reel-to-reel

Sound recording, apparently taped off-the-air, of music interrupted by news coverage of Harry S. Truman's funeral from Independence, MO. Most of the recording is music, but at about 27:15 of side one, radio DJ Army Specialist Bob Meyer interrupts the music to bring the Group W news feed of former president Harry S. Truman's funeral services at the Harry S. Truman Library. On this day, the casket was being unloaded from the hearse and moved into the Library lobby for viewing. President Nixon and former president Johnson were scheduled to appear later in the day.

Recordings related to artist Thomas Hart Benton, his family, and the creation of his mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West" at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, MO.

SR64-105-2 is in two parts. It has commentary between Truman Library curator Milton Perry and Thomas Hart Benton. It has extensive recordings of Benton's daughter, Jessie Benton, playing and singing music with her father. They play guitar and harmonica. It also begins a conversation with Benton's wife, Rita Benton.

Recording of a speech by Wilson Thomas Moore Beale, Jr. (Wilson T.M. Beale, Jr.) to the Cathedral Chapter Minutes of June 17, 1971. Transferred to the sound recordings from Beale Papers.

BBC Series, "The Buck Stops Here."Interview of Strom Thurmond conducted by John Major. Thurmond talks about his running for president in 1948 (on the Dixiecrat ticket). He discusses Thomas Dewey and seems to have low regard for President Harry S. Truman. He does give Truman credit for some things. Transcript of recording is in sound recording acquisitions case file under BBC.Reel 1: Length, 14 min. 23 sec.BBC Tape No. YLN09/504V537

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 6, Side A. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such former President Truman answering questions about the Korean War from military officers at Fort Leavenworth. He discusses the role of the United Nations in the Korean War, possible use of atomic weapons, the origins of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and potential intervention in China. 

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 5. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: Korean War; United Nations; world government; brainwashing; Japan; Mark Twain. 

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 4, Side B. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: Father Tiernan (chaplain for Battery D); New York City; witch hunting and hysteria in the United States; Mormons; Ku Klux Klan in Jackson County, Missouri.

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 4, Side A. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking."  See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: good orators; Truman's first political speech; the art of politics; national political conventions; the 1932, 1936, and 1944 presidential elections; Joseph Kennedy. 

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 3. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: the 1948 campaign; how he was helped by his Battery D boys. 

Conversation among Harry S. Truman, Merle Miller, David Noyes, and William Hillman, Tape 2, Side B. These tapes were the basis of the book "Plain Speaking." See finding aid for Merle Miller tapes for detailed information and description. This recording deals with such subjects as: the writing of the Constitution; American government; weak Presidents; memories of William Jennings Bryan.