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Plain Speaking:
An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman
by Merle Miller
Despite its flaws (or perhaps because of
them), this is an illuminating look at Harry
S Truman, in his own words. Truman’s earlier
memoirs were somewhat restrained, but this
book became a #1 bestseller with its no-holds-barred
language.
Novelist and screenwriter Merle Miller spent
much of 1961-62 taping interviews with Truman
and a variety of the former President’s friends,
relatives, and political allies. The proposed
documentary series never reached TV. Instead,
Miller later made his own selective transcriptions
for this 1973 book, published a year after
Truman’s death and during the Watergate scandal.
Based on these pages, Truman was hailed as
an admirably guileless, honest, and blunt
contrast to the “tricky” Richard Nixon, whom
Truman hated. A major reassessment of Truman
began, and in time Truman's reputation would
rise.
While this book got favorable notice mainly
for highlighting Truman’s positive qualities,
a darker side also peers through, probably
unintentionally. He denounces political opponents
with a pathological fervor that makes Nixon’s
famed hatreds pale in comparison. While professing
love for democracy, he frequently condemns
anyone on the opposite side of the political
fence as ipso facto a crackpot or a crook. He relishes negative
campaigning, at least when he’s
doing it.
Miller, meanwhile, tiptoes around
Truman
and does not challenge contradictory,
inaccurate,
or outrageous comments. Instead,
he lends
support with over-the-top commentaries
of
his own. Ironically, several
times Truman
savages “yes men” and those who
employ them.
Meanwhile, in a footnote Miller
expresses
fear that Truman would cease
cooperating
if questioned too hard.
Miller died in 1986 and independent
journalists
who later reviewed the original
tapes became
suspicious that he fabricated
sections of
this book. It is still worth
reading, though
with this note of caution. |
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