| Show II Campaign Flier r or Political The collection of Harry Truman's private papers papers diaries diaries letters and conversation con con- edited edited by veteran newsman V William H Hillman and published under the title Mr ilir President will likely prove to be one of the most interesting perhaps even one of the most significant cant personal cant personal and political American documents It is interesting because it gives so soman man many intimate glimpses of the thc life of at a aman aman t man who fills the most important and influential elective post in the world the thc job of President of the thc United States of America Whatever one may think of Harry Truman otherwise he has been President President President dent for nearly seven years years and and seven se of the most critical and significant years in the worlds world's history And the picture this book gives of the the scenes life ife of a President the President the pulling and tugging of f advisers the loneliness the grave decisions which must be made the conflicts and animosities which arise arise arise- is impressive Few Americans have believed believed be be- J that the job of a President was easy but Mr lr Truman's book helps to drive home the fact as he wrote that in becoming President he succeeded in getting myself into more trouble than any man ever inherited There is much that is personal and sentimental in the book His comments about his feeling toward the Missouri l political boss Tom h his s account of his failure as a haberdasher his lifelong love for Mrs l Truman which started in Sunday school class when he was 6 but with the now so outspoken I I Harry Truman too shy to even speak t ther to o her for five years his IllS love for Margaret and no apology for the abusive letter he wrote to the critic who belittled her talents All of this makes Harry Truman seem like very much of a human being with all the frailties and foibles the warmth and sentiment the doubts and the convictions convictions convictions con con- the courage and the belief in ones one's self which are typical of most of us From that standpoint it is very humanly interesting if not too politically significant Whether hether there is other political significance will be a subject of much speculation and argument Is it designed as a campaign document for the coming election Or is it in effect a Truman presidential peroration peroration-a a political swan- swan song There seems to be far too much that thatis is personal in the book to make snake it an ideal campaign document Likewise there is the fact that the book opens the floodgates of political and personal animosities which Mr Truman has proved himself so adept at developing and the fact that it revives and reaffirms memories of the Presidents President's personal weaknesses and frailties his bad and his snap judgments Yet on the other hand why should it be released now It seems an almost indecent haste to bare the life of a President President President dent unless there is some pre pre November purpose in mind There is the fact too that some of the revelations of the inner workings of the residents presidents mind and his views and attitudes toward grave crave world problems are bound to give some of our allies the jitters When next will the President of the United States lift the veil on the the scenes operations of American foreign policy and on U. U S. S diplomatic relationships with other nations Undoubtedly Mr President will b be e widely read Undoubtedly it will r raise ise many questions as to its propriety at this time as well as its significance But we cannot see that it settles anything not anything not even cven speculation as to Mr Truman's political intentions intentions except except perhaps to confirm that the President is very much mucha a human being with many foibles and many limitations who limitations who no doubt honestly honestly honestly hon hon- estly but the none haltingly has been trying to fill one of the biggest and toughest jobs in the world |
