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Screen Gems Collection

Outtakes from Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman

Compiled by Brent Pennel, Pauline Testerman, and Amy L. Williams (2003); Pauline Testerman (2007, 2009).

The Screen Gems Collection consists of outtakes created during the production of the film series, Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman. Included is material created by both Talent Associates, Ltd. and Screen Gems, Inc. Material ranges from informal interviews with Truman, members of his family, and associates, to more formal, scripted readings by Truman. There are a few instances of historical footage from unknown sources that was gathered for use in the production. The subject matter includes Truman's personal life as well as his decisions as president. Sound recordings comprise about 90% of the collection. Formats include 35mm and 16mm black and white film, reel-to-reel tape, and 35mm and 16mm soundtracks.

The outtakes are listed below by accession number, which is the number researchers need when requesting to view or obtain a copy of an outtake. All of the films in the Truman Library's collection are available for viewing at the Library and for copying. The films are not loaned. For additional information about the Screen Gems Collection, please contact the archives staff by telephone at 816-268-8228, by e-mail at truman.reference@nara.gov, or by writing to the Library at 500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri 64050.

Search Results: 551

Screen Gems Collection

MP2002-739
/1 minute 3 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman tells the story of election night in 1948, when to everyone's surprise except his, Truman won. He jokes, "It looks like we're in trouble for another four years. And we were. We had won the election."

MP2002-74
35mm/37 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman reading from a script talks about how he was told 6,000 babies would die. (referring to the Berlin Airlift). Sound and picture.

MP2002-75
35mm/1 minute 40 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman describes the Russian blockade of Berlin. Sound only.

MP2002-76
/5 minutes 7 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman discusses the subpoena to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee that he received after he left office. Sound only.

MP2002-766
/33 seconds
Description:

Ambassador to Korea John J. Muccio speaks about the buildup of armed forces and equipment during the Korean War. The copyright of this segment is undetermined: participants in these interviews may have retained their copyright.

MP2002-77
/3 minutes 28 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaks on the subject of bigotry in the United States. Sound and picture.

MP2002-771
35mm/1 minute 8 seconds
Description:

The US was close to war during the Berlin airlift; Harry Truman wishes we had had a European defense organization during that time. Picture with intermittent sound. (sound only 25 seconds)

MP2002-774
35mm/38 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman discusses the United States Constitution, which he calls the greatest document of government ever written. He makes the point that, just because something is written in the Constitution doesn't make it so--the legislative branch must implement the laws, and the executive branch must enforce them.

MP2002-775
35mm/20 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman recalls how he got involved with the National Guard. He had to wait to enlist until he was 21 years old, because his parents would not give him permission to join earlier. He helped to organize a battery of field artillery during World War I.

MP2002-777
35mm/30 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman discusses the United States Constitution, and the unalienable rights that Thomas Jefferson referred to in the Declaration of Independence.

MP2002-778
35mm/29 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman discusses living in Independence, Missouri and knowing the people who live there despite its considerable growth. He also makes a point about playing with his Negro neighbors when he was young.

MP2002-779
35mm/53 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman discusses the enactment of the 13th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution. He makes the point that once something is written into the Constitution, it is incumbent upon the legislative and executive branches to enact policies that follow.

MP2002-78
35mm/4 minutes 17 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaks about civil rights. Sound with picture.

MP2002-780
35mm/19 seconds
Description:

In this Screen Gems outtake, former president Harry S. Truman lists three priorities of his administration: the recognition of Israel, asking Congress for a civil rights bill, and demanding the desegregation of the armed forces.

MP2002-781
35mm/30 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman states that American people are good people who, by virtue of their constitutional democracy, can accomplish good things.

MP2002-782
/27 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman says the American people are not bigoted, but there are crackpots and minority groups in America who try to stir up things who have never been successful in injuring the government of the United States.

MP2002-783
/31 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman says that Americans live under the greatest government in the world. He has trouble with his lines and says he "bungled that in good shape" at the end.

MP2002-784
/27 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman says Americans live under a good government, the constitutional democracy of the United States of America.

MP2002-788
/1 minute 14 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman, with former first lady Bess Truman seated next to him, reads from a diary entry about eating alone at Blair House, being waited on by the butlers Ficklin, Barnett, and John, written November 1, 1949.

MP2002-79
35mm/1 minute 11 seconds
Description:

Harry S. Truman speaks about bad laws on the books that shouldn't be there. Sound with picture.

MP2002-790
/16 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman reveals his opinion of Richard Nixon as he discusses the McCarthy-era accusations against him that he coddled communism.

MP2002-791
/25 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman explains that a month after he was sworn in as president, Germany surrendered and he had to tackle the difficult problem of demobilization. He said there were, "problems after problems unloaded on me at that time as president, and I had to meet them all, whether I could or not."

MP2002-792
/1 minute 28 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman explains that even though Stalin and the Soviets did not keep their agreements, the United States kept theirs. This segment repeats silently with a different camera angle.

MP2002-793
/58 seconds
Description:

Former president Harry S. Truman explains the complexity he faced with moving American troops out of Europe after the Germans surrendered. They needed to be pulled out, some needed to be repositioned within Germany according to the agreement with the Russians, and some needed to be re-deployed to the Pacific front.

MP2002-797
/8 minutes 9 seconds
Description:

These are several takes of former president Harry S. Truman recalling the outcome of the 1948 presidential election, when no one in the media predicted that President Truman would get re-elected. He also spoke of his whistle stop tour through Ohio with Governor Frank Lausche.

Content last reviewed: Dec 05, 2023