113 174
“A MANWHOWANTSTO DO RIGHT SHOULD . . .
ONLY HAVE HIS OBJECTIVE INVIEW”
154
●
TRUMAN, HARRY S. Archive of 27 Typed Letters Signed, “Harry” or in full,
including 12 as President, a few with brief holograph postscript, to Kansas City friend
Shannon C. Douglass, mostly on political topics, including the WPA, ensuring Democratic
victories in MO contests, the rationing board, the DNC membership, the Dixiecrat move-
ment, the importance of public opinion, and others. Many with retained copy of
Douglass’s letter to him.Together 27 pages, 4to, “United States Senate,”“Office of the Vice
President,” or White House stationery, some with integral blank; horizontal fold.Two with
the original envelope. (TFC)
Washington, 1938-51
[5,000/7,500]
9 October 1941:“. . . I am sorry about theWPA situation in North Missou[ri], butWPA is getting
worse all the time. I will try to help . . . .”
12 October 1941: “. . . I am trying to get the Corporation to see the error of its ways and put a
Missouri Democrat at its head. . . .
“
I understand that they are getting ready to lay off about a hundred people in Kansas City, and it
would surprise me if they would leave any Missouri Democrats in the organization. I certainly do
wish we could get some one there who would look out for our friends.”
3 February 1942: “. . . I will certainly appreciate it if you will continue to give me your reaction to
the political situation in Kansas City.The welfare of the whole Democratic Party in the State some-
what hinges on what is going on in Kansas City.”
24 June 1942: “. . . I don’t have any ambition whatever to be a political boss, and with this war
strain I have the most terrific job I have ever had in my life. I do however, want to help save the
Democratic Party in Jackson County and that is the reason I want to spend the time trying to help,
but I certainly don’t want to be held up in the light of a dictator.”
15 December 1942: “. . . If this rationing board’s fumbling continues, there won’t be a Democrat
elected in ‘44, and it looks as though they are trying to continue it.”
17 January 1948: “I appreciated . . . your letter . . . regarding the Labor leader in the Democratic
National Committee.We are going to work that situation out. . . .”
13 August 1948: “. . . I think you are exactly right about the Dixiecrat movement—it should be
stopped immediately. . . .”
25 April 1951:“. . . I think you are correct about the situation as regards public opinion.As you know,
however, public opinion is a fickle goddess and a man who wants to do right should never have his ears
to the ground—-he should only have his objective in view and follow it because it is right. . . .”