The theme of this year’s Olde Glory Days is American Made — the Clinton Way, but a presentation at Heartland Community Theatre (HCT) spotlights the Missouri-made man who stepped into the Oval Office after the death of his predecessor. Harry S Truman was known as the ‘accidental president,’ but stepped up to the job, overseeing the end of the war in Europe, authorizing the dropping of the atomic bombs to Japan to surrender, and met with world leaders at the Potsdam Conference, all within the first six months of his presidency. He also banned racial discrimination in federal hiring practices and ended segregation in the military.
What Truman wanted to be known as —the citizens’ president, who was always looking out for the welfare of the common man.
Last Sunday, Harry Truman walked into the door of Heartland Community Theatre, hung his Stetson on a hatstand, greeted everyone and delivered excerpts from some of his most stirring speeches.
In real life, Truman visited Clinton during campaigns and after he left office. He died in Kansas City in 1972. He was brought to life last Sunday by Rob Hills, a director and actor at HCT, who channeled the energy and integrity of Missouri’s only president for guests at “Tea with Truman.”
Hills will repeat the performance for free at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 5, during Olde Glory Days at the theater, 108 N. Washington, just off the Clinton Square.
Hills said he and Linda Freese have been planning the show for a while, and once considered staging a one-man play about the Missouri president. But the play was two hours long, Rob said, which was a lot for one person to take on. So he chose stories from Truman’s life for the program, which runs about 45 minutes.
The 33rd president was born in Lamar, Mo. and returned to Independence, Mo. after serving as a senator, vice-president and then almost two terms as president, 1945 to 1953. Clinton resident Martha Welch greeted “Truman” afterwards, passing on regards on behalf of her grandfather, L.N. Searcy , who served with Truman in the Missouri Senate. Martha said she grew up with the iconic photograph of Truman holding the Chicago Tribune with the erroneous headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman” in the 1948 election.
As Truman, Hills told the story of buying the newspaper and held up a copy, bringing to life the photograph in every U.S. history book.
Hills, who was born in Clinton and grew up in Deepwater, said he didn’t think he looked like Truman until he put on the double-breasted suit, shirt, tie and wire-rimmed glasses like Truman wore since he was a young boy. With the glasses and his hair colored gray, he has enough of Truman’s facial structure to resemble the president, and enough stage experience to channel Truman’s dynamic oratorical style.
Hills delivered excerpts of Truman’s first speech on the Senate floor, condemning Americans for worshipping money, not honor. He also delivered parts of a campaign address he gave in Sedalia expounding civil rights, the speech he gave at a meeting of the KKK after they threatened his life, and a whistle-stop campaign speech he made in Dexter, Iowa, after 96,000 farmers showed up at 5:30 a.m. to meet him.
Truman used plain speaking and harsh language when needed. He liked to “strike a blow for liberty,” a phrase left over from Prohibition for knocking back a few drinks. Truman’s method of relaxing after a long day was playing poker, a skill that came in handy when facing Stalin and Churchill over the bargaining table in Potsdam.
Hills also channeled Truman’s sense of humor, sprinkling the presentation with jokes. For part of the program, he sits at his desk in the Oval Office, dictating a letter to Rose, the White House secretary, chastising a Boston critic for panning a performance by daughter Margaret, who wanted to be an opera singer.
Truman’s real desk, with his “The Buck Stops Here” slogan, is in a reproduction Oval Office in the Harry S Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Mo. HCT filmed Hill’s one-man show and is sending a copy to the Truman Library, Freese said.
The June 8 Tea with Truman included a birthday cake to belatedly celebrate Truman’s birthday. Martha Welch said her grandfather, as well as serving in the Missouri Senate with Truman, shared a birthday with him. Lemuel Newland Searcy was born on May 8, 1882, and served in the Missouri Senate in 1927- 1931, and 1935-1943.
Harry Truman was born May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Mo. His modest birthplace is preserved as a state historic site. The Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., at 500 W. US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050. Admission is $12, $10 for seniors and veterans, $8 college students, and $5 for youth 13 through 18, and free for children 12 and under. For more information, go to trumanlibrary.gov.
