World War II-dated TLS as vice president, one page, 8 x 10.5, Office of the Vice President letterhead, April 6, 1945. Letter to Hugh P. Williamson, a prosecuting attorney in Missouri. In full: "Thanks a lot for your good letter of the Third. I am certainly glad to have the reactions which you gave me on the various phases of the State administration." Below, Truman adds a large handwritten postscript: "Keep sending 'em. Tell Tom Van Sant that just because I've become a political eunuch, he needn't strike me from his list." In fine condition, with small splits to the ends of the folds, and a couple of tiny edge chips. Accompanied by a photocopy of Williamson's letter to Truman, dated April 3, reporting on various aspects of the political situation in Truman's home state. It seems that Truman never found his position as vice president particularly active or influential, lamenting his plight to conclude this letter in self-deprecating fashion. Amusingly, vice presidents have often found scatological or vulgar ways of expressing their frustration with the office; John Nance Garner famously likened the post to a 'bucket of warm piss.' Truman's harsh positional viewpoint applied for only six more days; on April 12, President Roosevelt would succumb to a stroke and thus make Truman the most politically powerful man in the world.
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