Harry S. Truman to Bess W. Truman
December 5, 1941

This letter was written by Harry Truman to Bess on December 5, 1941. It is properly part of the Truman Library's "Dear Bess" collection of more than 1,300 letters from Harry to Bess. However, before the collection came to the Library -- following Mrs. Truman's death in 1982 -- this letter somehow entered the manuscript market. After trading hands several times -- and belonging for several years to billionaire Malcolm Forbes -- the letter was donated to the Library by Bruce Gimelson, a dealer in American historic items from Garrison, New York.

Harry to Bess, page 1
 
Harry to Bess, page 2

The "Dear Bess" letters are part of the Papers Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs and span nearly half a century. Truman was throughout his life a prolific letter writer, and his frequent absences from home and family gave him strong reason to write many letters.



The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is one of twelve Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

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