HARRY TRUMAN

Harry Truman, New Deal Democrat and 33rd President, was born this day in Missouri 120 years ago.

Below is a photograph of Harry Truman, seated right, with my great uncle Merrill Hartshorn, center, and Elmer Eller, seated left. The photo was taken in Kansas City in 1959 at a meeting of the National Council for the Social Studies, of which Merrill was executive secretary from 1943 to 1974. Merrill died when I was quite young -- we never had an opportunity to discuss his work -- but I wouldn't be surprised if he got a kick out of this picture for its statement about social scientists advising the politically powerful, especially after they leave office.