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Motion Picture MP2005-21

Truman’s Birthday Celebrations

Administrative Information

Original Format(s)
Motion Picture
Footage
956 feet
Running Time
26 minutes 33 seconds
Sound
intermittent
Color
Black & White
Produced by
Sammie Feeback
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

May 8, 1962 birthday party for Harry S. Truman at the Muehlebach Hotel, with Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson in attendance; May 8, 1964 birthday celebration for Harry S. Truman at Muehlebach Hotel with Bess Truman in attendance.

Date(s)
1962 - 1964
Available Format(s)
Motion Picture
Video Tape

SD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are available for $20, and HD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are $50. Copies of motion pictures not already digitized will incur additional costs.

SD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are available for $20, and HD-quality copies of already digitized motion pictures are $50. Copies of motion pictures not already digitized will incur additional costs.

This item does not circulate but reproductions may be purchased.

To request a copy of this item, please contact truman.reference@nara.gov​​​​​​​

Please note that this video belongs to a different video collection than the items available to be borrowed by teachers, from our Education Department.

Moving Image Type
Motion Picture

Shot List

  • Reel 1
     
00:00   Sound footage: The film begins with the May 8, 1962 birthday party for Harry S. Truman at the Muehlebach Hotel. Lyndon B. Johnson stands at the podium. Various speakers follow Johnson, among them Homer Wadsworth and M.C. Henry Talge. Truman receives gifts from speakers including the first pair of Vice-Presidential cufflinks and a plaque showing portraits of Truman and the other U.S. presidents. Film is choppy and the audio cuts in and out.
06:58   Scenes from the birthday dinner. Guests, who are almost entirely men, eat and mingle. Mr. Truman is shown cutting a large cake, which reads, “Seven Decades and Eight, May 8, 1962” in frosting. Johnson stands at Mr. Truman’s side while he cuts.
08:36   Silent footage of remarks by Truman at a microphone placed in front of a flag.
10:42   Birthday party scenes continue with various VIPs shown.
13:04   Seemingly unrelated footage of Lyndon B. Johnson giving a brief interview to a reporter. The interview is possibly at a police station; a policeman in shown in the background behind Mr. Johnson.
14:05   The film shows another birthday celebration for Mr. Truman, this time his eightieth, celebrated on May 6, 1964 at the Muehlebach Hotel. Harry and Mrs. Bess Truman are seated together at the main table. Camera pans to show guests (this time including women) interacting while seated at long tables throughout the ballroom. There is another large birthday cake.
15:08   Truman makes remarks to his guests at a podium. Sound cuts in about halfway through his speech. His main topic addresses creating a lasting worldwide peace by combating hunger.
18:22   Silent footage of party resumes. Truman receives gifts, and Mrs. Truman receives a bouquet of roses. An old-fashioned walking plows stands in front of the Trumans’ table.
19:16   President Truman’s remarks continue with audio. His topics include an optimistic view of relations with Communists, the 1964 election, and continued remarks on fighting hunger.
25:56   Silent: Truman has a large piece of cake with a long taper candle in it placed in front of him.