TRUMAN (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television docudrama details Harry S. Truman's rise to power from a Missouri businessman to President of the United States. This program begins in 1948 with Truman on the verge of his expected defeat at the hand of Thomas E. Dewey. Next, the program flashes back to Truman at age 33, as he proposes to his future wife Bess before signing up for the army during the peak of World War II. While at war, Truman writes Bess letters every day and comes home a hero. As a haberdasher in Missouri, Truman eventually catches the eye of political power broker Tom Pendergast who urges him to run for county commissioner; Truman he does, and wins. Truman makes a name for himself as commissioner, fighting for what he believes in even if it coincides with Pendergast's opinions. Eventually, Truman wants to run for state governor, but Pendergast steers him toward the Senate. As Senator, Truman first hears about the mysterious Manhattan Project. Next, he gets added to Franklin Roosevelt's presidential ticket as the vice-presidential nominee. Meanwhile, Bess and Margaret hate life in Washington, D.C. and yearn to be back in Missouri. When Pendergast dies shortly after having been thrown in jail for fraud, Truman is the only politician to go to his funeral. Roosevelt abruptly dies and Truman finds himself President of the United States, immediately learning about the Manhattan Project and its implications for a nuclear war. After a modestly successful first term, but with much of the country disapproving of his actions, Truman decides to run for a second term. Bess is quite upset, still wanting to resume life in Missouri. As Truman goes to sleep on election night, Dewey seems to be the clear winner. But, after the final votes are tallied, it is Truman who is declared President. Later, Truman returns home to Missouri after the completion of his second Presidential term.
(This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.)
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: September 9, 1995 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:06:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64707
- GENRE: Docudrama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Presidents - United States - Biography; Harry S. Truman, 1939-1953; Drama
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1995
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Anthea Sylbert … Executive Producer
- Paula Weinstein … Executive Producer
- Doro Bachrach … Producer
- Frank Pierson … Director
- David McCullough … Writer, Story by
- Thomas Rickman … Writer, Teleplay by, Based on the book by David McCullough
- David Mansfield … Music by
- Gary Sinise … Cast, Harry S. Truman
- Diana Scarwid … Cast, Bess Truman
- Richard A. Dysart … Cast, Henry L. Stimson
- Colm Feore … Cast, Charlie Ross
- James Gammon … Cast, Sam Rayburn
- Tony Goldwyn … Cast, Clark Clifford
- Pat Hingle … Cast, Boss Tom Pendergast
- Harris Yulin … Cast, General George Marshall
- Leo Burmester … Cast, Frank Vassar
- Amelia Campbell … Cast, Margaret Truman
- Virginia Capers … Cast, Elizabeth Moore
- John Finn … Cast, Bob Hannagan
- Zeljko Ivanek … Cast, Eddie Jacobsen
- David Lansbury … Cast, Lt. Jim Pendergast
- Remak Ramsay … Cast, Dean Acheson
- Marian Seldes … Cast, Eleanor Roosevelt
- Lois Smith … Cast, Madge Wallace Gates
- Richard Venture … Cast, J. Lester Perry
- von Bargen, Daniel … Cast, General MacArthur
- Craig Benton … Cast, Marine
- Jim Birdsall … Cast, Engineer
- Freeman Bosley … Cast, Alonzo
- Walter Coppage … Cast, Black Delegate
- Nora Denney … Cast, Mama Truman
- Jessica Drake … Cast, Woman Reporter
- John Durbin … Cast, Producer
- Joe Erker … Cast, Lazy Worker
- Peggy Freisen … Cast, Newswoman
- David Fritts … Cast, MacArthur Reporter
- Harry Gibbs … Cast, Garner
- Tim Gillin … Cast, MacArthur's Officer
- Larry Greer … Cast , Ike Aide
- Wiley Harker … Cast, Senator #1
- Marlon Hoffman … Cast, Convention Reporter #1
- Harold S. Herd … Cast, First Politician
- Gary Holcombe … Cast, Senator #2
- Rachel Holferty … Cast, Margaret (7)
- Brad Holiday … Cast, Jester
- Richard Holmes … Cast, Judge Stone
- Hollis Huston … Cast, Sgt. O'Hara
- Jeannine Hutchings … Cast, Woman Reporter #3
- Joneal Joplin … Cast, Senator #3
- Lynn King … Cast, Vietta
- Jonathon Lamer … Cast, Usher #2
- Jerry Longe … Cast, Judge Vrooman
- Robert R. Lynn … Cast, Third Politician
- Michael T. McGraw … Cast, Convention Reporter #3
- Joseph P. Moynihan … Cast, Fred Wallace
- Addison Myers … Cast, Operator
- Holmes Osborne … Cast, Dixicrat
- Stellie Siteman … Cast, Woman Reporter #2
- Peter Slowey … Cast, Page
- John Smith … Cast, Pendergast Politician
- Brian Stemmier … Cast, Usher #1
- Jerel Taylor … Cast, Barnett
- Donna Thomason … Cast, Woman Reporter #1
- Dean Vivian … Cast, Reporter #1
- Cheryl Weaver … Cast, Woman Reporter
- Charles Whitman … Cast, Judge Barr
- Robert Wilson … Cast, Groom
- David Rees Snell … Cast, Reporter #2
- Thomas E. Dewey
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt