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Bess Truman
“The Boss”
By Anne Adams
They called themselves the Waldo Avenue Gang –
an assortment of youngsters in an Independence,
Missouri neighborhood in the late 1900s and two
of their number would eventually become known
far beyond Waldo Ave. One was a spectacled boy
named Harry and the other was a tomboy named
Bess. Harry’s father was not as financially
successful as Bess’ family, but that didn’t
matter to Harry for he had been enraptured with
Bess’ golden curls and blue eyes ever since he
first encountered her in Sunday School. However,
Harry was especially impressed at something Bess
could do. Actually, though it was a unique skill
she never used much and especially not after she
married Harry and he eventually became President
of the United States. After all, as they carry
out their many duties and responsibilities, most
First Ladies don’t need to whistle through their
teeth.
Elizabeth Virginia Wallace, who
was always known as Bess, was born in February,
1885 and since her father could not always
support the family and since her mother’s father
was a successful businessman, it was often the
resources of Grandfather Wallace that supported
the family. The Wallaces arrived in
Independence, a Kansas City suburb, about 1890
and there she soon proved herself the equal of
any of the other girls – or boys – in climbing
trees and playing baseball. Playmate Harry
Truman had developed a crush on Bess since their
first meeting and demonstrated his interest by
frequently carrying her books to school.
However, by the time they both graduated in the
same 1901 high school class they had gone in
separate directions with different interests.
Bess enjoyed sports such as skating and tennis
and Harry declined to be so active because of
his thick glasses. Eventually they would lose
contact with each other as Bess continued to a
Kansas City “finishing school” and Harry moved
away to manage the family farm in another town.
Yet Bess was not far from his thoughts.
As she matured, Bess grew into a slender blonde
surrounded by loving family and friends, which
no doubt helped a great deal as she tried to
cope with her father’s unexpected suicide. The
tragedy meant her mother became more dependent
on her but despite that she remained active,
enjoying an active sports and social life. One
acquisition that helped her in this area was a
gift from her doting grandfather - the first
Studebaker automobile in Independence.
In 1906 Harry Truman returned to
Independence from the family farm to visit his
aunt who lived across from Bess’ grandfather.
Biographer Margaret Bassett described what
happened next: “While he was there Aunt Ella
said she would like to return the plate on which
Madge Wallace had sent over a cake that morning.
Harry sprang into action and hustled off on the
errand. He was gone a long time, returning
finally grinning happily. He had not only seen
Bess they had had a fine visit together and he
was going to see her again. From then on he came
often to Bess’ house and carried on a
correspondence with her for some ten years.”
(Profiles and Portraits of American Presidents
and their Wives, p. 363) He later bought a used
car to make for easier travel to Independence.
During their courtship, Bess’
mother actively discouraged Harry’s interest in
her daughter since she considered a farmer to be
an undesirable suitor. Perhaps to better his
chances in winning Bess, Harry tried various
investment opportunities but their failure only
put him further in debt. Then came World War I
and everything changed. The romantic patriotism
of the time inspired many young couples to marry
quickly before the man was shipped overseas, but
while Bess was willing to marry, Harry preferred
to wait till he returned. When Major Truman
returned in 1919 after serving with honor as
commander of a field artillery battery he and
Bess were married in June of that year.
The newlyweds began their
married life living in the Wallace family home
while Harry tried to operate a men’s clothing
business. It failed and because Truman was so
adamant about repaying the debt he and Bess
spent their first years of marriage financially
strapped. When Truman gained the support of a
local political boss and was elected to a county
judgeship they found the salary was small but
welcome, particularly after the birth of their
daughter Margaret in February, 1924. She would
be an adored child and could have been spoiled
because of excessive family attention but her
parents’ sense of humor and values assured she
would get the necessary attention but not too
much indulgence. However, Harry’s choice of an
ongoing political career meant Bess had to
frequently entertain less than “gentlemanly”
guests as well as attend political events and
mix with crowds. She disliked such public
exposure and experiences and while she
cooperated as well as she could, her stoicism in
such situations often made her appear apathetic
and indifferent. With friends and family she was
witty and a tease but the public saw a blander
face. As his political career developed, Harry
would be known to lose his temper at a critical
report of a family member, but Bess consistently
retained her composure. Her love and support for
Harry continued as Harry was elected to the
Senate in 1935.
The new senator, his wife,
daughter, and mother-in-law moved into a
Washington apartment and after a while Bess
joined her husband’s office staff. Her salary
was a welcome addition to the Truman family
income even though Harry had to reassure his
critics what a skilled and valuable employee she
was.
The Trumans lived part of the
year in Washington, usually residing in the same
neighborhood, and the rest of the year in
Independence. Margaret attended schools in both
cities, as she and Bess learned to enjoy
Washington particularly the social activities
planned for Senatorial families.
When Harry was under
consideration for the Vice Presidential
nomination in 1944, Bess found the Democratic
Convention disturbing because of her uneasiness
at the noisy enthusiastic crowds. Since Harry’s
running mate President Franklin D. Roosevelt
could not campaign because of his disability
Harry became the main advocate for the party on
the campaign trail. However, while Bess
accompanied him she did so only with the
agreement that she would be allowed to stand in
the background and be silent. Harry’s election
and inauguration in January 1945 was the
beginning of an entirely new life for Bess.
On April 12, 1945 Margaret was
dressing for an evening event when Harry called
from the White House relating the news of the
President’s death. Bess was misty-eyed as she
cancelled her evening plans and she and Margaret
were escorted by their newly acquired Secret
Service agents out a back door for the ride to
the White House for the swearing in. They’d
decided to leave out the back door to avoid
newsmen and photographers, but the press was
ready and as the new First Lady and her daughter
stepped out they faced the glare of flashbulbs
before they entered the car. It was something
that would not cease for many years.
Within a few days the Trumans
were in residence in temporary quarters at the
historic Blair House across from the White House
until Mrs. Roosevelt moved out. Once they moved
into the Executive Mansion, Mrs. Truman set
about creating her public image by trying not to
have one. She endeavored to remain as much as
possible out of the public eye and her first
move in this direction was to cease holding the
regular press conferences Mrs. Roosevelt had
conducted. She retained a press secretary to
handle press releases and questions about the
First Lady’s appearances, receptions and other
events. White House Chief Usher J.B. West in his
book Upstairs at the White House described her
approach. “In public, Mrs. Truman never said a
word…Bess Truman guarded her privacy like a
precious jewel. And in that privacy was hidden a
great secret involving the role she played in
public life. …A keenly intelligent,
well-educated, politically experienced person,
Mrs. Truman knew her politics – and her husband
respected her opinion.” (pp.71-72).
Once she had graduated from
college, Margaret decided to pursue a singing
career, which her parents encouraged. There was
one well-remembered time when the President
became incensed at a critic’s review of
Margaret’s performance. The letter he wrote to
the critic was just another example of Truman’s
total devotion and loyalty to his family.
Bess accompanied the President
as he campaigned in 1948, appearing on the rear
platform of the campaign train with Margaret at
innumerable steps throughout the country. Truman
would smile broadly as he introduced Bess and
Margaret as “The Boss and my baby.” Despite
Bess’ inner uncertainty about his victory he was
re-elected.
Bess continued with her usual
routine into her husband’s second term though
much of it was not spent in the White House. In
the summer of 1948 it became evident that the
Executive Mansion would need massive repairs
since over 150 years of remodeling and
reconstruction the building had deteriorated. In
fact, some floors were even in danger of
collapsing. After considerable research, it was
decided that the best course was to completely
gut the building and rebuild the interior. The
reconstruction meant the President and his
family would have to find other quarters both to
live and to entertain.
Again the Trumans moved into
Blair House which was combined with the Lee
House next door to be a presidential residence
for the next few years. Construction on the
White House was completed in early 1952 but the
Trumans were soon to leave the White House in
1953.
When asked by a reporter what
she wanted to do when her husband left office,
Bess answered, ”Return to Independence” and that
was exactly what she did. The Trumans settled
again in their family home there but continued
to travel in the next few years. Many of the
visits were to New York City where Margaret and
her husband Clifton Daniel, married in 1955,
lived with their four sons.
President Truman died in
December, 1972 and Mrs. Truman continued to
reside at the family home until her death ten
years later in October of 1982 at age 97. She
was buried beside her husband at the Truman
Library.
Margaret Truman Daniel later
wrote about Mrs. Truman: “My mother, whose
public facade has been unvaryingly sedate and
whose public utterances have been unfailingly
courteous but cryptic, is perhaps the least
understood member of our family. She is a woman
of tremendous character, which the public may
sense, but in addition she is a warmhearted,
kind lady, with a robust sense of humor, a
merry, twinkling wit, and a tremendous capacity
for enjoying life."
~*~
A native
of Kansas City , Missouri , Anne grew up in
northwestern Ohio , and holds degrees in
history: a BA from Wilmington College ,
Wilmington , Ohio (1967), and a MA from Central
Missouri State University , Warrensburg ,
Missouri (1968)
A
freelance writer since the early 1970s, she has
published in Christian and secular publications,
has taught history on the junior college level,
and has spoken at national and local writers’
conferences. Her book “Brittany, Child of Joy”,
an account of her severely retarded daughter,
was issued by Broadman Press in 1987. She also
publishes an encouragement newsletter “Rainbows
Along the Way.”
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