The Key West citizen., 1953-06-17
By ERNEST 3. VAccARo


WASHINGTON TILT was late
Of a hot Missouri Sunday after
noon.
The gray.haired man with tan
b match his sInartly creased
summer suit grinped through the
crowd gathered in front of the
Aladdin Hotel.
He had driven in from Indepen-
dence, he explained to this report
or, to welcome two automobile
caravans from Texas and Okla
homa on their Kansas City stop
en- route to the. National Junior
Chamber of Commerce convention
In Minneapolis.
Harry S. Truman, former Presi-
dent Of the United States, betrayed
no impatience whatsoever that one
delegation was late.
"The only thing is that l prom.
ised Mrs. Truman I'd hurry home
and move some furniture out Of
our bedroom so It can be painted
tomorrow" he confided. Il don't
want to be too late"
He looked years younger than
when he left the White House. He
looked more adjusted to private
life than during his first few weeks
back in Missouri. A long rest in
Hawaii had accustomed him to
moving at a slower pace.
Signing Of contract for the
memoirs he intends to write and
making plans for the future have
provided the work he needs.
''T tried to leave my worries at
the White House door"
He was eager for word Of mem.
bers of his old White House staff,
congressman, senator's, newspaper
men and others. He'll see many of
them when he visits Warrington
next week. From Washington he'll
go to Philadelphia to speak on
June 26 and to New York for an
other speech on the 10Th.
The conversation was interrupt
ed by telephone call. Would Tru-
man like to visit in the managers
suite, He would, and he did.
The manager introduced his wife
and small. daughter. The child
charmed the distinguished visitor
Immediately, chattering, dancing
and showing her heavily laced
fancy pants.
Watching the little girl, Truman
was reminded Of his daughter,
Marcy, as he calls Margaret, when
she was that little.
He beamed when he was told
everyone enjoyed her appearances
on television shows.
Il don't get to see her on tele-
vision here" he said rather un-
happily. "They tell me she's get
ting better all the time. And mo-
body can say that she has her
contract because her daddy's in the
White House"
Finally the telephone rang; the
delegates were on hand. Truman
left.
They made little speeches in
front Of the hotel, ami Truman told
the delegates he hoped they had a
successful convention.
He was made chief Of the Okla
homa Junior Chamber Of Com.
merce tribe and received q beauti-
full Indian war bonnet. Some of
the visitors displayed some fancy
Indian war dancing and whoops
echoed for blocks in the otherwise
quiet Sabbath.
The ex.president wouldn't put on
the war bonnet, despite the plea
Of the photographers. but held it
in his arms, the tai. end trailing
down to the sidewalk,
AS be turned 10 40, Truman
gathered the bonnet carefully into
his arms and started down the
street with the reporter to a ga
rage, where he planked down his
money with his parking ticket.
A big. shiny new car with all
the modern gadgetS was rolled out.
Harry Truman climbed behind
The wheel after putting the bonnet
In the back seat, waved a ''See
you az lunch tomorrow and rolled
out into the traffic bound for Inde-
pendenee. IL miles away. to move
the furniture for Mrs Truman.