"When Harry Met Pablo" by Matthew Algeo

In May of 1958, former President Harry Truman, his wife Bess, and their friends Sam and Dorothy Rosenman did what many retired folks do - they took a cruise vacation.   They crossed the Atlantic on the luxury liner USS Independence,  and then spent ten days vacationing in the south of France and on the French Riviera.

During that trip, they spent an entire afternoon visiting famed artist Pablo Picasso.   It was visit between two towering figures of the twentieth century who, apart from their fame, could not have been more unalike.  Truman hated modern art.  Picasso was "modern art's" foremost practitioner.  Picasso was an avowed Communist, and Truman hated Communists.  Picasso was withdrawn and private.  Truman was a gregarious and as open as could possibly be.

The meeting of these two makes for an interesting story, to be sure, but check out the subtitle of the book:  "Truman, Picasso and the Cold War Politics of Modern Art".  Indeed, about two-thirds of the book is spent on the history of Art in America, and more specifically, on how "modern art", however one might define that term, was received in America.  Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, "modern art" was used as a flashpoint for far right political extremists and as a bogeyman for communism and as something that would undermine "all that is good for America", however one might define that term.  When the forces of Joe McCarthy were looking under every bed and in every closet for Commies, the Arts did not escape this shameful episode in our history.   This crusade was especially espoused by member of the House of Representatives named George Dondero (R-Michigan).    I had never heard of him, and he is primarily remembered today, if he is remembered at all, for being one of the sponsors of the legislation that led to the creation of the St Lawrence Seaway.  However, in his zeal for going after Art and those who created it, were he alive today, he would no doubt be wearing a red baseball cap and leading the charge to ban books in schools and libraries across the United States.  It was this aspect of the book where I learned something and was again reminded of the old axiom that those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.

As far as Truman meeting with Picasso, some may have seen it as the former President seizing the opportunity to give a Presidential middle finger to the forces of people such as McCarthy and Dondero.  If there was one thing that Truman hated more than communists, it was people who sought to infringe upon the most  basic of American Constitutional rights.

The other one-third of the book focuses on the Trumans' vacation.  As he did in his terrific book "HARRY TRUMAN" EXCELLENT ADVENTURE", Algeo follows the steps of the Trumans' trip.  He was able to track down people whom the President encountered on the cruise ship crossing the Atlantic, visited the same spots in France that the Trumans did, and even discovered some of the people that the President encountered while there.  For example, there is a story of the Truman party inadvertently crashing a wedding reception in one of the French towns, and Harry ended up posing for pictures with the bride and groom.

He also visited the same spots where the Truman Party and Picasso met and toured, and recreated some of the same poses that the Trumans, Rosenmans, and Picasso stood for.  Interestingly enough, any pictures of the event were personal photos taken by Sam Rosenman.  There were no news photographers present.  The visit itself was barely noted in American newspapers at the time, and David McCullough's massive and definitive biography of Truman makes no mention of it all.  Can you imagine if a visit by the Clintons, Bushes, or Obamas was made to an artist of such status (say, Taylor Swift?) took place today?   The world would be bombarded by news coverage of such an event.

The Trumans never undertook another such vacation again.  The following year, the Rosenmans invited them to join them on a trip to Japan.  Harry declined saying "I would love to, but I don't dare."  As the President who authorized the use of atomic weapons against Japan, he felt that he would be less than welcome in that country.  Kind of sad when you think about it.

I loved the scene that Algeo used to close the book.  It was of himself waiting in an automobile dealership while his car was being serviced.....

"Decorating the drab gray walls of the waiting room are two generic abstract paintings, black-and-gray squiggles on white canvas, no doubt purchased from a wholesaler who specializes in furnishings for such public spaces.  Modern art is mundane now.  Some would argue that it's not even modern anymore."

As with all of Algeo's books, I learned a lot by reading "When Harry Met Pablo", and I learned it by reading this most entertaining account of a little known aspect of Presidential history.  History can be taught in an entertaining and informative manner,  It does not have to be delivered in massive, drab, and forbidding historical tomes.  If you type the name "Matthew Algeo" in the search box of this blog, you will find my reviews of his other books.  All are worth reading.

The Algeo Catalog

Every one of them a damn good read!

I give "When Harry Met Pablo" Three and One-Half Grandstander Stars.

Book Review: "The Hidden White House"

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a book in this space called "FDR's Funeral Train" by Robert Klara.  Shortly after I finished reading that book, the good folks at Amazon recommended another book by Mr. Klara, "The Hidden White House", which I purchased and immediately read.

This one, as you can see from the subtitle above, is about the reconstruction of the White House that took place during the Administration of President Harry Truman.  "Reconstruction" is putting it mildly, because, essentially, the White House was pretty much torn down and totally rebuilt.  Only the outer walls and the roof were left standing as the iconic building was totally disassembled, gutted, and rebuilt.  I was aware that such a "remodeling" job took place back in Truman's days, but was unaware of the enormity and the scope of the job that was done.

The White House was built in the 1790's, was rebuilt following the burning of the building by the British Army in the War of 1812, was remodeled yet again in 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt, and yet again in during the Coolidge Administration.  During WW II, it fell into a state of disrepair to the point that, by the time the Trumans moved in, the place was, quite literally, falling down upon the staff and residents.  The only way to save it, was to complete gut the place and rebuild, and there were some folks who felt that one alternative at the time was to completely level the place, outer walls and all.

Like most things involving the government, there was political bickering, cost overruns, and delays.  A job that was to be completed in 660 days, or slightly less than two years, took three years and three months to complete. Part if the reason was the politics of the time - the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the Korean War, the President's plummeting approval ratings - and part of it was just a good old-fashioned government boondoggle. Author Klara has done an unbelievable amount of research into every thing that went into the entire project, some of it is mind-numbing (right down to how many cubic yards of concrete were poured during the reconstruction), but it really is a fascinating story.  

Here's my favorite part of the tale. The project was dragging on so long, that it began to look like the Trumans were never gong to get back into the White House.  The President had decided that he was not going to seek reelection in 1952, and, by God, he wanted to spend his last year in office living in the White House.  So, in January of 1952, Harry called all parties involved in the project into his office and "gave 'em hell".  He was tired of deadlines not being met, so he, the President of the United States, was now going to set one.  The Queen of the Netherlands was going to make a state visit to the USA on April 2, Truman had invited the Royal Family to stay in the White House, so the project had to be done by then.  No ifs ands, or buts.  It was impossible, everyone involved said, but guess what?  The Trumans were back in the White House by the last week of March.

The lesson is that when someone in authority wants something to happen, really WANTS it, it can and does get done.

So, Robert Klara is now two-for-two in writing interesting books about Presidential history.  I can't wait to see what he's going to write about next.

Book Review: "FDR's Funeral Train" by Robert Klara

I just finished reading this really fascinating book that is about, as the title suggests, the train trip from Warm Springs, GA to Washington, DC to Hyde Park, NY and back to Washington following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Warm Springs on April 12, 1945. 

Having come of age in an era when Presidents can be anywhere in the United States, or the world for that matter, in a matter of hours, it fascinated me to read about an event such as the death of a President and its aftermath taking place on a train ride, and a very lengthy ride at that while, oh yeah, a war was going on.  Consider this time table.

The President died at around 3:30 on a Thursday afternoon.  His body was prepared by an Atlanta funeral director, and the train left Warm Springs for Washington on mid-morning Friday.  (Mrs. Roosevelt was flown from Washington to Warm Springs on a special military transport plane and arrived late on Thursday night.)  It took 22 hours for the train to arrive in Washington on Saturday morning.  

After a brief state funeral service in the White House, it was back on the train late at night for the trip to Hyde Park.  The train arrived there at around 10:00 on Sunday morning.  There was a brief burial service at the Roosevelt Estate, whereupon the train, after about a three hour stop, headed back to Washington and arrived late Sunday night.

On board the train from Washington to Hyde Park was the new President, Harry Truman, and much of the trip was spent with Truman being briefed about his new job.  He brought with him, to he chagrin of the Roosevelt loyalists, who slowly began to realize that their days of power would soon be drawing to a close, some of the men who would become HIS key advisers in a new Administration.  Even in the first hours of his Presidency, Harry Truman, much looked down upon by many, proved to be a pretty shrewd guy.

It is also amazing to read of the logistics that had to take place to plan a state funeral at the White House, a burial in Hyde Park, and figure out who would attend and who would ride on the train from Washington to Hyde Park.  In fact, two trains made that trip, the second one being filled with mostly Congressional dignitaries. 

I read a book like this and realize how much I wish my Dad was still with us.  I would have loved to have talked to him about the events described and picked his brains about it.  I know that he would have remembered, if not all the details, but a lot about the personalties of the key players in this real life drama.

Very interesting book about a momentous time in our history and an era that will never return.

Book Review: "Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure"

In June of 1953, a recently retired executive and his wife got in their brand new car, just the two of them, and embarked on a road trip that covered several states, 19 days, and over 2,500 miles. Just another retired couple taking a long vacation to sight see and visit friends and family, right?

Hardly, because the couple in question was the recently-left-office President of the United States, Harry Truman and his wife, Bess. Author Matthew Algeo has written a fascinating and entertaining book, "Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure" (2009), that chronicles the Trumans' road trip. Not only is it an interesting historical account (hey, this is Harry Truman , one of the great Presidents we're talking about here), but it is also an interesting travelogue, and a commentary on how America and the Presidency, or, rather, the Ex-Presidency, has changed over the last 60 years.

Imagine, if you will, if Bill and Hillary or George W. and Laura decided to pack up a car and ramble about the country for three weeks with no security detail, no entourage, all by their lonesomes. Unimaginable, right? Well, in 1953, Harry Truman left office with no job, no personal fortune (not even a small nest egg), and no presidential pension, only a $111/month Army pension (interestingly, Truman got a pension for serving as an enlisted man for a few years during WW I, but nothing for serving 7+ years as Commander-in-Chief), no government expense account to support an office staff. Pretty bleak. That, however, was pretty much the way it was with ex-Presidents back then, and that was pretty much OK with Harry Truman.

After a few months in retirement, Harry accepted an offer to deliver a speech in Philadelphia, and he and Bess decided to drive there from Independence, MO. During that trip they visited and sometimes stayed with friends, ate anonymously (sometimes) in roadside diners and family owned restaurants, and stayed in cheap motels, ans even got pulled over by a PA state trooper on the PA Turnpike! While they were sometimes able to remain incognito on the trip, they usually were recognized and were warmly greeted by the folks that they encountered. Algeo retraces the trip, and re-visits the places that Harry and Bess visited, and talks to the people that they encountered, and gives you a fascinating look at America before there were Holiday Inns, Wal-Marts, McDonald's, and big box retailers. You also get to encounter two young US Senators who had big things ahead of them, Jack Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and you get to learn some insights, through Harry's eyes, on people such as Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Herbert Hoover.

By 1958, Congress realized that former Presidents should not be near indigent, and passed the first law that granted a pension and expenses to ex-Presidents, and after the Kennedy assassination in 1963, Secret Service protection was continued for ex-Presidents and their wives as well. At that time, these were relatively modest sums of money, but we all know how that has worked out since then. When Bill Clinton was in office, there was a point when there were five Formers (as they apparently refer to themselves) still alive, and the cost of Secret Service protection alone amounted to over $20 million a year.

Truman never accepted high paying figurehead jobs or Board of Directors positions (and he was offered such opportunities). He felt that it commercialized the Presidency and was undignified. Again, we know how it works today. Algeo gives the credit, if that's the right word, to Gerald Ford for turning the Post-Presidency into a gold mine. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton received, and receive, millions for speaking engagements. Ironically, the one Former who was most like Harry in how he operated during his Ex-Presidency was Richard Nixon who was one of two politicians that Truman truly hated (the other was some local Missouri pol).

This is not a long and ponderous historical tome, but an entertaining and most readable book that chronicles a small portion of the life of one of the twentieth century's great figures, and shines an interesting light on an America that was and is no more.

By the way, regular readers may recognize the name of Matthew Algeo. He is also the author of the book "The President is a Sick Man" about a secret operation performed on President Grover Cleveland back in 1893. I wrote about that book in The Grandstander back in July. He comes up with some amazing chronicles about our Presidents. I can't wait to see what he might have up his sleeve for the future.