president truman stopped and greeted them and they took the picture. unfortunately we do not have a lot of information other than that. this one is a little bit later. two people, the one on the left, and the one in the middle. any guesses? the one on the left is matt parker. david: this gentleman right here. is fromne on the left

gunsmoke. david: yes, that is. it is mildred stone in the middle and tim curtis from gunsmoke. a similar picture, who is the one on the left? this lady back here. >> i think it is lucille ball. david: no, it looks like her. look who it is on the right and that will give you a hint. miss kitty, from gunsmoke. this was october 1963 here at the truman library. this looks fairly young, the person on the right.

yes, very good, pat boone. this is another one of the photos, we do not have much information about other than it is pat boone and president truman is playing the piano. there are a number of people on here so we will do one at a time and go through. not this one, anybody know the next person over? to the right. no, the next one over, to the right. at murderther look she wrote, she played mrs. potts in -- yes, ok. angela lance barry. lansbury.

the next and him and mustache you might recognize. he was on batman. yes, very good. he played the joker on the batman. i believe he was in a lot of other things, but that is what i recognize him from. johnson was in a lot of war movies. is margaret truman, president truman's daughter. they were a child actor. next one, that last one was at the presidential ball in 1946. this is the white house news photographers ball. anybody recognize any of the ones in the photos? this gentleman.

that's right, wally cox on the right. anyone have an idea of who is next to him? >> is at danny thomas? david: no. >> eddie fisher? david: no. >> liberace? david: yes, very good, liberace. l'amour.dorothy liberace young looking and wally cox. , thiss a number of people is the 50th anniversary of american movie theater at the white house. there are two people that are interesting to me that they are in the same photo. thelady on the left and lady on the right. anybody want to guess who the two are. >> elizabeth taylor and debbie

fisher? david: yes, debbie reynolds. those are the two. elizabeth taylor, truman, and debbie reynolds. this is a photo taken in front of the truman home, it is really hard to see, but you can see president truman in the back window. guess whot to venture is in the photo? >> jackie cooper? >> henry fonda. jacqui cooper, henry fonda, ok. not a rush. , henry fonda, jackie hendren -- tippi

hendren. i tried but was not able to determine who that was. gilbert in los angeles. above that closely, rilling, you could see there are three well-known people. >> ronald reagan in the middle. ok, ronald reagan. anybody want to guess the other two? hard to seeittle because you don't get the tops of their heads. >> nancy davis, next to ronald reagan? david: no, that is a good guess because it is hard to tell who it is. reagan, humphrey bogart. it is a little hard to see. you're right. then george jessel. it is a little hard to see, this is ronald reagan before he

became republican. there is some correspondence -- this is the only letter we have between harry truman and humphrey bogart. bet with someone i made a few years ago, then president truman writes back. in the second paragraph, humphrey bogart would appreciate it -- if ito frame may say, my son who may run for democrat and that democratic ticket in 1999, unless you still hold office. [laughter] is at a theater in new york on april 22, 1964. any guesses who is in the middle on the right? duly -- right it is

duey. david: yes, thomas dewey. we have a gentleman in the back. >> george montgomery? david: no. any other gases? -- guesses? >> robert preston? david: yes, very good, robert preston. this one is in 1964 year at the library. the first -- the person on the right. >> glen campbell. david: no, good guess. >> jack lord. david: yes. this is jack lord. he played stony burke in a western that ran in 1962 and 1963. he was here visiting at the library. at a performance at

that the theater in new york in 1959. we recognize the person on the right. over here. >> andy griffith. david: yes. gray.brady endorsed -- and doris grade. truman with a prop gun, then andy griffith. this is correspondence with howard hughes. that howardhe time 11 plain,ashed his xf crushed his collarbone, damage to his lung and burned his hand. -- he ishope you feel talking about how he hopes he feels better. howard writes back, thank you

for your concern and caring enough to write. the person you will probably recognizes the one on the right. anybody want to guess who that might be? this gentleman right here. >> jimmy stewart. david: yes, correct. not sure if someone would recognize him or not. this is at the air force association in 1946. .ou have general doolittle all right. this is the book signed by audie murphy who was a hero in world war ii. it is interesting seeing the address, 753 and a half.

i never heard of in address that is a half. it is a book that he signed. played himself in the movie he would -- that was made with that title. this was the inaugural party on 1949 -- on9th, january 19, 1949. see if there is anyone you recognize. they are not as well-known known, but we will go through the names. davis, lena horne, margaret , there are some people that are unidentified. , and genean, reagan kelly.

this is a letter signed by walt disney. in the 60's. the 1960's. .his is the few that we have president truman gave him what -- gave him memoirs. we will have a video clip. ♪ [jazz singer] i am just wild about harry harry is wild about me i am just wild about harry and he is just wild about what can i do about

he is just wild about e meeeeeee ♪ [applause] david: this would have been 1959 at harry truman 75th bird they party. let's go to the next one, the next section is about athletes. all of these are about baseball. it is interesting, as we go best trumanphotos, was a lot more interested in the baseball games than harry was. with theaseball passes president so he could attend the games in washington each year. is opening game at griffith 1950.m on april 18,

recognize margaret, president truman, guess who that is next to harry? good, very good. here is another one. this is april 20, 1951. very good. all right. yes, very good. pence, vice president looks a little terrifying. if you see the ball way up at the top in the middle. not sure where that is going, but harris, clark griffith and casey. this will be a little bit

tougher unless you are a real baseball fan, i think. 1940 six, he played for the detroit tigers. repeat that. yes, thank you. how about this? this is at the kansas city in 1961.-- anybody want to say who that person is on the right? >> charles finley? david: yes, that's exactly why i understand why they are booing because he moves them to oakland. ist is keeping score -- bess keeping score. he is not a well-liked man here in kansas city. guests 1961, i have a back here -- a guess back here.

ok, mickey mantle. who is the other person. yes, very good. this is when they were in the home run race, see who could get the most home runs that year. yes, there was. the baseball players the one on the right. sam usual.s this is october 3, 1952, the democratic rally in jefferson city. this is in correspondence, we have this signed by babe ruth, which is i'm sure is not -- i don't know how common it was for letters to be sent from babe ruth, but he is trying to raise

money for the babe ruth foundation. the next letter is signed by dizzy dean, the picture for the cardinals. part of the babe ruth foundation as well. this next one is one of my favorite photos. there is a fellow archivist here who does not like this photo. [laughter] you can see why. this is the way the photo was when we got it from the papers. he was a friend of his. at some point they doctored the photo and put president truman there. i like it, i think it is entertaining. politicians and military leaders. these ones will be easy to recognize. anybody want to guess? one on the left and the one on the right.

yes, that is exactly who it is. trumance president >> --ing to the capital capital. >> i start by saying the character of my friend was proved on that day. faced sos ever been abruptly in such a steep responsibility. there was never the slightest hint that he would try to evade what was struck upon him. i knew then he was a good man. later i thrilled to watch him grow to greatness. with everett -- with every decision he grew, and till the entire world he was a powerful figure. ,he decisions he made then shaped the very world we live in today.

those were the years, a thrilling record, as we shall see in this film a specially prepared for us by mr. walter riley, and directed by doris shapely. from: this is a letter eleanor roosevelt, 1950 five, wishing president truman birthday wishes. we do have quite a bit of correspondence between president truman and roosevelt, some of which is on our website. this is a book, we are not sure how this came into president truman's possession but it is a copy of mein kampf. is apparently signed by adolf hitler. that is one of the private it that is one of

the prized possessions. is one of the prized possessions. who can name the person in the photo? >> stalin. david: yes. this is 1945. sorry, ok, thank you. photo, anybody want to guess who is on the left? >> churchill. david: thank you. this is july 23, 1945. this is a dinner program,

president truman was a very prolific letter writer. he would write to relatives and other people. he would stick it in an envelope and mailed it to margaret. , youoked closely at it could see on the slide on the left, there are three signatures signed by harry stallman, winston churchill. there are a lot of signatures on the right as well. stuck it in an envelope and sent it to his daughter. that is one of our well-known documents here at the library. here are birthday wishes from winston churchill. anybody want to guess who the person on the left and in the middle is? >> patton.

david: and the one on the left? >> eisenhower. david: yes. this is july 21, 1945 in berlin. how about this one, anyone want to guess? macarthur? david: yes, general macarthur on wake island 1950, they met there to discuss what was going on in the korean war. it was a while after that, but this led to it. how about a guess on this one? who is on the left? repeat that. >> eisenhower. david: ok, we have eisenhower and truman.

-- eisenhower and hoover and truman. this is june 1947. this is a letter we have signed by martin luther king jr. that he sent to president truman, talking about things at the time. or may not know, president truman did a lot. he segregated the armed forces, and did a lot of things that related to that. the advancing of civil rights. ,he person next to the right between bess and president truman. >> queen elizabeth. david: yes. queen elizabeth.

his birthday wishes from .resident truman there were a lot of telegrams that were sent back and fourth. george.from king a book signed by j edgar hoover, who was head of the fbi for a long period of time. a letter signed by him that accompanied the book. this is here at the library on by9 a letter signed

president eisenhower in 1961, thanks for inviting me to the library. soon after that it was eisenhower building a library in abilene. this is a little bit harder to see. birthday wishes from eisenhower. do you recognize a person on the left? go ahead and say. >> jfk. david: yes, thank you. library inthe truman 1959. , and he a letter invited the president and mrs. truman to spend the night at the white house when they are coming there. truman and eisenhower did not get along so well while eisenhower was president. later, they reconciled, but he

was not invited back to the white house. there was a telegram from robert kennedy to president truman, birthday wishes. kennedy inm edward 1866. a lot of correspondence between president truman and president kennedy. anybody recognize who is sitting at the desk? go ahead. >> lyndon b. johnson. david: yes, thank you. ons is here at the library july 30, 1965. there is also hubert humphrey, here's another clip. [applause] mr. president, 1000 of your , led by that able an

attractive young senator, jack kennedy have gathered -- [applause] have gathered to celebrate your birthday. i have been honored to have the assignment of speaking for the whole group, wishing you a very, very happy birthday. [applause] if scheduling was arranged fight democrats, and is led by democrats. i believe, mr. president, the from that they wish is americans everywhere. and freeman everywhere who cherish liberty. happy birthday harry truman. [applause] this is also from the

75th birthday celebration in 1959. here is a letter from lyndon johnson to president truman. he said, have a wonderful day in independence, he would not have prize it with all the beef cattle in texas. that is the way he talked, he like to butter people up. of? -- thying the pn e piano? >> richard nixon. david: yes. this was in 1969. family have some correspondence nixon to truman in 1964. truman had fallen and her and himself, this was correspondence. read said, i am sorry to

of your accident, i hope you are well. .ruman in his response away int truman passed december of 1972. there was not as much as by and in with photos and things because his health was declining. let's -- we have come to the end of our presentation. does anyone have questions or comments that you would like to bring up? yes, over here. >> you have done a great job. david: thank you. [applause] david: if there are not any other questions and comments, thank you for coming to the truman library today, i hope you enjoy your visit today. thank you for coming.

[applause] interested in american history tv? visit our website, c-span.org/history. you can view our schedule, preview upcoming programs and watch college lectures, archival films and more. american history tv at c-span.org/history. ♪ road have been on the meeting winners of this year's studentcam video documentary competition. at east lyme high school in east line, connecticut, jack, got $1500and victoria for their documentary on environmental justice. at east lyme middle school,

winners camden dean, and jasper received $250 for their documentary on health care. in concord, massachusetts to hand out second prize awards at the school where coral, lisa and caroline won a second place prize of $1500 for their documentary on the wage gap. massachusetts, students from north hampton high got an honorable mention prize of $250 for their documentary on century cities and immigration reform. in massachusetts, it kindle, liz received in honorable mention prize of $250 for their documentary on the opioid epidemic. thank you to all of the students who took part in our 2017 studentcam documentary competition. to watch the videos go to

studentcam.org. studentcam 2018 starts in september for the theme, the constitution and you. we are asking students to choose any provision of the constitution, and create a video of why the provision is important. over the traveling tacoma narrows bridge, the original collapsed in 1940, only six months after its completion. michael sullivan it will short -- will share that story with us. michael: the area we are standing in right now is in the washingtonction of state of the pacific northwest. when the transcontinental railroad came, there was talk about one day being able to span sound. undertakings not an anybody was prepared to do. during the depressioed