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Dutch lesson was canceled. I walked with M. I read _Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure_ (well, I read some last night, but finished it today). It is excellent! The Trumans retired to Independence, MO after Ike was inaugurated. After a bit, they took a road trip to visit friends, go to DC, give a speech in Philadelphia and visit their daughter Margaret in NYC. They took in some shows. Then they went home.
At the time, no secret service protection. Also no pension! Lots of great details from local newspapers about the trip, and about local politics. Lots of stuff about the roads themselves, and what is next to them and nearby, events at the time and subsequently. The author did spectacular research and used what he found in the papers to then try to track down people who remembered the Trumans coming through town. They had made the same trip many times when he was in the Senate, but of course a much bigger deal to have the ex-President rolling into the local motel, hotel, restaurant, diner, gas station, etc.
I learned a lot, and I believe this would reward rereading.
#36
ETA: Two others in the book group finished it with enjoyment. The person who actually personally remembers the 50s (unlike the author) found it incredibly boring, too detailed and not in a good way. I felt that was quite a tribute, that it triggered her “been there, done that”.
At the time, no secret service protection. Also no pension! Lots of great details from local newspapers about the trip, and about local politics. Lots of stuff about the roads themselves, and what is next to them and nearby, events at the time and subsequently. The author did spectacular research and used what he found in the papers to then try to track down people who remembered the Trumans coming through town. They had made the same trip many times when he was in the Senate, but of course a much bigger deal to have the ex-President rolling into the local motel, hotel, restaurant, diner, gas station, etc.
I learned a lot, and I believe this would reward rereading.
#36
ETA: Two others in the book group finished it with enjoyment. The person who actually personally remembers the 50s (unlike the author) found it incredibly boring, too detailed and not in a good way. I felt that was quite a tribute, that it triggered her “been there, done that”.