Guggenheim Productions, Inc. Records

Producers of a documentary film on the life of Harry S. Truman

The records of Guggenheim Productions, Inc. consist of transcripts of thirty-seven interviews conducted by Charles Guggenheim in 1994 and 1995 for a documentary film on the life of Harry S. Truman, and related research materials.

Size: 1 linear foot, 9 linear inches.
Access: Open.
Copyright: Researchers may not cite or quote from these records without receiving written permission to do so from Guggenheim Productions, Inc.
Processed by: Erica Flanagan and Randy Sowell (2009).

Charles Guggenheim (1924-2002), a distinguished documentary filmmaker, was the founder of Guggenheim Productions, Inc. During his career, Guggenheim received four Academy Awards and twelve Academy Award nominations for his work.

Guggenheim interviewed Truman scholars, White House staff members from the Truman administration, and residents of Independence, Missouri while researching a documentary film on the life of Harry S. Truman in 1994-1995. The documentary was completed and released in 1997.

The records of Guggenheim Productions, Inc. include transcripts of thirty-seven interviews conducted by Charles Guggenheim in 1994 and 1995, along with transcripts of other interviews, speeches, a radio broadcast, and a television broadcast. These materials were used in producing a film documentary on the life of Harry S. Truman that was released in 1997 by Guggenheim Productions, Inc.

The persons interviewed by Guggenheim included Truman scholars and historians, White House staff members from the Truman administration, retired Secret Service agents, journalists, and residents of Independence, Missouri. The following summaries of Guggenheim’s transcribed interviews are arranged alphabetically.

Summaries of Guggenheim Interview Transcripts

• Acheson, Alice
  • The widow of Dean Acheson discusses Acheson’s education, early career, and relationships with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

• Acheson, David
  • The son of Dean Acheson discusses various aspects of Acheson’s career, such as his opinion of the recognition of Israel, his reaction to McCarthyism, his collaboration with Truman, and the meeting with General MacArthur. He also touches on the importance of the Marshall Plan and Truman’s legacy, and the White House disrepair and subsequent renovation during the Truman administration.

• Allen, Eugene
  • Allen discusses his service as a butler in the White House during the Truman administration and the general daily routine of the Trumans. He mentions visits by high-profile guests such as Winston Churchill and Princess Elizabeth.

• Anderson, Vernice
  • The secretary to Ambassador Philip Jessup talks about her professional relationship with him as well as with Dean Acheson. She discusses the conference at Wake Island between Truman and MacArthur.

• Battle, Lucius
  • The former State Department official discusses the major foreign policy events of the Truman Presidency.

• Block, Herb
  • The political cartoonist presents his opinion of Truman as President and various aspects of Truman’s Presidency, including McCarthyism, the Marshall Plan, and the dismissal of General MacArthur.

• Boring, Floyd
  • Boring, a retired Secret Service agent, reflects on the differences in character between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, and Bess Truman’s personality. He recalls the assassination attempt on Truman and other events during Truman’s Presidency, such as the trip to Potsdam and the White House renovation.

• Childers, Petey
  • Childers recalls growing up in Independence and Jackson County, Missouri at the same time as Harry S. Truman. He discusses life in Jackson County during the Depression, as well as Kansas City politics and Tom Pendergast’s involvement in Truman’s career.

• Clifford, Clark
  • Clifford, a member of Truman’s White House staff, discusses Truman’s transition to the Presidency following Roosevelt’s death, and working for Truman in the White House. He recalls events that occurred during the Truman administration, including the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Blockade, the recognition of Israel, the relationship between Truman and Dean Acheson, and the decision to drop the atomic bomb.

• Dawson, Betty
  • This interview with an authority on Truman’s early life features a discussion of the Grandview farm on which Truman grew up and the early relationship between Harry Truman and Bess Wallace.

• Dawson, Donald
  • Dawson, a member of Truman’s White House staff, discusses Truman’s Senatorial years and his first meeting with Truman in 1935. He offers his insight on Truman’s experience as chairman of the Truman Committee and the selection of Truman as the Vice Presidential candidate in 1944. He goes on to discuss the 1948 campaign and election, and Truman’s legacy.

• Donovan, Robert
  • The journalist and historian shares his thoughts on various events of Truman’s life including his World War I experience, NATO and the Marshall Plan, the 1948 Whistlestop Campaign, the Korean War, and MacArthur’s dismissal.

• Doohan, John
  • Doohan, an authority on Kansas City history, discusses Truman’s early political career and his association with the Pendergast machine.

• Eagleton, Thomas
  • The former Missouri Senator describes the events that led to Truman’s Vice Presidential nomination in 1944.

• Elsey, George
  • Elsey, a member of Truman’s White House staff, describes his association with the President and reflects on some of the major events of the Truman Presidency.

• Ferrell, Robert
  • Professor Ferrell discusses Truman’s relationship with Mrs. Truman, his early political career, his support for civil rights, and various aspects of his Presidency.

• Field, Lyman
  • Field, a friend of Mr. Truman from the Kansas City area, discusses Kansas City politics and Truman’s association with Tom Pendergast. He goes on to talk about the Truman Committee, the desegregation of the armed forces, the decision to drop the atomic bomb, the Korean War, and General MacArthur’s dismissal.

• Gentry, Sue
  • The Independence reporter discusses the planning for the Harry S. Truman Library and the Library dedication held in 1957. She also talks about Truman’s life in Independence and his school days with Bess Wallace and Charlie Ross, who would later become Truman’s Press Secretary.

• Goodpaster, Andrew
  • General Goodpaster discusses various events during the Truman administration, including the Marshall Plan, NATO, the recognition of Israel, and the Korean War.

• Hamby, Alonzo
  • Hamby, a Truman scholar, discusses Truman’s years on the farm and growing up in Grandview and Independence, Missouri. He also talks about Truman’s service in Battery D and World War I, and his friend Eddie Jacobson.

• Hechler, Ken
  • This interview with a member of Truman’s White House staff includes discussion of the Marshall Plan, Greece and Turkey, the 1948 election, the Korean War, MacArthur’s dismissal, the recognition of Israel, Truman’s vacations in Key West, and the relationship between Harry and Bess Truman.

• Heller, Francis
  • Heller, an historian and associate of former President Truman, discusses the Wake Island meeting between Truman and Douglas MacArthur, the steel strike during the Korean War, and politics in Jackson County, Missouri.

• Hoff, Joan
  • Hoff, an historian, critiques various Truman biographies and analyzes Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb. She discusses his educational background and personality in the context of his decision-making process.

• Hulston, John
  • Hulston, a Missouri friend of Truman, talks about Truman’s 1934 Senatorial campaign as well as his Whistlestop campaign of 1948. He goes on to discuss Truman’s career as a farmer, his military service, and his Kentucky ancestors.

• Johnson, Niel
  • The former Truman Library archivist and Truman impersonator talks about daily life on the Truman family’s Grandview farm and the family’s economic situation. Johnson also discusses family relations, Truman’s ancestors, and Truman’s service in Battery D.

• Kirkendall, Richard
  • Professor Kirkendall, a Truman scholar, talks about Truman’s early days in Independence, his early political career, and the Pendergast dynasty in Kansas City.

• Neustadt, Richard
  • This interview with Neustadt, a political scientist and member of Truman’s White House staff, focuses on various events of the Truman Presidency, including the atomic bomb, the Potsdam Conference, the Korean War, MacArthur’s dismissal, and the Marshall Plan.

• Newhouse, John
  • Newhouse, a journalist, discusses various events that took place during Truman’s Presidency, including the Truman Doctrine, the Potsdam Conference, the atomic bomb, the Manhattan Project, McCarthyism, the Korean War, the Marshall Plan, and NATO.

• Nitze, Paul
  • The veteran diplomat reflects on Truman’s reaction to NSC-68. He discusses working with General Marshall and the Marshall Plan, the decision to drop the atomic bomb, and his postwar visit to Hiroshima.

• Parks, Lillian
  • Parks recalls working for Bess Truman in the White House as a member of the service staff. She also discusses working under the Roosevelts, FDR’s death, the deterioration of the White House, and its renovation during the Truman administration.

• Roberts, Chalmers
  • The prominent journalist talks about the final days of the Roosevelt Presidency, Truman as Vice President, the White House renovation, the November 1950 assassination attempt, McCarthyism, the Berlin Airlift, and the Marshall Plan.

• Scouten, Rex
  • Scouten, a retired Secret Service agent, recalls protecting Truman during his Presidency, the White House renovation, Truman’s interest in architecture, and his daily physical activities.

• Seale, William
  • Seale, an authority on White House history, discusses the renovations made in the Executive Mansion by President Truman. He talks about the living arrangements of the Truman family in the White House after the renovations were complete.

• Sherwood, Jack
  • Sherwood, a retired Secret Service agent, recalls his assignment at the White House beginning in 1946. He discusses Truman’s habits and mannerisms, the White House renovation; the 1948 campaign, and Truman’s vacations at Key West and aboard the USS Williamsburg.

• Steelman, John
  • Steelman, the former Assistant to the President, talks about Truman’s character and knowledge of history. He discusses the railroad strike of 1946 and other labor issues of the time.

• Stowe, David
  • Stowe recalls the 1950 assassination attempt and his involvement with the Secret Service as an assistant in the White House. He talks about speech-writing and campaigning on the President’s train, playing poker with the President on vacation in Key West, and labor issues that surfaced during the Truman administration.

• Wooden, McKinley
  • Wooden discusses his service in Battery D under Truman’s command during World War I, and his subsequent friendship with Truman.

(The collection also includes a brief summary of Guggenheim’s interview with Mrs. Truman’s secretary Reathel Odum, which was not transcribed.)

The rest of the collection consists of transcripts of the following: a radio broadcast of the 1944 Democratic National Convention, which nominated Truman for Vice President; a television broadcast featuring Margaret Truman’s recollections of life in Independence; interviews with White House butler Alonzo Fields and Truman’s schoolteacher, Mrs. W. L. C. Palmer, which were conducted by others; and selected speeches by President Truman and General MacArthur. Guggenheim Productions, Inc. has possession of all the sound recordings that were transcribed, and of the interview with Reathel Odum that was not transcribed. Researchers wishing to use these audio recordings should contact Guggenheim Productions at gpifilms@gpifilms.com.

The Truman Library has the personal papers or oral history interviews of many of the persons who were interviewed by Guggenheim for the documentary.