MP66-4 Harry S. Truman Interviewed by Edward R. Murrow, February 1957 (2 of 12)

Outtakes from Edward R. Murrow's interview of former president Harry S. Truman at the Olney Inn in Islamorada, Florida, between February 8-15, 1957; filmed by Charles Mack and Martin Barnett. Subject matter on this reel includes: establishing the Truman Library; Truman's most difficult vote in the Senate (increasing the number of Supreme Court justices); hardworking versus lazy Senators; Truman's command of the budget while president; the relationship between the Federal Reserve and the Treasury; the ideal relationship between a President and his Cabinet; keeping the Vice President and high ranking members of Congress well-informed; reorganizing the information coming to the president and establishing the CIA; reference to the Chinese entry into the Korean War; the qualities of a good politician (being an honorable, trustworthy person; getting along with people); weapons of war; using hindsight to judge the decision to use the atomic bomb; thoughts on Nuremburg Trials; increased unity in the world; internationalization of waterways; the UN Security Council veto; the success of the Point Four program; General Marshall's mission to China; high regard for George Marshall in general; views on the recognition of Israel and how the Middle East could be peaceably developed; reading history; how a presidency affects a man; how Marshall and Dean Acheson would express their views frankly but always cooperate even when they disagreed; the importance of Presidents not to be surrounded by yes men; the biggest mistake Truman made as president; discussion whether the steel seizure was constitutional; "tideland" (offshore) oil and its protection; the unpredictability of political campaigns; and Truman's confidence in his 1948 campaign victory. Some of the material in this reel duplicates some material on MP66-3 and MP66-5 except that it was shot from a different angle. This series of interviews between Murrow and Truman constitute the raw material that was edited into the CBS program "From Precinct to President: Some Reflections by Harry S. Truman" which aired on February 2, 1958 and was rebroadcast during CBS funeral coverage when Mr. Truman passed away in December, 1972. They are for viewing and research purposes only. For inquiries about reproductions, please contact the Truman Library. This film is part of the Motion Picture series at the Truman Library. Please see this link for the National Archives Catalog record: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/595162