HARRY S. TRUMAN: PLAIN SPEAKING (TV)
Summary
This one-man drama is based on the writings of Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), and chronicles the life and political career of the thirty-third President of the United States. Ed Flanders -- who won an Emmy Award for his performance -- speaks directly to the camera in his portrayal of the gruff, pragmatic Missouri native. This drama focuses on Truman's childhood, military service, professional careers as a farmer and habadasher, his entrance into politics in Missouri, tenure in the Senate, investigation into military spending waste, views on civil rights, nomination for the vice presidency, his campaigning via American railways, his dislike for Joe Kennedy (whom he describes: "as big a son of a bitch as this country ever had"), the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman's tenure as President, the utilization of the atomic bomb in Japan as a means to end World War II, the Marshall Plan, the establishment of the state of Israel, Truman's regrets about creating the CIA, his distrust of the military, the Korean War, his impressions of General Douglas MacArthur, the Kennedys, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Senator Joseph McCarthy ("a moral pygmy and a coward"), and Truman's own egress from executive office.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: WQED / PBS
- DATE: October 5, 1976
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:49
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:11444
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Drama; U S - Officials; U S - Politics and government; U S - Presidency
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1976
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Susskind … Producer
- Raysa R. Bonow … Associate Producer
- Daniel Petrie … Director
- Maureen Tretick … Direction (Misc.), Assistant Director
- Carol Sobieski … Writer
- Merle Miller … From the book by
- Ed Flanders … Cast, Harry S. Truman
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Joe Kennedy
- Douglas MacArthur
- Joseph McCarthy
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Harry S. Truman