Details
TRUMAN, Harry S. Autograph letter signed ("Harry Truman") as President, to Justin Turner, Washington, D.C., 4 October 1951. 1 page, 4to (10 1/8 x 6 7/8 in.), with integral blank, White House stationery, some pale matburn.
TRUMAN ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSTITUTION: "THEY WILL INSPIRE PATRIOTISM IN FUTURE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY"
Truman writes to noted autograph collector Justin Turner, "I appreciated your stand on the ceremony which marked the sealing of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, to preserve them for future generations. It was an impressive ceremony. The Chief Justice of the United States [Frederick M. Vinson] made a great speech -- as did the Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. Green. These great documents can now be seen by all who are interested. I am sure they will inspire patriotism in future citizens of our great country."
In the late 1940s, debates began over the preservation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Wayne Grover, the Archivist of the United States, and Luther Evans, the Librarian of Congress appointed by Truman, agreed that the documents should be transferred from the Library of Congress to the Archives. In 1951, the two men worked with staff members and legal advisors to handle the transfer, recognizing that they should get the approval of the President and the Joint Committee on the Library. In his letter to Turner, Truman refers to the sealing ceremony held on 17 September 1951 at the Library of Congress. Chief Justice Vinson, Sen. Theodore Green of Rhode Island and others on the committee were present at the occasion. Green, Chairman of the Joint Committee, agreed to the transfer formally soon thereafter, and on 30 April 1952 decided with Evans to carry out the plan. The documents were moved under heavy military guard on 13 December 1952. The formal public cermony, at which Chief Justice Frederick Vinson presided, was held 15 December 1952. Green traced the history of the documents and Truman, the featured speaker, closely echoed his words here to Turner: "We are engaged here today in a symbolic act. We are enshrining these documents for future ages."
TRUMAN ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND CONSTITUTION: "THEY WILL INSPIRE PATRIOTISM IN FUTURE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY"
Truman writes to noted autograph collector Justin Turner, "I appreciated your stand on the ceremony which marked the sealing of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, to preserve them for future generations. It was an impressive ceremony. The Chief Justice of the United States [Frederick M. Vinson] made a great speech -- as did the Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. Green. These great documents can now be seen by all who are interested. I am sure they will inspire patriotism in future citizens of our great country."
In the late 1940s, debates began over the preservation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Wayne Grover, the Archivist of the United States, and Luther Evans, the Librarian of Congress appointed by Truman, agreed that the documents should be transferred from the Library of Congress to the Archives. In 1951, the two men worked with staff members and legal advisors to handle the transfer, recognizing that they should get the approval of the President and the Joint Committee on the Library. In his letter to Turner, Truman refers to the sealing ceremony held on 17 September 1951 at the Library of Congress. Chief Justice Vinson, Sen. Theodore Green of Rhode Island and others on the committee were present at the occasion. Green, Chairman of the Joint Committee, agreed to the transfer formally soon thereafter, and on 30 April 1952 decided with Evans to carry out the plan. The documents were moved under heavy military guard on 13 December 1952. The formal public cermony, at which Chief Justice Frederick Vinson presided, was held 15 December 1952. Green traced the history of the documents and Truman, the featured speaker, closely echoed his words here to Turner: "We are engaged here today in a symbolic act. We are enshrining these documents for future ages."