Life of 33rd president shared by historic site admin

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Monett Monthly

For its May membership meeting, the Monett Historical Society welcomed Beth Bazal, administrator for the Harry S. Truman Birthplace Historic Site, located in Lamar and part of the state park system. 

Bazal brought a trunk of replicas of Truman artifacts and walked the audience through the President’s life.

Bazal, who has served full-time at the house for 26 years, reported the house was later occupied by descendants of Wyatt Earp. The state acquired the house in 1957 and it was designated as a National Historic Site in 1983. The house was built between 1880 and 1882, when the Trumans moved in and stayed from 1882-1885. They moved when Harry was 11 months old.

“The family moved a lot,” Bazal said. “Harry lived most of his life in Independence.” 

She showed a photo of Harry on a farm implement working the land at a family farm in Grandview. 

Bazal recounted how Harry’s vision was so poor that he complained as a child about hearing July 4 fireworks but not being able to see them. Then his vision problem was discovered. Fearful of Harry losing or breaking his glasses, his mother restricted him from sports, so he played piano and read books. Bazal reported Harry claimed to have read every book in the Independence library. 

Bazal showed a photo of Harry in his World War I uniform, a rare shot without his glasses. She said Harry took six pairs of glasses with him to Europe to remain capable on the battlefield. 

Back home, Harry married Bess Wallace, whom he had known since age 5, as they attended the same church. Coming from different social strata – her father owned a mill and he was just a farmer – the couple moved into her family home. Harry and a partner would run a haberdashery business for a couple years in Kansas City before he achieved elected office as a county judge, the equivalent to a county commissioner, then as a U.S. Senator for 10 years. Once he won election as the U.S. Vice President in 1944, Harry returned to Lamar to give his acceptance speech. Bazal showed a photo of the marker showing that site. 

Harry was vice president for only 82 days before Franklin Roosevelt died. Bazal noted Eleanor Roosevelt knew much more about the nation’s position in the war and the atomic bomb development than Harry did when he took over as president. 

Many World War II veterans visiting the Truman birthplace, Bazal said, have commented how Truman dropping the atomic bombs on Japan saved their lives from an invasion predicted to lose 1 million soldiers. 

Bazal showed off several of Harry’s hats: a Stetson for walks, a top hat for White House functions, and a white hat when they visited Key West. She added Harry had a particular fondness for Hawaiian shirts. Bazal also showed the kind of hat and purse that Bess Truman would wear. She told stories of Pete the squirrel, who followed Harry on his walks at the White House. She showed a copy of Harry’s “The Buck Stops Here” sign that sat on Harry’s White House desk, now at the Truman library, noting the back said, “I’m from Missouri,” a reminder of his roots. 

The Trumans lived simply back in Independence after leaving politics. Bazal said their income came from Harry’s World War I pension and his memoirs. He refused to profit from his service as president. Harry died at age 88 in 1972 and Bess died at age 98 in 1982. Their daughter Margaret died in 2008. All three are buried at the Truman library in Independence. 

Bazal said she likes to travel to conferences with staff from all the presidential sites, where colleagues exchange notes on their work. One of her best achievements, she said, happened recently when she hosted Harry’s grandson, Clifton Daniel, who lives in Chicago, for a presentation. 

While living at the White House, Harry directed a major renovation on the People’s House after a leg from Margaret’s piano fell through the floor, revealing serious deterioration. Harry lived in the nearby Blair House during much of his term. Bess spent much of the time at home in Independence. 

The Lamar house also underwent renovations after the sandstone foundation had deteriorated. Bazal said the house was moved into the street when the foundation was replaced. An old façade was placed over the new foundation to make it look vintage. She expects the repair will keep the house viable for another century. 

Bazal concluded by explaining that Harry’s middle initial of S has no period nor stands for a name. He got it from his grandfathers, both of whom had first names starting with S – Solomon Young and Anderson Shipp Truman. Rather than pick a name, Harry got just the initial from both. 

The next Historical Society meeting will be June 16, featuring John Schmidt from the local beekeepers organization.