Status
Call number
Publication
Description
From Missouri to New York and back again, this recounting of an amazing journey chronicles the road trip of a former president and his wife and their amusing, failed attempts to keep a low profile. Diners, bellhops, and cabbies shouted out Hiya, Harry! whenever they recognized the former president, and, out for his daily constitutional on the streets of New York, Harry even stumbled into the sidewalk shot of the newly launched Today show. Along the way, there are brief detours into relevant topics, such as the postwar American auto industry, McCarthyism, the development of the nation's highway system, and the decline of Main Street America. By the end of the 2,500-mile journey, readers will have a new and heartfelt appreciation for America's last citizen-president.… (more)
User reviews
This was an interesting book that was a combination of history, anecdotes about Harry Truman and his wife, Bess, and facts about both the politics and financial difficulties of being a former President of the United States in the period before any provision was made for a
The difficulties of the Trumans even beginning to think that they might be able to travel the country freely by automobile without being recognized and treated as celebrities is humorously addressed.
A section of the book explains how Air Force One came to be the name used for the aircraft conveying the President during his air travels.
Not a rip snorter, by any means, but, it moves right along and shows clearly some of the humanity of both the former president and the former first lady.
The prices of lunches , dinners, gasoline and hotel rooms "back in the day" are astonishing both to read about and to believe, compared to present day expenses for the same goods and services.
Though Truman's approval rating was very low when he left office, he was treated in a warm and friendly manner by the folks whom he met along the way on his trip back East from his home in Independence, MO.
I would recommend this book to any reader interested in Truman, recent political history pertaining to the presidency and a pre-tabloid style of writing that reveals something of the real man behind the facade of the office.
Four stars. ****
Most presidents pretend to be ordinary people. The Trumans acted the part of being ordinary but were nothing short of extraordinary. The book has so many funny, poignant moments. Like when Truman, while walking through Rockefeller Center gets himself on the Today Show's roving crowd camera (the show was just 6 monrths old); Truman getting pulled over by a PA highway patrolman for driving in the left lane of the Turnpike; and Truman playing the piano late into the evening of his Indianopolis IN hosts.
For anyone who enjoys presidential history, mid-20th century American culture, this book is a gem.
Nicely written, the book is wonderfully researched. Algeo traces the Truman's 1953 trip and then tries 50 years later to catch up with participants both buildings, cars and people.
The author sprinkles tidbits of information about the 1950’s, the various states that they travelled through, the people along the way and the Truman’s in particular. This road trip came to be significant in that it helped to define the role of an ex-president. Harry Truman was the last president to return to civilian life with no retirement package or benefits of any kind.
The author captures the essence of the 1950’s effortlessly and whether he is describing a meal the Truman’s ordered in a roadside dinner or making a particular point about politics or history, he holds the readers attention easily. North Americans have long had a love affair with their automobiles and taking a road trip has become a tradition. Harry and Bess Truman’s 1953 road trip was great fun to read about and Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure is truly a gem of a book.
The subtitle of the book – The True Story of a Great American Road
This is not a comprehensive history of the Trumans. Instead it is more of a snapshot of a moment in their lives. When you travel with someone, you really get to know them, and I felt like I was traveling right along with Harry and Bess. However, the book is about more than the road trip. Algeo weaves in interesting side stories about the happenings of the day (including the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg) and the history of highways, motels, and other road-trip related items of interest. Algeo retraced Harry and Bess’s route as well, so he provides insight into how things have changed in a little over 50 years.
This was a quick read packed with interesting stories. I highly recommend it!
This is a delightful book about a remarkable man who has become more remarkable as the years pass & we compare him to the more venal politicians who we have to contend to today.
It's summer. Read this book & put a smile on your face.
Journalist Matthew Algeo's conversational tone and frequent asides give this account of a presidential
The cover, showing a photo through a car windshield, is worth the price. It shows Harry and Bess in the car; Bess looking like she is telling Harry something and Harry looking like he just cleaned out his friends at poker. It's actually too appropriate a photo for the book; I'm suspicious.
Of course, things
“Harry Truman was the last person to leave the White House and return to something resembling a normal life. And in the summer of 1953 he did something millions of ordinary Americans do all the time, but something no former president had ever done before—and
In this charming and well-researched book, we get to ride along with Harry and Bess, in their new Chrysler New Yorker, on their trip, from Independence Mo, to the East Coast. The author documents, much of their route, including gas station and restaurant stops, along with their overnight lodging. Harry chats with mechanics, cabbies, fellow diners and state troopers. The author also followed this route, while researching the book and makes interesting comments about how things have changed across the Midwest, in these 60-plus years.
Truman is one of my favorite historical figures. Someone I would love to sit down and have a beer with, plus he loved books. If you would like a little slice of American history, hop in the backseat and give this one a spin.