Presidential Transitions – Roosevelt to Truman – Pieces of History

Today’s post is from Tammy K. Williams, archivist & social media manager at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

Presidential transitions happen on a regular schedule after an election, but they can happen suddenly as well. The first unexpected Presidential transition happened when William Henry Harrison died on April 4, 1841, after being President just 31 days. The transition to President John Tyler set an important precedent: Tyler was indeed President, not just Acting President, and would be referred to as such. 

The transition from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to President Harry S. Truman also happened suddenly. While at his cottage in Warm Springs, Georgia, Roosevelt died at 3:45 p.m. on April 12, 1945, after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

After presiding in the Senate, Vice President Harry S. Truman had gone to Speaker Sam Rayburn’s office. The White House press secretary reached him there and told him to come to the White House at once. When Truman arrived, Eleanor Roosevelt told him that President Roosevelt had died. At 7:05 that evening, Truman took the oath of office as President of the United States.

While unexpected transitions are always upsetting, for many President Roosevelt death was especially traumatic. For young people, Roosevelt was the only President they had known, as he had been President for over 11 years. Roosevelt guided the nation through the worst economic depression in our history, and, since 1941, led the country through the trials of World War II. Many people barely knew anything about Harry S. Truman and felt unsure about his leadership.

One group of people with confidence in Truman’s leadership and skills were his many friends and acquaintances throughout Missouri. Almost immediately, they wrote to Truman to express words of support and encouragement. Truman’s high school math teacher, Ardelia Palmer, wrote to her former student the following day. 

One of Truman’s comrades in World War I, Judge Albert Ridge, wrote to Truman saying, “Everyone I have met in Kansas City expresses great confidence in your capacity to pick up the reins of government and carry on, and lead us to peace and a greater America.” Truman received a telegram from Kansas City businessman and friend Benjamin Sosland, who stated, “To me you have the qualities and the character that is needed to give to America the leadership that it needs at this time.”

Truman also received letters of support from politicians across the country. Former President Herbert Hoover immediately reached out to the new President via telegram, telling him, “You have the right to call for any service in aid of the country.”

In his reply to former President Hoover, Truman added a handwritten postscript, “I assure you I shall feel free to call upon you. Thanks for the offer.”

Truman also received a letter of support from the man who would run against him in 1948, Governor Thomas Dewey of New York. Governor Dewey wrote, “Permit me to extend to you . . . my best wishes for your every success in leading the United States through the difficult years ahead.” 

Celebrities also reached out to President Truman to offer words of encouragement. Baroness Maria Von Trapp, of the Von Trapp family singers, wrote to Truman. In her letter, she wrote, “It was with the greatest joy of heart that we read your message in the paper this noon, ‘Please pray for me, I really mean it.’ It made the deepest impression on us, and we do not want to lose any time in letting you know that we already started on the very first evening after you had taken your oath, to pray for our new President.” 

It is also important to remember that this sudden transition caused upheaval not just in Harry S. Truman’s life, but in the life of his family members as well. New First Lady Bess W. Truman received a letter of encouragement from a woman who had found herself in a similar situation more than 20 years earlier: former First Lady Grace Coolidge. She had suddenly become First Lady when President Warren Harding died on August 2, 1923, and her husband, Calvin Coolidge, became President. Mrs. Coolidge wrote, “I am confident that our nation will be guided wisely through these challenging times by President Truman.” 

Learn about Harry S. Truman and more Presidential history by visiting our Presidential Libraries.