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Motion Picture MP77-15

President Truman’s Rail Trip to the Pacific Coast and Return

Administrative Information

Original Format(s)
Motion Picture
Footage
1059 feet
1244 feet
Running Time
29 minutes 42 seconds
34 minutes 56 seconds
Film Gauge
16mm
Sound
silent
Color
Color
Produced by
Gift to the Truman Library from Admiral Robert Dennison, Naval Aide to President Truman
Restrictions
Unrestricted
Description

President Truman takes a rail trip to the Pacific Coast and returns. Film features campaignfootage in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Nebraska, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, and Missouri. Shows President Truman making speeches, crowd scenes, and points of interest at the various stops. Same as MP76-64, only this film is color. See also MP2011-8 and MP2006-34.

Date(s)
June 3, 1948 - June 18, 1948

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
0:00   June 4 – Early morning stop at Pittsburg. Harry S. Truman seen from back of train.
1:04   Stop at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Scenes of crowd, band, and Harry S. Truman on platform.
2:24   Gary, Indiana – scenes of crowd waiting to hear Harry S. Truman.
2:49   Omaha, Nebraska – Harry S. Truman leads the parade that highlighted the convention of his W.W. I outfit – the 35th division. Truman walking along street, crowds, troops in review. Harry S. Truman watches parade from reviewing stand.
7:52   Harry S. Truman participates in dedication ceremonies at War Memorial Park – gives speech – and lays wreath.
8:57   Harry S. Truman visits Boys Town, Nebraska – Scenes of countryside, new construction, Harry S. Truman speaks at Boys Town.
12:51   June 6, Grand Island, Nebraska – Scenes of Harry S. Truman speaking from back of train, crowds.
14:04   Kearney, Nebraska – Harry S. Truman, Bess Truman and Margaret attend religious services at the First Baptist Church. Scenes of crowd awaiting the Truman’s arrival.
15:48   Sidney, Nebraska – Harry S. Truman again gives speech from train. More crowd shots. Scenes from out train window.
17:44   June 7, Pocatello, Idaho – Harry S. Truman giving speech from train. Margaret and Bess being introduced. Harry S. Truman shakes hands with crowd.
19:10   Ketchum, Idaho (railroad terminal for Sun Valley) – scenes of crowd and campaign train.
19:56   View of Harriman Lodge where the Truman’s reside during their visit to Sun Valley, and the Main Lodge.
20:54   Harry S. Truman visits the various activities at Sun Valley. Harry S. Truman seen fly fishing, going up a chair lift, viewing a dog show. Shots of the horizon, ice skating.
26:54   Harry S. Truman enroute from Sun Valley to Idaho Falls by car. Scenes from the car.
27:37   June 8. Idaho Falls, Idaho – scene of crowd waiting for Harry S. Truman to arrive.
28:16   June 9, Spokane, Washington – view of welcome sign, Truman riding and waving from motorcade, Harry S. Truman giving speech.
     
  • Reel 2
0:00   June 9. Grand Coulee Dam – Scenes of the dam from a bus window. Harry S. Truman at a lookout platform along with wife and daughter. Close-up of dam, and river. View of Dry Falls of the Columbia. Scene of Truman and Margaret at a lookout point.
6:40   Parade in Ephrata, Washington. Truman gives speech from back of train.
7:55   Wenatchee, Washington. View of the flood.
8:29   June 10. Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington. Harry S. Truman reviews troops and boards yacht for cruise.
9:26   Seattle, Washington – Harry S. Truman takes his place on platform in stadium to deliver speech. Close-up of Harry S. Truman speaking. Motorcade through streets. Harry S. Truman waves to crowd.
12:09   June 11. Portland – Harry S. Truman views Vanport – sight of disastrous Columbia River flood. View from the air and close-up of houses under water.
13:34   Roseville, Oregon – Scene of crowd listening to Harry S. Truman’s speech. View of interior of train – press car. Close-up of President Truman giving speech from train.
16:27   June 12. University of California graduation exercises in the California Memorial Stadium. Honorary degree conferred on Harry S. Truman. Harry S. Truman in doctorate robes gives address.
20:16   June 13. Flag Day exercises at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Harry S. Truman rides in motorcade and gives address. Planes fly in formation overhead. Views flag ceremony. Scenes of downtown San Francisco – Harry S. Truman reviews troops at station.
26:15   June 14. Los Angeles – Scenes along the route of the motorcade from Union Station to the Ambassador Hotel.
28:14   Union Station – Harry S. Truman expresses appreciation to members
28:44   June 15. Winslow, Arizona – scenes of the town and countryside out the train window, view of train and engineer.
31:09   Harry S. Truman campaign train stops at Gallup.
31:56   Albuquerque, New Mexico. Scene in town.
32:38   June 16. Emporia, Kansas – view on the train.
33:13   At Union Station in Kansas City – view of the crowd.
34:16   June 17. St. Louis – scene crossing Mississippi.