Jack Remembers -- Frank, Harry, and Les

     Forty years ago this last December 26^th, President Harry S. Truman died.  He was 88 years old.  When I was a boy growing up in Oak Grove, everyone claimed to know Harry Truman.  He had been our Eastern Judge (now called Commissioner) and did have several friends in Oak Grove.  Two of his closest friends were Frank Robinson and Les George.  They all three were members of Pendergast’s Democratic Club at 1908 Main Street in Kansas City. 

     Frank first met Harry before either one of them was involved in politics when he bought a load of cattle from Harry’s father at their Grandview farm in the early 1920’s.  Later when Harry was a County Judge, he gave Frank one of the best patronage jobs the County had.  Frank continued to work for the county 45 years until he retired.  His daughter, Marguarite Miller, now 93, said that her father told her when Harry would visit he would put her on his lap.  Frank always said Harry Truman was the best friend he ever had.

     Les George was Mayor of Oak Grove seven terms and like Harry, served one term as Eastern Judge.  Les’s stepmother was Harry’s first cousin.  And probably before going to Washington as our Senator, Harry would say Les George was his best friend.  Harry, Bess, and Margaret, visited Les and his wife Mae in Oak Grove many, many times.  They would sometimes bring Harry’s sister Mary Jane and his mother Martha.  I read an interview of Les where he said he would visit Harry in Washington a couple times a year and have lunch in the Senate dining room.  Here I thought I was the only one from Oak Grove to have lunch in the Senate dining room. 

    I always loved Harry’s quotes.  When asked how he felt when told President Roosevelt had died, he replied “Have you ever had a load of hay fall on you?”  The next time he was asked the same question he said, “It felt like the stars, the moon, and the planets had fallen on me.”  I liked the first explanation better.  Later in his Presidency, Harry’s popularity plummeted.  When it hit 32% approval, Senator Fulbright from Arkansas asked him to resign.  When told what Fulbright said, Harry replied, “I never pay any attention to what Senator Halfbright says.”

Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075, or jackremembers@aol.com.  Visit www.jackremembers.com