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Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip
On June 19, 1953, Harry Truman got up early, packed the trunk of his Chrysler New Yorker, and did something no other former president has done before or he hit the road. No Secret Service protection. No traveling press. Just Harry and his childhood sweetheart Bess, off to visit old friends, take in a Broadway play, celebrate their wedding anniversary in the Big Apple, and blow a bit of the money he’d just received to write his memoirs. Hopefully incognito . In this lively history, author Matthew Algeo meticulously details how Truman’s plan to blend in went wonderfully awry. Fellow diners, bellhops, cabbies, squealing teenagers at a Future Homemakers of America convention, and one very by-the-book Pennsylvania state trooper all unknowingly conspired to blow his cover. Algeo revisits the Trumans’ route, staying at the same hotels and eating at the same diners, and takes readers on brief detours into topics such as the postwar American auto industry, McCarthyism, the nation’s highway system, and the decline of Main Street America. By the end of the 2,500-mile journey, you will have a new and heartfelt appreciation for America’s last citizen-president.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
191 people are currently reading
1558 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Algeo
15 books118 followersWhen he's not writing his own biography in the third person, Matthew Algeo writes about unusual and interesting events in American history.
He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.
In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.
He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.
He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.
In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.
He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.
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July 16, 2018
A couple of years ago my in-laws called offering to meet us in Independence, Missouri to tour the Truman library. First, I was surprised because they are dyed in the wool Republicans who think that all Democrats have already punched a one way ticket to the fiery furnaces of HELL. Second I was excited because I frankly don't know much about the President that was overshadowed by FDR, possibly the greatest president ever, and Eisenhower who was instrumental in saving the world from living under a Nazi regime. Of course I knew that Truman dropped the bomb not once, but twice, and he had that famously close election with Dewey, but beyond that I really didn't know much about Truman.
Presidential libraries are wonderful. If you are near one or on vacation in a state that has one, please take the time to take the tour. Yes, they may be biased, that is their privilege, but the point is not to learn about the man (although that too can be fascinating) as much as it is to learn about what happened while he was president.
I had no idea how quick Harry was with a quip. After Eisenhower came into office and the farmers in Missouri were getting restless with the farm economy. "We gave them three-hundred-dollar cows," Truman said, "now they've got thirty-dollar Eisenhower calves." He was a fervent defendant of the Democratic party his whole life and could always be counted on to campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Matthew Algeo built this book around a 2,500 mile road trip that Harry and his wife Bess decided to take in 1953 to Philadelphia to give a speech about the pending defense spending cuts, and place a burr under the saddle of his replacement in Washington, Eisenhower, at the same time. Chrysler had just supplied him with the newest model of the New Yorker rumored to have been sold to Truman for $1.
Truman loved cars and the New Yorker was the finest car that Truman had ever owned, so instead of flying or taking the train he decided to drive across country. This trip became a national sensation. Reporters and photographers stalked him from Independence to Philadelphia and back. Interviews and pictures of the Trumans were circulated in newspapers and movie theaters throughout the country. Where is Harry? was around long before Where is Waldo? became a bestseller.
You can tell from this picture how happy Truman was on this trip. The reaction from the public was well beyond what he expected. When he left office his approval rating was at 22%, but it didn't take long for the public to miss him. He was barraged by people to run for reelection. He finished FDR's last term and won one reelection so he could have legally run for another four year term if he had chosen to do so. I actually think the possibility crossed his mind, but as time went on, and he settled into his life back in Independence the desire for returning to power abated.
This book is full of wonderful observations. If anyone has been intimidated by the thought of reading Truman this book would be a great introduction to Truman. I came away convinced that it would be well worth my time to read the much more in-depth McCullough biography. There is much to be mined in the Truman legacy.
Truman was devoted to Bess, case in point check out this photo.
His eyes are on her face. My eyes would have been glued to Bacall's wonderful long legs. You had wonderful self-control Mr. Truman. "While they were in New York, Harry's friend Leonard Lyons, a New York Post columnist, offered to arrange a private screening of the new Marilyn Monroe move Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Harry declines. "Real gentlemen," he told Lyons, "prefer gray hair." You hit that one out of the park Mr. Truman.
I really enjoyed this book. Algeo provides wonderful observations, and by sharing Truman's interactions with the public on this road trip reveals the man behind the office. Truman was feisty(always good for a quote), caring, and devoted to his country. Truman passed away on December 24th, 1972 at the age of 88. Bess died on October 18th, 1982 at the age of 97.
"Harry and Bess are buried next to each other in the courtyard of the Truman Library.
Harry is on the driver's side."
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Presidential libraries are wonderful. If you are near one or on vacation in a state that has one, please take the time to take the tour. Yes, they may be biased, that is their privilege, but the point is not to learn about the man (although that too can be fascinating) as much as it is to learn about what happened while he was president.
I had no idea how quick Harry was with a quip. After Eisenhower came into office and the farmers in Missouri were getting restless with the farm economy. "We gave them three-hundred-dollar cows," Truman said, "now they've got thirty-dollar Eisenhower calves." He was a fervent defendant of the Democratic party his whole life and could always be counted on to campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Matthew Algeo built this book around a 2,500 mile road trip that Harry and his wife Bess decided to take in 1953 to Philadelphia to give a speech about the pending defense spending cuts, and place a burr under the saddle of his replacement in Washington, Eisenhower, at the same time. Chrysler had just supplied him with the newest model of the New Yorker rumored to have been sold to Truman for $1.
Truman loved cars and the New Yorker was the finest car that Truman had ever owned, so instead of flying or taking the train he decided to drive across country. This trip became a national sensation. Reporters and photographers stalked him from Independence to Philadelphia and back. Interviews and pictures of the Trumans were circulated in newspapers and movie theaters throughout the country. Where is Harry? was around long before Where is Waldo? became a bestseller.
You can tell from this picture how happy Truman was on this trip. The reaction from the public was well beyond what he expected. When he left office his approval rating was at 22%, but it didn't take long for the public to miss him. He was barraged by people to run for reelection. He finished FDR's last term and won one reelection so he could have legally run for another four year term if he had chosen to do so. I actually think the possibility crossed his mind, but as time went on, and he settled into his life back in Independence the desire for returning to power abated.
This book is full of wonderful observations. If anyone has been intimidated by the thought of reading Truman this book would be a great introduction to Truman. I came away convinced that it would be well worth my time to read the much more in-depth McCullough biography. There is much to be mined in the Truman legacy.
Truman was devoted to Bess, case in point check out this photo.
His eyes are on her face. My eyes would have been glued to Bacall's wonderful long legs. You had wonderful self-control Mr. Truman. "While they were in New York, Harry's friend Leonard Lyons, a New York Post columnist, offered to arrange a private screening of the new Marilyn Monroe move Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Harry declines. "Real gentlemen," he told Lyons, "prefer gray hair." You hit that one out of the park Mr. Truman.
I really enjoyed this book. Algeo provides wonderful observations, and by sharing Truman's interactions with the public on this road trip reveals the man behind the office. Truman was feisty(always good for a quote), caring, and devoted to his country. Truman passed away on December 24th, 1972 at the age of 88. Bess died on October 18th, 1982 at the age of 97.
"Harry and Bess are buried next to each other in the courtyard of the Truman Library.
Harry is on the driver's side."
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
August 10, 2023
"Harry Truman was the last U.S. president to leave the White House and return to something resembling a normal life. In the summer of 1953 he did something millions of ordinary Americans do all of the time, but something no former president had ever done before - and none has done since. He took a road trip [with his wife Bess], unaccompanied by Secret Service agents or attendants of any kind . . . Harry was behind the wheel, Bess rode shotgun. The trip lasted nearly three weeks." -- on page 2
My GR 'reading challenges' for the last several years are checkered with various American history tomes and tales, and sometimes the more obscure and/or little-known moments or events can make for great subject matter. Well, the stars certainly aligned here with Algeo's Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure, which details Harry and Bess Truman's summer excursion - in a recently acquired '53 Chrysler New Yorker - from their modest private home in Independence, Missouri to Washington D.C., with several stops (from major metropolises like Philadelphia and New York City to the smaller communities like Decatur, Illinois and Wheeling, West Virginia) in-between. Notably, this was only a smattering of months after Truman left the POTUS office - with approval numbers that were even lower than when Nixon resigned twenty-one years later (!) - but seemingly EVERYWHERE the Trumans stopped it appeared as if the American public happily could not get enough of them. (*I should also mention that this trip was financed solely by the Trumans, not the American taxpayers, and that Harry Truman was only receiving a U.S. Army pension at the time for any financial backing.)
It certainly helped that Harry Truman appears to have been a man who mastered the lost art of natural conversation with folks from all walks of life - the majority of his interactions with diner cooks and waitresses, taxi drivers, gas station pump attendants, highway patrol officers, hotel porters, motel clerks and newspaper photographers are shown to be genuine and respectful, as if he was speaking to peers or contemporaries and not simply 'hired hands' or lesser mortals. (Oh, and I loved the piece of trivia that Bess Truman was a die-hard Kansas City Royals fan when that franchise later started up in her home state, and she would happily talk about baseball with anyone.) While this was an exceedingly quiet and low-key work, it was charming in the depiction of the Trumans' solid matrimony - author Algeo opines "It's unlikely a more loving couple than Harry and Bess Truman ever occupied the White House" with their "ideal marriage" - and the numerous recounted anecdotes, experiences, and/or personal interactions involving former constituents present this former 'First couple' in a very positive light, nicely accentuating a sturdy Midwestern sense of decency.
My GR 'reading challenges' for the last several years are checkered with various American history tomes and tales, and sometimes the more obscure and/or little-known moments or events can make for great subject matter. Well, the stars certainly aligned here with Algeo's Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure, which details Harry and Bess Truman's summer excursion - in a recently acquired '53 Chrysler New Yorker - from their modest private home in Independence, Missouri to Washington D.C., with several stops (from major metropolises like Philadelphia and New York City to the smaller communities like Decatur, Illinois and Wheeling, West Virginia) in-between. Notably, this was only a smattering of months after Truman left the POTUS office - with approval numbers that were even lower than when Nixon resigned twenty-one years later (!) - but seemingly EVERYWHERE the Trumans stopped it appeared as if the American public happily could not get enough of them. (*I should also mention that this trip was financed solely by the Trumans, not the American taxpayers, and that Harry Truman was only receiving a U.S. Army pension at the time for any financial backing.)
It certainly helped that Harry Truman appears to have been a man who mastered the lost art of natural conversation with folks from all walks of life - the majority of his interactions with diner cooks and waitresses, taxi drivers, gas station pump attendants, highway patrol officers, hotel porters, motel clerks and newspaper photographers are shown to be genuine and respectful, as if he was speaking to peers or contemporaries and not simply 'hired hands' or lesser mortals. (Oh, and I loved the piece of trivia that Bess Truman was a die-hard Kansas City Royals fan when that franchise later started up in her home state, and she would happily talk about baseball with anyone.) While this was an exceedingly quiet and low-key work, it was charming in the depiction of the Trumans' solid matrimony - author Algeo opines "It's unlikely a more loving couple than Harry and Bess Truman ever occupied the White House" with their "ideal marriage" - and the numerous recounted anecdotes, experiences, and/or personal interactions involving former constituents present this former 'First couple' in a very positive light, nicely accentuating a sturdy Midwestern sense of decency.
July 31, 2018
Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip was a delightful slice of American history as author Matthew Algeo follows the road trip of Harry and Bess Truman as they packed their 1953 Chrysler New Yorker for a road trip from Independence, Missouri to Hannibal, Missouri and on through Illinois, West Virginia and on to Washington, DC. From there the Trumans motored on to Philadelphia and then on to several days at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City to celebrate their anniversary. At this point, they again head towards home to Independence after being on the road from June 19, 1953 through July 8, 1953. There are delightful pieces of history as we follow our former president and first lady on their amazing road trip and interactions with old and new friends as well as a lot of madcap adventures. An additional delight is the enduring love story between Harry and Bess Truman. What is more American than a road trip?
"I like roads. I like to move."
-- Harry Truman
February 5, 2023
What fun!
This is the story of Harry Truman's 1953 drive from Missouri to Pennsylvania. He had been invited to give a speech at the convention of the Reserve Officers Association. It would be his first public speaking engagement since leaving the White House in January of 1953.
And since HST loved to drive, he decided to drive himself and wife Bess, hoping for a relaxed incognito experience.
But was it ever possible for an ex-president to move around the country in any manner without being recognized? Not exactly. Except for a couple of times, the press, the state troopers, and gee, just about everybody knew where the pair was, what they were doing, and where they were headed next.
But they still enjoyed themselves, and I loved how the author blended bits of history with the tale of the trip. I learned about the interstate highway system, the United Nations, the root of the problems between Iran and the US, even a little about the beginnings of motor hotels.
1953 seems like ancient times now, and in many ways they are. No air-conditioning (but HST didn't believe in it anyway), no computers or cell phones (I bet he wouldn't have believed in them either). No Secret Service detail for protection after a president left office. And in Truman's time, no pension from the government simply for being an ex-president. Different days, for certain sure.
Most politicians these days are so filthy rich (or claim to be) that it is easy to forget that ideally the plain ordinary common man has just as much right to the Oval Office as anyone with bottomless pockets. This was a nice look back at one of the regular guys, and I enjoyed the trip very much.
This is the story of Harry Truman's 1953 drive from Missouri to Pennsylvania. He had been invited to give a speech at the convention of the Reserve Officers Association. It would be his first public speaking engagement since leaving the White House in January of 1953.
And since HST loved to drive, he decided to drive himself and wife Bess, hoping for a relaxed incognito experience.
But was it ever possible for an ex-president to move around the country in any manner without being recognized? Not exactly. Except for a couple of times, the press, the state troopers, and gee, just about everybody knew where the pair was, what they were doing, and where they were headed next.
But they still enjoyed themselves, and I loved how the author blended bits of history with the tale of the trip. I learned about the interstate highway system, the United Nations, the root of the problems between Iran and the US, even a little about the beginnings of motor hotels.
1953 seems like ancient times now, and in many ways they are. No air-conditioning (but HST didn't believe in it anyway), no computers or cell phones (I bet he wouldn't have believed in them either). No Secret Service detail for protection after a president left office. And in Truman's time, no pension from the government simply for being an ex-president. Different days, for certain sure.
Most politicians these days are so filthy rich (or claim to be) that it is easy to forget that ideally the plain ordinary common man has just as much right to the Oval Office as anyone with bottomless pockets. This was a nice look back at one of the regular guys, and I enjoyed the trip very much.
September 22, 2025
Took me a short forever to finish this, but that was because every time I picked it up, I felt compelled to comment on something I read/learned. The author sure knew how to turn a phrase and research the HECK out of something.
My grandparents both swore up and down that Truman was the best President, ever, hands down. After reading this, I can see why they might have thought that, as he was a very down to earth, humble man, who was able to rise to the occasion when needed. He wasn’t perfect, but who is?
Despite being broke after leaving the presidency, he didn’t pimp himself out to make money, unlike the former presidents from Ford onward. (What the Clintons make from all of their wheeling and dealing is kind of disgusting to me tbh). So respect to Truman at least.
Also, the love he and his wife shared is so darn tootin SWEET! It made my heart melt a little.
I looked up all sorts of things while reading this book, as not nearly enough pictures or explanations were given for things that I wanted to know more about. So that took reading time away too.
All in all, a good book. One which makes the reader want to learn more and encourages self-study/looking things up, always a positive. I like how the author followed the road trip as much as he could, tying the past to the present and showing how some things changed and how some stayed the same. Nostalgia makes me rue the shopping malls that took over historical landmarks, but I guess that’s progress for you?
4, thank you Friend for loaning me this book and being so patient with me for taking so long to read it, stars.
My grandparents both swore up and down that Truman was the best President, ever, hands down. After reading this, I can see why they might have thought that, as he was a very down to earth, humble man, who was able to rise to the occasion when needed. He wasn’t perfect, but who is?
Despite being broke after leaving the presidency, he didn’t pimp himself out to make money, unlike the former presidents from Ford onward. (What the Clintons make from all of their wheeling and dealing is kind of disgusting to me tbh). So respect to Truman at least.
Also, the love he and his wife shared is so darn tootin SWEET! It made my heart melt a little.
I looked up all sorts of things while reading this book, as not nearly enough pictures or explanations were given for things that I wanted to know more about. So that took reading time away too.
All in all, a good book. One which makes the reader want to learn more and encourages self-study/looking things up, always a positive. I like how the author followed the road trip as much as he could, tying the past to the present and showing how some things changed and how some stayed the same. Nostalgia makes me rue the shopping malls that took over historical landmarks, but I guess that’s progress for you?
4, thank you Friend for loaning me this book and being so patient with me for taking so long to read it, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2013
An entertaining and very readable yarn of when ex-president Harry Truman and his wife Bess set out from their home-town in Missouri to motor out to the East Coast to re-visit old friends. At that time there was no secret service assigned to an ex-president (as a matter of fact there was not even a pension for an ex-president).
They journeyed out in Harry’s car with an immense amount of luggage (I guess an ex-president cannot just travel with shorts, sandals and a t-shirt). They thought they could travel incognito - and the author humorously recounts the towns, the restaurants, hotels or motels where they stayed and encountered ordinary citizens. Harry was a very sociable fellow and handled himself remarkably well.
The book abounds in delightful anecdotes and is a pleasure to read.
They journeyed out in Harry’s car with an immense amount of luggage (I guess an ex-president cannot just travel with shorts, sandals and a t-shirt). They thought they could travel incognito - and the author humorously recounts the towns, the restaurants, hotels or motels where they stayed and encountered ordinary citizens. Harry was a very sociable fellow and handled himself remarkably well.
The book abounds in delightful anecdotes and is a pleasure to read.
June 23, 2020
Truman would probably be a four-star subject all by himself, but the author's tendency for discursive enthusiasm on the subjects he touches on Truman's journey, from Highway safety to the Waldorf, would earn an extra half star from me and might lose it with a more disciplined, linear reader.
June 27, 2009
Harry Truman was an Ex-President before being one made you rich and famous. He left office in 1953 with no pension, Secret Service protection, or the prospect of being able to command exorbitant speaking fees on the rubber chicken circuit. He did get the expected book deal, but according to him, only netted $37,000. This may seem like a lot, especially in 1953, but evaporates quickly when you consider that Truman himself was expected to pay all expenses connected to his Ex-Presidency including $10,000 per year on postage alone. In the Summer of 1953 Harry was invited to address a veteran's organization at their national convention in Philadelphia. He decided it might be fun to drive, accompanied by his wife Bess, and driving his brand new Chrysler New Yorker(provided by the company at a substantial discount) he set off to see the country, he hoped to travel incognito. As you will see that didn't last long.
If the author's only intention had been to chronicle Harry's journey, this would have easily been a 4-star effort. Unfortunately, Algeo seeks to interject himself into the narrative by seeking to recreate the trip in 2009 America. His transitions between the two are jarring, and often disrupt the narrative flow of the book. Often when he visits one of the places Harry stopped he finds it either torn down, or that something modern like a Starbucks had been erected in it's place, making his stories rather anti-climactic. Clearly this is not his fault, but a few of the places he visits are merely closed, leading the reader to believe he simply didn't plan ahead. In one instance he is unable to locate the Truman's New Yorker, so he finds another that is similar to Truman's in most respects, except that it's a maroon convertible, sorry, try again, most people would consider those to be completely different cars. Later in the book, he decides to replicate Harry's appearance at the Today show window, but is unable to get near the window at all, because he forgot that Neal Diamond was playing on the plaza that day. He also attends a book signing by Ex-President Carter, and when he finally gets to the head of the line he asks him if he ever met President Truman, he replied "No, but I wish I had" Wow, penetrating insights! Perhaps his most bizarre aside is when he takes time during a U.N. tour to discuss a tour guide's fashion accessory.
Lazy writing and anticlimactic moments aside, this book is not a complete waste of time. It's a fast read so if you have a hole in your reading calendar, it might be a good fit, but if your reading list is as long as mine, feel free to skip this one.
If the author's only intention had been to chronicle Harry's journey, this would have easily been a 4-star effort. Unfortunately, Algeo seeks to interject himself into the narrative by seeking to recreate the trip in 2009 America. His transitions between the two are jarring, and often disrupt the narrative flow of the book. Often when he visits one of the places Harry stopped he finds it either torn down, or that something modern like a Starbucks had been erected in it's place, making his stories rather anti-climactic. Clearly this is not his fault, but a few of the places he visits are merely closed, leading the reader to believe he simply didn't plan ahead. In one instance he is unable to locate the Truman's New Yorker, so he finds another that is similar to Truman's in most respects, except that it's a maroon convertible, sorry, try again, most people would consider those to be completely different cars. Later in the book, he decides to replicate Harry's appearance at the Today show window, but is unable to get near the window at all, because he forgot that Neal Diamond was playing on the plaza that day. He also attends a book signing by Ex-President Carter, and when he finally gets to the head of the line he asks him if he ever met President Truman, he replied "No, but I wish I had" Wow, penetrating insights! Perhaps his most bizarre aside is when he takes time during a U.N. tour to discuss a tour guide's fashion accessory.
Lazy writing and anticlimactic moments aside, this book is not a complete waste of time. It's a fast read so if you have a hole in your reading calendar, it might be a good fit, but if your reading list is as long as mine, feel free to skip this one.
August 4, 2009
Okay, I admit it, I'm just wild about Harry. Harry Truman is one of my favorite presidential personalites and this book made me like him even more. Harry Truman was the last president to leave office without a pension and without Secret Service protection. All he had was a small Army pension for his service in World War I and an advance from a publisher for his memoirs. In June 1953, Bess and Harry Truman, just six months after leaving the White House, packed their Chrysler New Yorker and left Independence, Missouri on a three-week, 2,500 mile road trip that would take them to Washington, Philadelphia, and New York City. This book chronicles that trip. Trying to travel without attracting attention, both President and Mrs. Truman failed miserably. They were recognized nearly everywhere they went and showered with attention and applause. The author is able to include details in this story that makes the Trumans leave the pages of a history book and take on a living-breathing quality. President Truman loved nothing so much as the "song of the open road" and a car in which he could rocket down the road. Bess, on the other hand, felt that he was not the best driver and insisted before leaving home that he couldn't drive more than 55 miles per hour and then she watched the speedometer. Of course, this meant that the former president was pulled over on the Pennsylvania turnpike for impeding traffic. You have to love tht. Truman left office with a 22% approval rating, but he found nothing but an outpouring of affection from Americans on this road trip. The descriptions of people yelling hello to him while he was on his "daily constitutionals" struck a memory for me because when I was a child in the late 50s, I saw him one morning walking briskly down a street in Washington, D.C. with a crowd of well-wishers calling his name and following him at a less brisk pace. The author is very successful in placing Truman into the context of the 1940s and 1950s which makes the book even more enjoyable. Less enjoyable was the author following in Truman's footsteps over 50 years later and trying to stay in the same hotels and eat in the same restaurants. This, I think, is the least successful part of the book.
February 14, 2017
If you look at my bookshelf, there’s an inordinate amount of books about Harry Truman (Plain Speaking, Pietruszka’s 1948, American Gunfight, Killing the Rising Sun). Okay, so some people read about vampires, some read about gunslingers. I read about Harry.
Like Algeo’s other books, he finds another great lost historical nugget. After Ike was sworn in and Harry returned to independence, he and Bess decided to take a road trip to Washington DC. It seems unlikely, even in the 1950s, that Truman could travel without being recognized, and despite Bess’s advice to the same, Harry thought he would give it a try. Of course, he was wrong. Every stop he made created a minor buzz. There’s also a funny story about how he got pulled over by a Pennsylvania cop. This was before social media, so Truman may have had some peace, but every where he showed up, it quickly made it to the press.
Another interesting point to this book was that Truman did not receive a Presidential pension. This probably didn’t worry people as rich as Hoover, or with a Supreme Court job like Taft, private as Coolidge, or those who had passed on in office. This was an issue for Truman. Truman thought it was important to keep the prestige of the office, which solves what modern Presidents would have done- taking symbolic Chairboard positions and lecturing for big bucks. Truman liked to keep an office in Independence and respond to correspondence, which was not cheap.
This is a pretty quick book, and can be read in one or two settings if so inclined. Algeo fills the book out by taking the same route and reporting what he saw. It’s a charming contrast between vacationing in the 50s/60s and modern day. For those like me, we have heard those stories from our parents and grandparents, and that will be soon lost. Algeo meets some of those who met Truman or their descendants.
Along the way, he does what he does best, which is pepper in random trivia. In this case, mostly centering around the interstate system and the hotel/entertainment industry and how it has changed. There’s also plenty of local history in the towns he visited. I eat that stuff up, and if that is the type of book you are interested in, it really is a great book. It is short enough for re-reading, but long enough that you get your money’s worth.
Like Algeo’s other books, he finds another great lost historical nugget. After Ike was sworn in and Harry returned to independence, he and Bess decided to take a road trip to Washington DC. It seems unlikely, even in the 1950s, that Truman could travel without being recognized, and despite Bess’s advice to the same, Harry thought he would give it a try. Of course, he was wrong. Every stop he made created a minor buzz. There’s also a funny story about how he got pulled over by a Pennsylvania cop. This was before social media, so Truman may have had some peace, but every where he showed up, it quickly made it to the press.
Another interesting point to this book was that Truman did not receive a Presidential pension. This probably didn’t worry people as rich as Hoover, or with a Supreme Court job like Taft, private as Coolidge, or those who had passed on in office. This was an issue for Truman. Truman thought it was important to keep the prestige of the office, which solves what modern Presidents would have done- taking symbolic Chairboard positions and lecturing for big bucks. Truman liked to keep an office in Independence and respond to correspondence, which was not cheap.
This is a pretty quick book, and can be read in one or two settings if so inclined. Algeo fills the book out by taking the same route and reporting what he saw. It’s a charming contrast between vacationing in the 50s/60s and modern day. For those like me, we have heard those stories from our parents and grandparents, and that will be soon lost. Algeo meets some of those who met Truman or their descendants.
Along the way, he does what he does best, which is pepper in random trivia. In this case, mostly centering around the interstate system and the hotel/entertainment industry and how it has changed. There’s also plenty of local history in the towns he visited. I eat that stuff up, and if that is the type of book you are interested in, it really is a great book. It is short enough for re-reading, but long enough that you get your money’s worth.
October 17, 2015
Quite an enjoyable book about a little bit of Presidential history as we get to follow Harry and Bess Truman on their trip from Independence, MO to Philadelphia for Harry's first major post-Presidential speech.
Lots of wonderful stories about the Trumans and their friends, and it was quite refreshing to read about an ex-President who was not going about pandering for money or the spotlight,
I read this book to my wife and she did have some troubles following the narrative at times because all of a sudden the author would switch from a Truman story to his own story of recreating Trumans trip without any sort of warning, or he would go from Harry to a topic about a town, or restaurant or something that would leave us wondering why such stories were not left for the end of the chapters.
But for the most part we both loved this book and would definitely recommend it to all.
Lots of wonderful stories about the Trumans and their friends, and it was quite refreshing to read about an ex-President who was not going about pandering for money or the spotlight,
I read this book to my wife and she did have some troubles following the narrative at times because all of a sudden the author would switch from a Truman story to his own story of recreating Trumans trip without any sort of warning, or he would go from Harry to a topic about a town, or restaurant or something that would leave us wondering why such stories were not left for the end of the chapters.
But for the most part we both loved this book and would definitely recommend it to all.
May 8, 2017
Even more than a record of Harry and Bess Truman's road trip during the summer of 1953, this little book is an excellent peek into 1950's Americana and the history that brought us there. As the author tells about Harry's love for the automobile (and driving) he gives us the rich history of our chosen modes of transportation, from the early days of the first horseless carriages to Harry's beautiful 1953 Chrysler New Yorker (the next model up was the Imperial - "too swanky for me," according to Harry).
From their home in Independence, Missouri to New York City and back again we get a glimpse of life at the time - diners and mom and pop restaurants to the first motels (before the mega hotel chains came into existence) to the rise (and demise) of the KKK to flying saucers and the early days of television and the first presidential airplanes.
Harry Truman was truly an original, an avowed Democrat, a devoted husband and father and completely unapologetic with no second thoughts about the decision he made shortly after assuming the office of president to end the war in the Pacific. He left office with only a small pension ($111.96 a month) from his service during World War I. He was the last president to leave the White House in humble circumstances, before presidential pensions became the law of the land and also before round-the-clock Secret Service protection. (Although Harry would have none of that anyway!)
An enjoyable and nostalgic look back into a time not so very long ago and a man who helped shape the world we live in now.
From their home in Independence, Missouri to New York City and back again we get a glimpse of life at the time - diners and mom and pop restaurants to the first motels (before the mega hotel chains came into existence) to the rise (and demise) of the KKK to flying saucers and the early days of television and the first presidential airplanes.
Harry Truman was truly an original, an avowed Democrat, a devoted husband and father and completely unapologetic with no second thoughts about the decision he made shortly after assuming the office of president to end the war in the Pacific. He left office with only a small pension ($111.96 a month) from his service during World War I. He was the last president to leave the White House in humble circumstances, before presidential pensions became the law of the land and also before round-the-clock Secret Service protection. (Although Harry would have none of that anyway!)
An enjoyable and nostalgic look back into a time not so very long ago and a man who helped shape the world we live in now.
April 24, 2009
This is a case where the cover pulled me in, and I ended up really liking the book. What a great photo - Harry Truman driving himself and his wife around, after his presidency. And that's pretty much the focus of the book - a road trip that the Trumans took the year after Harry stepped down from office. Algeo does a wonderful job giving great details about the trip, who the Trumans saw, where they stayed, etc. - and then following up on it with a road trip of his own, retracing the Trumans' steps and chasing down places and people involved. A great window into the end of another era, where an ex-president could actually have financial issues, and could hop in his car and drive himself across the country.
January 14, 2023
A kind of boring book about Harry Truman and his wife, Bess, taking a road trip post-presidency without bodyguards or any sort of fanfare. The author seems obsessed with precisely recreating Truman's every move, breath and meal. At least he has a small sense of humor.
June 20, 2020
On June 19, 1953—exactly 67 years ago as I write this—former President and First Lady Harry and Bess Truman hopped in their 1953 Chrysler New Yorker and went on a road trip for nineteen days. Former presidents did not have Secret Service protection, so there were no bodyguards. Harry and Bess were just a retired couple out enjoying America’s highways. Except they were not just any retired couple. The former President and First Lady were famous and admired, so they attracted attention almost everywhere they went, even though they tried to be inconspicuous.
Since leaving office in January of that year, Harry Truman had been reluctant to do anything he thought would be undignified or beneath the office of the presidency. He turned down lucrative endorsement offers and speech invitations. But when Truman received a speech invitation from a group he had helped bring into existence, he accepted. The speech was in Philadelphia, so he carefully planned a route that would take the former First Couple first to Washington, DC to catch up with old friends, then north to Philadelphia for the speech, then to New York City to see their daughter Margaret, and then back home to Independence, Missouri. Truman planned which cities they would stay in, but he did not make reservations so that there would be no fanfare when they arrived.
Matthew Algeo’s Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure is part history and part travel narrative. Algeo tells the story of how Harry and Bess showed up in small-town diners and stayed in affordable hotels and motels on their route. The details are charming, including what they ordered and how they were treated at gas stations and other establishments along the way. Algeo also provides historical context on various aspects of the trip, including the establishment of the American highway system, presidential book signings, the development of the motel concept, and whatever else strikes his fancy. The other thread of Algeo’s book is his own re-creation of the Trumans’ adventure. Algeo followed the same route and sought out the same restaurants, lodgings, and service stations where the Trumans dropped in. Algeo’s re-tracing took place between 2006 and 2008, and a surprising number of the places and people were still accessible to him. In other cases, he sought out relatives of those who interacted with Harry and Bess or explains what happened to the buildings and businesses they visited.
I enjoyed the heck out of this book. In a summer where travel is somewhat curtailed and American life seems more complicated by the week, this story of a former President and First Lady taking a low-key road trip was completely satisfying. Readers in the mood for a nostalgic albeit vicarious road trip will probably enjoy Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure.
Since leaving office in January of that year, Harry Truman had been reluctant to do anything he thought would be undignified or beneath the office of the presidency. He turned down lucrative endorsement offers and speech invitations. But when Truman received a speech invitation from a group he had helped bring into existence, he accepted. The speech was in Philadelphia, so he carefully planned a route that would take the former First Couple first to Washington, DC to catch up with old friends, then north to Philadelphia for the speech, then to New York City to see their daughter Margaret, and then back home to Independence, Missouri. Truman planned which cities they would stay in, but he did not make reservations so that there would be no fanfare when they arrived.
Matthew Algeo’s Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure is part history and part travel narrative. Algeo tells the story of how Harry and Bess showed up in small-town diners and stayed in affordable hotels and motels on their route. The details are charming, including what they ordered and how they were treated at gas stations and other establishments along the way. Algeo also provides historical context on various aspects of the trip, including the establishment of the American highway system, presidential book signings, the development of the motel concept, and whatever else strikes his fancy. The other thread of Algeo’s book is his own re-creation of the Trumans’ adventure. Algeo followed the same route and sought out the same restaurants, lodgings, and service stations where the Trumans dropped in. Algeo’s re-tracing took place between 2006 and 2008, and a surprising number of the places and people were still accessible to him. In other cases, he sought out relatives of those who interacted with Harry and Bess or explains what happened to the buildings and businesses they visited.
I enjoyed the heck out of this book. In a summer where travel is somewhat curtailed and American life seems more complicated by the week, this story of a former President and First Lady taking a low-key road trip was completely satisfying. Readers in the mood for a nostalgic albeit vicarious road trip will probably enjoy Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure.
January 20, 2010
I’d classify this book as “history lite,” and I mean it as a compliment. It chronicles the 19-day road trip that Harry and Bess Truman took shortly after Harry left the presidency, so it’s a mix of “standard” history (McCarthyism, Cold War politics, etc.), human interest (the reminiscences of a Pennsylvania state trooper who almost gave Harry a ticket), and tidbits that fall somewhere in between (the birth of the motel industry in America). The two central themes were the Trumans’ attempt to travel incognito, which failed most of the time, and the fact that at that time, ex-presidents received no pensions, so money was a worry for Truman, though not a desperate one. The epilogue revisits this theme by spelling out just how much ex-presidency is worth these days, and it made me angry. If one ex-president would give up his pension and pay for his offices out of his own money, that might go a ways toward stopping up some of that gaping hole that is our deficit.
That said, it was an enjoyable book. I especially liked reading Truman’s opinions on the then-junior senators JFK and LBJ, though the biggest surprise to me was about Herbert Hoover. All I knew about him was that he was president in the first few years of the Great Depression, he didn’t do enough to turn it around, and so he lost to FDR. I didn’t know that before then, he was considered a great humanitarian because he had successfully overseen a huge anti-hunger program that saved thousands in Europe from starvation after World War I. Because of this book, I’m going to try and learn more about Herbert Hoover. (The author, who has a Facebook page for this book, was very friendly and gave me his recommendation of a good biography.)
I must say that my appreciation of this book was greatly enhanced because I already had some background on Truman. I read his daughter’s biography last year, and have heard the lectures of my employer, Rabbi Berel Wein. So for optimum use of this book, brush up on your Truman history, even if only from Wikipedia. But I can’t help but put in a plug for Rabbi Wein’s lecture at: http://www.rabbiwein.com/Harry-S-Trum...
That said, it was an enjoyable book. I especially liked reading Truman’s opinions on the then-junior senators JFK and LBJ, though the biggest surprise to me was about Herbert Hoover. All I knew about him was that he was president in the first few years of the Great Depression, he didn’t do enough to turn it around, and so he lost to FDR. I didn’t know that before then, he was considered a great humanitarian because he had successfully overseen a huge anti-hunger program that saved thousands in Europe from starvation after World War I. Because of this book, I’m going to try and learn more about Herbert Hoover. (The author, who has a Facebook page for this book, was very friendly and gave me his recommendation of a good biography.)
I must say that my appreciation of this book was greatly enhanced because I already had some background on Truman. I read his daughter’s biography last year, and have heard the lectures of my employer, Rabbi Berel Wein. So for optimum use of this book, brush up on your Truman history, even if only from Wikipedia. But I can’t help but put in a plug for Rabbi Wein’s lecture at: http://www.rabbiwein.com/Harry-S-Trum...
September 3, 2012
The premise of this book is outstanding: Harry Truman and his wife, Bess, take a road trip in 1953 and try to be incognito as much as possible, which turns out to be virtually impossible. I think the author did a great job with telling a story about the all-American road trip that an ex-president takes with his wife. And that part of the book is worth reading -- I would give this section (the meat of the book) 5 stars.
The other part of the book involves the author providing a history on different aspects of life then (and now): the highway system, the Today show, Truman's involvement with former presidents, etc. Some of it was really interesting and fit into the scope of the book; some seemed frivalous and a stretch to include at various points. I would give this section of the book 3 stars.
The author re-enacted this drive and tried to find out where Truman stayed/ate/drank, etc., and tried to re-create this as well. Whenever the book got to one of these sections, it turned from non-fiction to almost like a travelogue. Clearly, the author's contention is to show the reader how much things have changed in 59 years. Sometimes, I was left baffled as to why the author added these interjections or commentaries. They're readable, yes, but they really did not seem to fit in with the rest of the book. I would give this section of the book 1 star.
Overall -- 3 stars. It's a very fast read (I was able to read this in less than a day), and it's very light reading.
The other part of the book involves the author providing a history on different aspects of life then (and now): the highway system, the Today show, Truman's involvement with former presidents, etc. Some of it was really interesting and fit into the scope of the book; some seemed frivalous and a stretch to include at various points. I would give this section of the book 3 stars.
The author re-enacted this drive and tried to find out where Truman stayed/ate/drank, etc., and tried to re-create this as well. Whenever the book got to one of these sections, it turned from non-fiction to almost like a travelogue. Clearly, the author's contention is to show the reader how much things have changed in 59 years. Sometimes, I was left baffled as to why the author added these interjections or commentaries. They're readable, yes, but they really did not seem to fit in with the rest of the book. I would give this section of the book 1 star.
Overall -- 3 stars. It's a very fast read (I was able to read this in less than a day), and it's very light reading.
January 4, 2017
“I like roads. I like to move.”
“Harry Truman was the last person to leave the White House and return to something resembling a normal life. And in the summer of 1953 he did something millions of ordinary Americans do all the time, but something no former president had ever done before—and none has done since. He took a road trip...”
In this charming and well-researched book, we get to ride along with Harry and Bess, in their new Chrysler New Yorker, on their trip, from Independence Mo, to the East Coast. The author documents, much of their route, including gas station and restaurant stops, along with their overnight lodging. Harry chats with mechanics, cabbies, fellow diners and state troopers. The author also followed this route, while researching the book and makes interesting comments about how things have changed across the Midwest, in these 60-plus years.
Truman is one of my favorite historical figures. Someone I would love to sit down and have a beer with, plus he loved books. If you would like a little slice of American history, hop in the backseat and give this one a spin.
“Harry Truman was the last person to leave the White House and return to something resembling a normal life. And in the summer of 1953 he did something millions of ordinary Americans do all the time, but something no former president had ever done before—and none has done since. He took a road trip...”
In this charming and well-researched book, we get to ride along with Harry and Bess, in their new Chrysler New Yorker, on their trip, from Independence Mo, to the East Coast. The author documents, much of their route, including gas station and restaurant stops, along with their overnight lodging. Harry chats with mechanics, cabbies, fellow diners and state troopers. The author also followed this route, while researching the book and makes interesting comments about how things have changed across the Midwest, in these 60-plus years.
Truman is one of my favorite historical figures. Someone I would love to sit down and have a beer with, plus he loved books. If you would like a little slice of American history, hop in the backseat and give this one a spin.
August 21, 2012
The year is 1953. Harry S. Truman turned the office of POTUS over to Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 20 and in June of the same year he and his wife Bess took off in a brand new Chrysler New Yorker on a circuitous trip to Washington, D.C., New York City and back to Independence, MO. This is a report on that trip. If you are not that familiar with Harry I suggest you try this one. I think you will find him likeable and I think he was one of our great and underappreciated presidents.
February 8, 2010
Very interesting and fun to read. I feel as if I am in the back seat of Harry's big black car traveling the highways back in the early 50's.
Read
October 3, 20163 stars
Join us noon on First Fridays at the Westport Branch of KCPL when Between the Lines will discuss this 50s road trip.
Join us noon on First Fridays at the Westport Branch of KCPL when Between the Lines will discuss this 50s road trip.
January 22, 2019
3.5
Thoroughly enjoyed the historical back stories.
Thoroughly enjoyed the historical back stories.
April 9, 2023
A smart look at a great man's journey across the country. When Harry Truman set off on a driving vacation from Independence, MO to New York (and points in between) and back, with only his wife, Bess, in tow, he was probably the last president to be able to do so. This book tells the story of the man, the car, the locations he visited, with many delightful digressions.
December 19, 2023
This was an interesting way to relay a few interesting historical facts and situations, by telling it through the point of view of an all American road trip! Plenty of Truman facts as well as many other tidbits such as vehicle facts, road facts, restaurant and hotel history and so many others thrown in.
March 28, 2024
Boring book overall for me but later portions of book have some interesting things about the 1950s new to me.
January 4, 2023
It is hard to imagine Barack and Michelle Obama taking off on a cross country road trip without a gaggle of press and Secret Service protection. But that is exactly what Harry and Bess Truman did from June 19,1953 to July 9, 1953! Matthew Algeo chronicles this little known piece of American history and it is a delightful read. Algeo not only includes anecdotes from people who interacted with the ex president and his wife along the trip but gives sketches of the communities the Truman's encountered as well as some very interesting historical facts. This is certainly not your typical biography but it is a very entertaining look at a former president who embodied the 'common man'.
June 27, 2025
A pleasant recapturing of a thin slice of Harry Truman’s post-presidency. It was a time when presidents did not receive pensions but still had to cope with the monetary demands of their lingering celebrity. It was the summer of 1953, when Truman was adjusting to life back home in Independence, Missouri.
Algeo recreates a road trip the Trumans took to Philadelphia and back again, with a detour through D.C. Harry was at the wheel of a Chrysler New Yorker without air conditioning. Bess navigated. There was no security detail and initially no fanfare, which was part of the fun for the former president. The interstate highway system with convenient motels and eateries was a thing of the future. It was a different time, and Algeo enjoys bringing it back to life.
Algeo recreates a road trip the Trumans took to Philadelphia and back again, with a detour through D.C. Harry was at the wheel of a Chrysler New Yorker without air conditioning. Bess navigated. There was no security detail and initially no fanfare, which was part of the fun for the former president. The interstate highway system with convenient motels and eateries was a thing of the future. It was a different time, and Algeo enjoys bringing it back to life.
August 25, 2022
This book checked the boxes for two of my favorite subjects; presidents and road trips. In 1953, after departing the office of the president, Harry Truman purchased a brand new 1953 Chrysler New Yorker and set off on a road trip heading east toward Philadelphia to deliver a speech at the Reserve Officers Convention. He wasn't happy with Eisenhower's decision to reduce its military spending. Truman, along with his wife Bess, ate at diners, stayed in higher and lower end hotels/motels, took photos, and signed autographs. This would mark the last time an ex-president would set out on a trip without secret-service security, and at the time, ex-presidents were not granted secret-service protection. At this time, ex-presidents also were not provided a government pension, so the Trumans had little money and little protection as they set off on their trip.
The author, Matthew Algeo, followed along Truman's trail as he documented the book. Although many of the original diners the Trumans had ate in were replaced with more modern eateries, Algeo was able to connect with private residences that had housed the Trumans several decades before. He was even able to track down the original New Yorker, which had been collecting dust for years. I am curious to find out where that car is now - but it probably belongs in a museum.
I was intrigued to learn that Truman was virtually penniless when he left the office. Aside from a military pension around $100/month, he didn't have much in the form of income coming in. He did have numerous offers for managerial positions that would have paid admirably, but he was happy to get back to his hometown of Independence, Missouri. He did have a book deal to write his memoirs that paid significantly, upwards of $600,000 - but after expenses for ghost writers, research, publishing, etc. - his take was estimated to be less than $40,000.
A few other interesting tidbits from the book:
- The first motel (or motor hotel) was opened off highway 101 in San Luis Obispo in 1925
- Truman's favorite presidents were Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt
- The term "Air Force One" was coined in 1953 during the Eisenhower presidency after the previous call sign "8610" was already in use
- Truman stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York on his trip. Also staying there were Herbert Hoover and Douglas MacArthur. Hoover wasn't favorable of Truman at the time and Truman had relieved MacArthur of his duties a few years earlier
- After 1965, congress passed a law requiring ex-presidents to take secret-service detail. The Trumans denied the protection for years, but were later influenced by President Johnson to take the security
- At 31 years and 231 days, Herbert Hoover is the longest living ex-president
It was a fun book, with a lot of good information about ex-presidents and cities and places I haven't been to yet but hope to get to eventually.
The author, Matthew Algeo, followed along Truman's trail as he documented the book. Although many of the original diners the Trumans had ate in were replaced with more modern eateries, Algeo was able to connect with private residences that had housed the Trumans several decades before. He was even able to track down the original New Yorker, which had been collecting dust for years. I am curious to find out where that car is now - but it probably belongs in a museum.
I was intrigued to learn that Truman was virtually penniless when he left the office. Aside from a military pension around $100/month, he didn't have much in the form of income coming in. He did have numerous offers for managerial positions that would have paid admirably, but he was happy to get back to his hometown of Independence, Missouri. He did have a book deal to write his memoirs that paid significantly, upwards of $600,000 - but after expenses for ghost writers, research, publishing, etc. - his take was estimated to be less than $40,000.
A few other interesting tidbits from the book:
- The first motel (or motor hotel) was opened off highway 101 in San Luis Obispo in 1925
- Truman's favorite presidents were Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt
- The term "Air Force One" was coined in 1953 during the Eisenhower presidency after the previous call sign "8610" was already in use
- Truman stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York on his trip. Also staying there were Herbert Hoover and Douglas MacArthur. Hoover wasn't favorable of Truman at the time and Truman had relieved MacArthur of his duties a few years earlier
- After 1965, congress passed a law requiring ex-presidents to take secret-service detail. The Trumans denied the protection for years, but were later influenced by President Johnson to take the security
- At 31 years and 231 days, Herbert Hoover is the longest living ex-president
It was a fun book, with a lot of good information about ex-presidents and cities and places I haven't been to yet but hope to get to eventually.
March 15, 2017
Matthew Algeo missed a great marketing tool by NOT titling his book Harry & Bess's Excellent Adventure (full stop). I mean, just look at that cover there on the left. Harry & Bess Truman look like they're ready for shenanigans, don't you think? Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip just sounds so normal and researched and boring.
So...Harry Truman was the last President who didn't leave the White House with a cargo of Secret Service to follow him around and protect him. He didn't have a pension. He was expected to lead a fairly public life and yet pay for it all himself. It cost him $10,000 in a single year for postage to respond to his official mail. When he was invited to Philadelphia in 1953 to give a speech regarding anticipated defense spending cuts (he wasn't in favor), he decided to load his car with traveling gear, bring along his co-pilot, Bess, and set off on a cross-country journey.
Truman loved cars and he loved driving cars. He loved driving them fast--to Bess's dismay. She agreed to the road trip with one caveat: Harry must keep his speed under the limit. Harry hoped to make the trip as a civilian--no fanfare, just him and Bess enjoying a road trip vacation. Unfortunately, even in the years before instant internet access, his face was too well-known and the couple made few stops without having fellow diners or motel customers lined up for autographs--or to just shake the Ex-President's hand. But the Trumans were always gracious to those seeking a few minutes of their time and they soon learned that folks had started missing Harry almost the moment he walked out of the White House. He left office with a low approval rating (22%), but he was repeatedly asked along the way to think about running for another term.
My husband and I enjoy taking road trips (especially on Route 66), so it was interesting to read about Harry Truman's love for the road. The best of the book is the first hand reports from families who hosted or met the Trumans along the way. Algeo attempted to recreate the journey and this might have been more effective if so many of his stops hadn't been derailed by restaurants and hotels having either been torn down completely or converted for other uses. Several of the stops could have been more interesting if he had planned better--he could have visited restaurants that were closed when he stopped by, for instance. Overall, a fairly interesting read which can be finished in a single sitting.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
So...Harry Truman was the last President who didn't leave the White House with a cargo of Secret Service to follow him around and protect him. He didn't have a pension. He was expected to lead a fairly public life and yet pay for it all himself. It cost him $10,000 in a single year for postage to respond to his official mail. When he was invited to Philadelphia in 1953 to give a speech regarding anticipated defense spending cuts (he wasn't in favor), he decided to load his car with traveling gear, bring along his co-pilot, Bess, and set off on a cross-country journey.
Truman loved cars and he loved driving cars. He loved driving them fast--to Bess's dismay. She agreed to the road trip with one caveat: Harry must keep his speed under the limit. Harry hoped to make the trip as a civilian--no fanfare, just him and Bess enjoying a road trip vacation. Unfortunately, even in the years before instant internet access, his face was too well-known and the couple made few stops without having fellow diners or motel customers lined up for autographs--or to just shake the Ex-President's hand. But the Trumans were always gracious to those seeking a few minutes of their time and they soon learned that folks had started missing Harry almost the moment he walked out of the White House. He left office with a low approval rating (22%), but he was repeatedly asked along the way to think about running for another term.
My husband and I enjoy taking road trips (especially on Route 66), so it was interesting to read about Harry Truman's love for the road. The best of the book is the first hand reports from families who hosted or met the Trumans along the way. Algeo attempted to recreate the journey and this might have been more effective if so many of his stops hadn't been derailed by restaurants and hotels having either been torn down completely or converted for other uses. Several of the stops could have been more interesting if he had planned better--he could have visited restaurants that were closed when he stopped by, for instance. Overall, a fairly interesting read which can be finished in a single sitting.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
library-to-read
November 20, 2023Eloise recommends.
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