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Militaria and Political Auction
Lot 1315:
Harry S. Truman
DS Truman’s statement 8.5" x 11" October 20, 1959
File Presidential QVSNCU J
Thirty-third President (1945-1953). Truman was a Senator from Missouri and chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program during World War II. In 1944 Roosevelt selected Truman as his running mate and served only two months before Roosevelt died. He ordered the atomic bombings and helped create the United Nations. He also approved of the Marshall Plan for war-torn Europe, created the Truman Doctrine which assisted countries threatened by Communism, and backed the Korean War. At home, his Fair Deal extended some of the domestic reforms Roosevelt had started.
Harry Truman signed speech on death of General George C. Marshall
1pp 8.5" x 11" typed statement regarding the death of General George C. Marshall (1880-1959) signed by 33rd
U.S. President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) as "Harry Truman" in blue ball point pen at bottom right. Also accompanied by a typed statement signed by Truman’s then assistant military aide Cornelius J. Mara as "C.J.
Mara" (1896, ret. 1953) in black ball point pen. In very good condition with overall toning, browning, and isolated stains including part of faded coffee ring intersecting with Truman’s signature. Several paper folds in Truman’s statement have been professionally restored verso. Mara’s statement measures 7.25" × 3.625".
Retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Cornelius J. Mara, who was then serving as Truman’s assistant military aid, reported in an official statement "made for the record" how Truman heard that General Marshall died. "I was with Pres. Truman in his suite at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC on the morning of October 20, 1959 when word reached us by phone that General George C. Marshall had just died ..
» Mara claimed that Truman
wrote his statement in the moments after hearing the news. Mara’s statement is on "Cornelius J. Mara, Brig.
General U.S.A.F., Ret." letterhead listing his North Palm Beach, Florida address. The "J" of Mara’s signature is truncated by the bottom paper edge.
Harry Truman’s statement was hurriedly typed in the hotel office on watermarked cream paper and then given to the press:
"Statement by Former President of the United States Harry S. Truman
My friends – friends of General Marshall.
General Marshall was an honorable man, a truthful man, a man of ability.
Honor has no modifying adjectives – a man has it or he hasn’t. General Marshall had it.
Truth has no qualifying words to be attached to it. A man either tells the truth or he doesn’t. General Marshall was the exemplification of the man of truth.
Ability can be qualified. Some of us have little of it, some may have moderate ability, and some men have it to the extreme. General Marshall was a man of the greatest ability.
He was the greatest general since Robert E. Lee.
He was the greatest administrator since Thomas Jefferson. He was the man of honor, the man of truth, the man of greatest ability.
He was the greatest of the great in our time.
I sincerely hope that when it comes my time to cross the great river General Marshall will place me on his staff so that I may try to do for him what he did for me".
Truman’s eulogy showed the extent of the president’s huge admiration for his former subordinate. Truman relied on General George C. Marshall as a top advisor in European and Asian affairs during both presidential terms.
Marshall implemented his 13-million-dollar plan to rebuild Western Europe, and later served as a Special Envoy to China. During Truman’s second administration, Marshall served as Secretary of State and later as Secretary of Defense. Truman followed Marshall’s advice during the Korean War and later ordered him to replace General Douglas MacArthur. In 1959, Truman had been retired for six years, and spent most of his time writing.
General George C. Marshall had died four days before Truman’s statement was released, on October 16, 1959, at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. The former five-star general, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and public servant is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Truman’s touching tribute to his friend, adviser, and colleague General George C. Marshall!
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