[Letter Signed]: Harry S. Truman, December 15, 1948

This is a formal letter from the White House, dated December 15, 1948. The letterhead at the top left reads "THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON," indicating its official origin. The recipient is Mr. Wallace G. Holt, Sr., residing at 229 Main Street, Boonville, Missouri.

The body of the letter addresses Mr. Holt’s correspondence from November 25th, apologizing for the delayed response. The writer, President Harry S. Truman, mentions that he expects to be in Independence, Missouri, for Christmas. He graciously acknowledges Mr. Holt’s offer to send a ham, stating that if Mr. Holt still wishes to send it, Truman promises to eat it as soon as it arrives. The letter is signed in large, cursive handwriting by Harry Truman, confirming its authenticity as presidential correspondence from Truman’s administration in the late 1940s.

This letter is a notable example of presidential correspondence, reflecting Truman’s approachable style and the personal nature of some communications between the White House and American citizens.

Accompanying the letter is a plaque containing information about Harry Truman.

Background on Truman

Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. Born in Lamar, Missouri, and raised in Independence, Truman spent his early adulthood working as a farmer and later served as a captain in the Field Artillery during World War I. After the war, he briefly ran a haberdashery before entering politics, first as a judge of Jackson County and then as a U.S. senator from Missouri, elected in 1934. He gained national prominence as chairman of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program—known as the Truman Committee—which sought to reduce waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts.

In 1944, Truman was nominated as vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt and assumed the presidency on April 12, 1945, after Roosevelt’s sudden death, having served only 82 days as vice president. Truman faced immense challenges immediately, including the conclusion of World War II. He made the fateful decision to authorize the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of the war. Truman also played a key role in shaping the postwar world, overseeing the signing of the United Nations charter, implementing the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe, and establishing the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain Soviet expansionism during the early years of the Cold War.