Truman Harry

Harry Truman World War II Archive, 57 Items



[WORLD WAR II]. Archive of 57 letters and telegrams, mostly between Senator Harry S. Truman or his secretaries and John W. Snyder, also includes one printed and two typed speeches by Truman, two handwritten notes, one handwritten postcard, and a newspaper clipping; all letters and telegrams are typed. 1940-1943. 83 pp., up to 9" x 11.25". Very good.



This collection of correspondence includes letters between Senator Truman and his supporter John W. Snyder, Manager of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, in St. Louis, Missouri, and related correspondence. Much of the correspondence deals with constituent matters and Truman's reelection campaign in 1940.



Highlights and Excerpts

-Victor R. Messall to John W. Snyder, February 14, 1940

"I arrived back in Washington a week ago Monday and found the Senator in pretty bad shape with a case of old-fashioned grippe. We put him to bed Wednesday and got a doctor and a nurse, and I think we have him just about straightened out. We didn't make very much noise about it, but he had a fever of 102, and I don't think he will be able to get back to the office before Thursday or Friday."

"I think the Senator's spirits are up a little now, and I feel that he is really determined."

"Grippe" is an older term for influenza, an acute contagious viral disease.

Victor R. Messall (1898-1970) served as secretary to Senator Harry S. Truman from 1935 to 1941, when he resigned to pursue public relations in Washington.



-Harry S. Truman to John W. Snyder, March 6, 1940 (telegram)

"Am considering Robert H. Schulz, 4467 Beck Avenue, St Louis for alternate appointment to Annapolis. Please wire me official business Collect what information you can get about him"



-John W. Snyder to Harry S. Truman, March 8, 1940 (telegram)

"Re Robert H. Schulz son of salesman Wilson and Company. Freshman engineer Washington University. Dean of university advises that his scholastic standing is average plus. Nice personality good physique"

Robert H. Schulz (1921-2018) was the son of Robert and Charlotte Schulz. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated in June 1943, but was physically disqualified for a commission in the regular Navy and honorably discharged. While in Annapolis, he met Barbara L. Windsor (1926-2009), the daughter of a librarian at the Academy, and they married in 1944.



-Catherine Bixler to John W. Snyder, April 9, 1940

"Mildred and I are coming to St. Louis, Sunday, arriving on the B. & O. at 1:10 in the afternoon, and Vic suggested that we ask you to reserve a room for us.... We hope that this isn't too much of an imposition, but with the Democratic Convention taking place in St. Louis we knew rooms would be scarce and that it would probably take the influence of a Colonel of Field Artillery to get one for us."

Missouri Democrats held their state convention in St. Louis on April 15, to select delegates to the Democratic National Convention, to be held in Chicago in July.

Catherine Bixler Rohde (1912-1988) and Mildred L. Dryden (1912-2002) served as secretaries to Senator Harry S. Truman.



-Horace B. Deal to John W. Snyder, June 28, 1940

"I am sending you herewith the data in connection with my boy Bill and the reasons why he should be given a commission.... I have an engagement with the Senator at 12:30 tomorrow to meet the representatives of the Building Trades Council in the hope of beating Stark to their endorsement.... Anderson told me to have the Senator write the endorsement he wants printed in the Building Trade News and it will be put in."

Horace B. Deal (1883-1959) founded H. B. Deal & Company in 1922 as a construction firm. In June 1943, the company receivef the Army-Navy E Award as a recognition of achievement in war construction work.



-John W. Snyder to Harry S. Truman, July 1, 1940

"You will find enclosed data concerning the son of our friend, H. B. Deal. If it is possible to give assistance in getting this boy into the Officers Reserve Corps, I shall greatly appreciate your efforts."



-John W. Snyder to Harry S. Truman, July 2, 1940

"Please write Colonel Hartman, commending the firm of H. B. Deal and Company to him for construction contracts contemplated under the Defense Program."



-Harry S. Truman to Charles D. Hartman, July 3, 1940 (telegram)

"I wish to strongly recommend to your earnest consideration in awarding construction contracts under the defense program the firm of H. B. Deal and Company, St. Louis Missouri. Your interest will be appreciated"

Charles D. Hartman (1886-1962) was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and served in the Quartermaster Corps from 1929 until his retirement in 1942. In March 1940, Hartman became chief of the Construction Division of the Corps. He designed the Series 700 barracks buildings that housed soldiers for more than fifty years.



-Emil Schram to Harry S. Truman, August 9, 1940

"Please accept my warmest congratulations on your primary victory. I understand that you faced a most difficult situation, which fact must add materially to the satisfaction accompanying the success of your fine campaign. Best wishes for a greater victory in November."

On August 6, 1940, Truman faced a tough, three-way Democratic primary election against opponents Governor Lloyd Crow Star, and U.S. Attorney Maurice M. Milligan. Truman won a narrow plurality with just under 41 percent of the vote to Stark's nearly 40 percent and Milligan's 19 percent. Truman went on to win the general election in November with just over 51 percent of the vote.

Emil Schram (1893-1987) was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation from 1939 to 1941, when he became president of the New York Stock Exchange, a position he held from 1941 to 1951.



-Clarence M. Turley to Harry S. Truman, September 22, 1941

"In our office buildings in StLouis, as in other parts of the country, we are housing necessary executive departments of industries essential to the Defense Program. For example, in the Ambassador Building in StLouis, Westinghouse Electric Co. has found it necessary to materially expand it office quarters, as has likewise, Laclede Christy Clay Products Co., whose business is refractories and other items essential to the Defense Program.... We have found in the operation of these properties that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain necessary material and supplies for ordinary maintenance work and we consider the operation of these properties to be definitely essential to the continued activities of our tenants engaged in the Defense effort."

Clarence M. Turley (1893-1970) was the manager of the Ambassador Building Corporation and sought an amendment to Preference Rating Order P-22 to include building owners and managers in the industries affected by that order. Order P-22 of the Office of Production Management gave preference to certain industries to obtain material for the repair of property or equipment.



-Harry S. Truman to J. D. Wright, May 29, 1941

"The airplane pictures which you so kindly sent me via John Snyder are really beautiful. I hope that you will soon give me the pleasure of showing you how well they look hung in my office."

J. David Wright was an attorney and general manager for Thompson Products, a manufacturer of automobile and aircraft engine parts in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1953, Wright became president of Thompson Products.



-Hugh A. Fulton to John W. Snyder, August 14, 1941

"This will confirm my telephone conversation with you this morning in which I stated that Senator Truman is very anxious that information as to the exact status of the negotiations for the construction of aluminum and alumina plants should be collected so as to be available for hearings which the committee may wish to schedule."

Hugh A. Fulton (1908-1962) was an attorney and the chief counsel for the Special Committee Investigating the National Defense Program, which Senator Harry S. Truman chaired.



-Harry S. Truman to John W. Snyder, November 6, 1942, Autograph Letter Signed "Harry"

"While I was in St. Louis I had quite a talk with John Nangle regarding his Underwriters Shares Company. He seems to be in some difficulty with the State Insurance Department, which is apparently being handled on the O'Malley plan. I will certainly appreciate it if something can be done to pull John out of the hole. He assures me that the security is ample and that he can work the thing out so no one will suffer a loss if he can get over this hump."

John J. Nangle (1891-1960) was an attorney and insurance executive, who was president of the Underwriters Shares Company in 1940.



-John W. Snyder to Harry S. Truman, November 9, 1942

"I have taken a keen interest in the problems of John Nangle in connection with the Underwriters Shares Company and, therefore, greatly appreciate your letter of November 6th evidencing your interest in the matter. I hope that something can be worked out that will permit this Company to continue in business."



-Harry S. Truman to John W. Snyder, December 20, 1942 (telegram)

"Talked to Nangle from New York. Wired Jones at Houston asking that Nangle be accommodated."

John W. Snyder (1895-1985) was born in Arkansas and studied at Vanderbilt University before serving in the army during World War I. After World War I, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves with Harry S. Truman, with whom he became close friends. Snyder moved to Washington in the early 1930s with a background in banking and business. He held several public and private offices including manager in the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Executive Vice President in the Defense Plant Corporation, National Bank Receiver in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Loan Administrator, and Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion. In 1946, his friend President Harry Truman appointed Snyder as Secretary of the Treasury, a position he held until the end of Truman's second term in January 1953. A deeply conservative businessman, he believed the post-war economy would work itself out, and he reduced the national debt while balancing the budget.



Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), Thirty-third President of the United States. A Missouri native, Truman first won elective office in 1922, winning a judge's seat on the Jackson County Court. After serving several terms, Truman was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1934, and in 1940 gained national attention for his chairmanship of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, which was eventually nicknamed "The Truman Committee." Truman continued his political rise in 1944, when he was elected Vice-President as Franklin D. Roosevelt's running mate. After only 82 days as Vice President, Truman was thrust into the Presidency when Roosevelt died unexpectedly. His inheritance was a world at war. Germany had surrendered, but Japan refused to give up the war. Truman, in a desperate move to avoid having to invade the Japanese mainland, ordered the deployment of two atomic bombs. They were dropped on August 6 and August 9, 1945. Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945. As President, Truman waged an undeclared war on the Soviet Union, drafting the "Truman Doctrine," which proclaimed the United States' willingness to provide aid to countries resisting communism. The Marshall Plan sought to strengthen the European economy in the hopes that this program, too, would prevent the spread of Soviet influence. Elected President for a full term in 1948, he also brought United States troops into the Korean War (1950-1953). In addition to his cold war activities, Truman's administration expanded the New Deal and promoted Civil Rights initiatives.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.



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