Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story Of A Great American Road Trip (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
A cute and charming account of Harry's road trip to the East after he relinquished the Presidency. I'd read McCullough's epic biography of Truman and enjoyed it but Algeo comes up with a few things I'd forgotten or that weren't mentioned; like the S in Truman's last name stood for really nothing and he didn't write a period after it. Truman also almost joined the KKK at one point. Algeo tried to be as accurate as possible following in Truman's footsteps but many of the buildings have vanished. It's an entertaining account of a most excellent adventure and one we'll never see again- an ex-President driving himself around the country without a security detail. We also won't see an ex-President begging for a pension or "destitute" for funds like Truman who refused to sully the office of the Presidency by joining corporate boards, etc.. It's now the path to riches. Good thing Harry is not around to witness it. Along the way we are exposed to lots of interesting tangential topics like the piano factory in Indiana and a sensational murder trial involving the KKK. My dad bought this for me after I griped about not liking Harry Truman, mostly on account of his being- in my mind- a jerk to J. Robert Oppenheimer. (I have some unexplainable affinity for JRO.) I disliked Harry Truman so much that I was secretly pretty disappointed that his 22% approval rating (I specifically remember the number, yes) upon leaving office basically doesn't really "count" anymore as he is rated pretty high on the List Of Fabulous American Presidents.So I didn't know a whole lot about Truman and had no particular interest in reading an in-depth biography since I was so bitter. And while wasn't able to grow a big ole soft spot after reading this book, I understand a lot more about him and have essentially mellowed out. How can I be grouchy when all the guy wanted to do was take a road trip in a giant Chrysler? I can relate to that.This was fun to read, and full of little side facts about each location and some of the people Truman and his wife encountered on the way. The author stopped where the Trumans did, and while there are a few of the obligatory, "now a McDonald's stands in its place" which is always depressing to hear, I thought it was super neat. It was also interspersed with biographical facts about Truman, his career, and his life after the White House. It was so obvious that the author had a really good time while he was working on this; which helped keep my interest in an historical figure I otherwise would have skipped looking into.
What do You think about Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story Of A Great American Road Trip (2009)?
It was lots of fun traveling with Harry and Bess. A totally different presidential book.
—Patricia
Terrific companion to the last book I read, The Hidden White House, by Robert Klara.
—blue86
.i really enjoyed reading this wonderful book about our country's past. Sweet story!
—Laltu
A good weekend read that will give you some historical tidbits you don't know.
—ashe
