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Dear Bess: The Letters from Harry to Bess Truman
This correspondence, which encompasses Truman's courtship of his wife, his service in the senate, his presidency, and after, reveals not only the character of Truman's mind but also a shrewd observer's view of American politics
593 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1983
About the author
Harry Truman
137 books67 followersHarry S. Truman was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953). As vice president, he succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt, who died less than three months after he began his fourth term.
During World War I Truman served as an artillery officer. After the war he became part of the political machine of Tom Pendergast and was elected a county judge in Missouri and eventually a United States Senator. After he gained national prominence as head of the wartime Truman Committee, Truman replaced vice president Henry A. Wallace as Roosevelt's running mate in 1944.
As president, Truman faced challenge after challenge in domestic affairs. The disorderly reconversion of the economy of the United States was marked by severe shortages, numerous strikes, and the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act over his veto. He confounded all predictions to win re-election in 1948, largely due to his famous Whistle Stop Tour of rural America. After his re-election he was able to pass only one of the proposals in his Fair Deal program. He used executive orders to begin desegregation of the U.S. armed forces and to launch a system of loyalty checks to remove thousands of communist sympathizers from government office, even though he strongly opposed mandatory loyalty oaths for governmental employees, a stance that led to charges that his administration was soft on communism. Truman's presidency was also eventful in foreign affairs, with the end of World War II and his decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, the beginning of the Cold War, the creation of NATO, and the Korean War. Corruption in Truman's administration reached the cabinet and senior White House staff. Republicans made corruption a central issue in the 1952 campaign.
Truman, whose demeanor was very different from that of the patrician Roosevelt, was a folksy, unassuming president. He popularized such phrases as "The buck stops here" and "If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen." He overcame the low expectations of many political observers who compared him unfavorably with his highly regarded predecessor. At one point in his second term, near the end of the Korean War, Truman's public opinion ratings reached the lowest of any United States president, but popular and scholarly assessments of his presidency became more positive after his retirement from politics and the publication of his memoirs. He died in 1972. Many U.S. scholars today rank him among the top ten presidents. Truman's legendary upset victory in 1948 over Thomas E. Dewey is routinely invoked by underdog presidential candidates.
During World War I Truman served as an artillery officer. After the war he became part of the political machine of Tom Pendergast and was elected a county judge in Missouri and eventually a United States Senator. After he gained national prominence as head of the wartime Truman Committee, Truman replaced vice president Henry A. Wallace as Roosevelt's running mate in 1944.
As president, Truman faced challenge after challenge in domestic affairs. The disorderly reconversion of the economy of the United States was marked by severe shortages, numerous strikes, and the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act over his veto. He confounded all predictions to win re-election in 1948, largely due to his famous Whistle Stop Tour of rural America. After his re-election he was able to pass only one of the proposals in his Fair Deal program. He used executive orders to begin desegregation of the U.S. armed forces and to launch a system of loyalty checks to remove thousands of communist sympathizers from government office, even though he strongly opposed mandatory loyalty oaths for governmental employees, a stance that led to charges that his administration was soft on communism. Truman's presidency was also eventful in foreign affairs, with the end of World War II and his decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan, the founding of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, the Truman Doctrine to contain communism, the beginning of the Cold War, the creation of NATO, and the Korean War. Corruption in Truman's administration reached the cabinet and senior White House staff. Republicans made corruption a central issue in the 1952 campaign.
Truman, whose demeanor was very different from that of the patrician Roosevelt, was a folksy, unassuming president. He popularized such phrases as "The buck stops here" and "If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen." He overcame the low expectations of many political observers who compared him unfavorably with his highly regarded predecessor. At one point in his second term, near the end of the Korean War, Truman's public opinion ratings reached the lowest of any United States president, but popular and scholarly assessments of his presidency became more positive after his retirement from politics and the publication of his memoirs. He died in 1972. Many U.S. scholars today rank him among the top ten presidents. Truman's legendary upset victory in 1948 over Thomas E. Dewey is routinely invoked by underdog presidential candidates.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 29, 2008
No book has created a deeper reverence in me for Harry Truman than this book did. My mother was homebound for several years due to health problems. During that time she read books about each of the U.S. presidents and their wives. This was one that she recommended and I LOVED it. It is a compilation of letters written from President Truman to his wife Bess. I'll be honest, when I used to see pictures of them I thought, What did he see in her? But after reading this book, he was soooo in love with her, and that never changed. It really highlights his enduring ability to love, not just his wife, but his many friends and his daughter (who recently passed away.)
I think it gives a lot of insight into the quality of person that he was. He was a man of deep character. If I could marry any historical figure I'd marry him. There are some amazing quotes. And it has turned out to be a fitting book for me to have read considering that I live in Missouri!! I'll make it to Independence one of these days to go to his presidential library and love every minute of it.
I think it gives a lot of insight into the quality of person that he was. He was a man of deep character. If I could marry any historical figure I'd marry him. There are some amazing quotes. And it has turned out to be a fitting book for me to have read considering that I live in Missouri!! I'll make it to Independence one of these days to go to his presidential library and love every minute of it.
February 4, 2018
Aww, what a Valentine this book is! More enjoyable, I think, because i read it as a follow-up to David McCullough's "Truman," which delivers a happy description of the sweetnatured and ethical man Harry Truman was from youth, and a clearer picture of how much he really really loved that young woman whom everyone considered "too good for him." The letters show that he was not only good enough to be her husband, but possibly the best husband she could have hoped to have. Ever.
If you start to find the letters repetitive (and they are, a bit, just as daily emails tend to be), don't let that stop you reading: just switch to "skim" mode for a while. Or turn to them on a day when the news seems dark and drear. You'll like being reminded what faithfulness and tenderness look like.
If you start to find the letters repetitive (and they are, a bit, just as daily emails tend to be), don't let that stop you reading: just switch to "skim" mode for a while. Or turn to them on a day when the news seems dark and drear. You'll like being reminded what faithfulness and tenderness look like.
April 9, 2022
This book of selected letters from President Harry Truman to his fiance and later wife Bess Wallace from 1910 to 1959 reflects his experiences in business, World War 1, post-war local, state, and later national politics ending in 1952. He later wrote books on his Presidency. Brief mention is made of his life until his death in 1972. The author, like many other historians, is of the opinion that history will evaluate Truman's Presidency well and that he will be considered among one of the best.
October 8, 2018
I started scanning about half way through the book, but Harry could be quite amusing and enjoyed most of it. It just got a little tedious. Amazing history that happened during his lifetime.
March 17, 2017
It's an okay read. I don't know the book's problem is with the letters or the way they are edited. You get a sense oh Harry Truman, but never really get to sEe him thinking. I was disappointed in this read.
July 24, 2011
The key to enjoying this book was learning to skip over the repetitive salutations and attend to the sentences that were gems of Harry S. Truman's humor and glimpses into his personal experience of American history in the early 20th century. This book contains approximately 600 letters written by Truman to wife Bess from the time of their early courtship through his days in the White House. They are from a collection of nearly 1,200 letters that were turned over to the U.S. archives by daughter Margaret following her mother's death.
He wrote to Bess nearly every day when they were separated, which was less often after their marriage. So the frequency of letters unfortunately decreases dramatically during his presidency. The early letters, however, are historically interesting as Truman describes his experience as a farmer, a mine operator, a judge, and a U.S. Senator. Editor Robert H. Ferrell's text provides welcome contextual information through chapter introductions.
He wrote to Bess nearly every day when they were separated, which was less often after their marriage. So the frequency of letters unfortunately decreases dramatically during his presidency. The early letters, however, are historically interesting as Truman describes his experience as a farmer, a mine operator, a judge, and a U.S. Senator. Editor Robert H. Ferrell's text provides welcome contextual information through chapter introductions.
October 20, 2009
I really looked forward to reading this book. I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, although Harry Truman was a prolific writer, he didn't say much. I got through the whole book, but for the most part it was very boring with little glimmers of worthwhile information. The main thing that I learned about Truman was that he expected Bess to write him daily and he was very disappointed if he didn't receive a letter.
February 6, 2017
At just under 600 pages, this took me awhile to finish, but I rather enjoyed the glimpse into Harry and Bess. The letters included are those only from Harry, so it's a one-sided conversation but interesting still. In one letter from his years as President, he's telling Bess about Potsdam...two days later he's writing her a long paragraph about hat styles and how much he prefers her hats over others. The letters really do show the person he was and the positions he held.
March 2, 2009
I really like this book and enjoyed the intriciate revealing of the Trumans relationship through their letters. It also told alot about Harry ... how he tried and failed at several careers until he hit upon politics.
(Wow alot like GW only Harry was more honest and sincere. )
(Wow alot like GW only Harry was more honest and sincere. )
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August 1, 200892T
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December 5, 2012excellent
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews