The road to Independence from Topeka leads through Kansas City, which spans the Kansas-Missouri border. It looked like a nice city, but we breezed through on the freeway. This must be the KC Royals Stadium (ya think?), and another stadium behind was probably for the Chiefs. Independence, Missouri, is a small town suburb of KansasCity, Missouri, and is the home town of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. For the younger readers, he was Vice-President under Franklin D. Roosevelt and became president when Roosevelt died near the end of WWII. He authorized the use of the atomic bomb on Japan, ending the war and likely saving millions of American lives. His Presidential Library was here. Truman was a no-nonsense man and made famous the phrase ‘The Buck Stops Here’. Meaning when it came time to take responsibility and make a decision, he would do it. Here’s the actual plaque that sat on his desk. This is a replica of his ‘oval office’. Graves of President and Mrs. Truman (Bess)in the courtyard. Like Eisenhower, who was President after him, he came from very humble beginnings, and remained a ‘common man’ throughout his life. One extravagance he allowed himself was the purchase of two 1941 Chrysler cars in matching dove gray color. A coupe for him and a sedan for Bess. The total cost for both cars was $2700. Another exhibit in the Library is the 1950’s kitchen. The ‘50’s were a time of prosperity after WWII ended. It was a great time in which to grow up, as I can attest. The refrigerator was common to the time, as was the chrome and formica dinette set. A photo on the wall is typical of the homes which sprouted in subdivisions as men returned from the war. Note the TV set! When Truman left Washington, D.C. after Ike’s swearing in as President, he and Bess rode the train back home to Independence (no government plane ride). He retired from the Presidency with no government pension, and no Secret Service protection. He was just a citizen again. They returned to their home which had been inherited from Bess’s family. It’s in a neighborhood of ordinary homes. (He was afforded Secret Service protection after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963). While in Independence, ML wanted to see the Vaile Mansion (I didn’t have to go :-). It was built in 1881 for Harvey Vaile, who was an entrepreneur and US mail contractor (why am I thinking corruption here?). The 31 room mansion is considered one of the best examples of Victorian architecture in the United States. Since Vaile’s death in 1894, the home has been used as a women’s college, an inn, a private asylum & sanitarium, a mineral water company, and a nursing home. Below is pictured a painting on the ceiling over the master bed. The bodice of the dress is only a thin veil, and was considered quite risqué in those days. In fact, members of the community who knew of it (via servants who saw it) ostracized the lady of the house because of it. Now that we have been steeped in Presidential history for two days, we went to a remote little State Park campground near Miami, Missouri, and spent a couple of nights to relax. Plus we had to kill a little time, before heading to Mary Lou’s cousin’s house in Moberly, Mo. There's more good stuff to come. See you on down the road. Stay tuned.
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Who are We?Chuck and Mary Lou have been traveling Trip Reports
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