The Long Road to the Short History
of the Truman Center at UMKC
This collection of events and upcoming plans along
“the long road to the short history” of the Truman
Center was prepared for our friends and supporters –
for those who believe in the power of civic education
and civic engagement, as Harry Truman did.
We hope you enjoy our story. We would welcome an
opportunity to discuss programs or plans that are of
specific interest to you.
Dr. Dale Neuman
Program Director
Gayla Curtis
Administrative Assistant
phone: 816-235-2787
e-mail: neumand@umkc.edu
phone: 816-235-2720
e-mail: curtisgd@umkc.edu
Or visit us online at
www.cas.umkc.edu/trumancenter
The Establishment of the
Truman Center at UMKC
In the Beginning…
In 1969, President Harry S.
Truman, in a letter to UMKC
Chancellor James Olson,
authorized the establishment
of the Harry S. Truman
Center for Governmental
Affairs.
Over the course of the next
25 years, committees meet,
studies are done and
recommendations come
forth to no avail. The Center
lies dormant.
A New Start
Beginning in 2007, following a
mandate from a new chancellor,
a transition advisory committee
that included persons from
public life and the university was
created to develop a mission
statement and identify initiatives
for the Truman Center.
Harry S. Truman,
33rd President of the United States
Truman Center Mission & Initiatives
Truman Center Mission:
To honor Harry S. Truman’s legacy of public service, leadership,
and the importance of the contribution of the ordinary citizen to
the well-being of the political community through public affairs
and educational programs.
Truman Center Initiatives:
It was agreed that each initiative must address something that
was important to Harry Truman and, when taken together, could
serve to honor his legacy.
Those initiatives came to be Civic Education,
Civic Engagement and Local Governance.
Cooperating Partners
In June 2007, Dean Karen
Vorst of UMKC’s College of
Arts and Sciences, and Dr.
Michael Devine, Director of the
Truman Presidential Library,
sign a Memorandum of
Understanding whereby the
two Truman-named entities
would become cooperating
partners in programming to
honor Truman.
Dr. Dale Neuman and Dean Karen Vorst of UMKC,
and Dr. Michael Devine and Dr. Ray Geselbracht
of the Truman Presidential Library gather to sign
the Memorandum of Understanding
Subsequently, the Truman Forum of the Kansas City Public
Library began to partner with the Truman Center by providing a
venue for our programs.
Programming & Events:
2007-Present
Inaugural Event
In November 2007, Frank K.
Kelly a UKC alumnus, Class
of 1938, inaugurated our
public affairs series when he
returned to Kansas City and
UMKC to discuss writing
speeches and working for
Truman in 1948.
Frank K. Kelly, former Truman speechwriter,
at UMKC
2007-Present
In February, 2008, Ken
Hechler, who worked in the
Truman White House from
1949-1952, came to UMKC to
discuss issues of staffing the
White House Office and the
difference between the way
Truman and presidents of
recent years chose and used
advisors.
Ken Hechler, assistant to Truman from 1949-1952
2007-Present
In April 2008, David Moore,
former Gallup vice president
and senior editor of the Gallup
Poll came to Kansas City and
revisited the difficulties with
opinion polls in the Truman
election of 1948. Moore also
discussed issues relevant in
the conduct of recent polls.
David Moore discusses “Polling in America: From
Truman to Bush”
2007-Present
In May 2008, two undergraduate
students, are named the first two
Harry Truman Bootstrap
Scholarship Interns. In June,
they are sent all expenses paid
to Washington to intern in
Congress for both Senator
McCaskill and Representative
Cleaver.
United States Capitol
The scholarship included tuition
and fees so interns could earn
academic credit by combining an
academic program with realworld experiences.
2007-Present
In October 2008, UMKC celebrated its 75th anniversary. As part of
the celebration, William Worley, adjunct history professor, provided
an impersonation of Truman, recreating memories and events,
including Truman’s acceptance of an honorary degree on the steps
of Scofield Hall at the University of Kansas City.
Truman accepts
honorary Doctorate
of Law degree at
UKC in 1945.
William Worley as
Truman in 2008.
Truman’s honorary diploma from UKC, 1945
2007-Present
Later that month, the Truman Center
partnered with the Kansas City
United Nations Day Committee to
host a program on global warming.
Dr. John M.R. Stone, provided a
presentation titled “Challenges and
Opportunities of Climate Change,” in
which he discussed his work on the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, which shared the 2007
Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice
President Al Gore.
Dr. John M.R. Stone
2007-Present
In February 2009, the
Truman Center hosted Dr. D.
Robert Worley, noted expert
in national security, for a
discussion of the president’s
use of the National Security
Council, beginning with its
initial organization under
Truman.
Dr. D. Robert Worley
2007-Present
In the summer of 2009, the Truman Center presented “Harry
Truman the Road Builder: A Look Forward from 1920 to 2040.”
Archivist Dr. Sam Rushay discussed Truman’s fascination with
roads and automobiles, along with his impact on transportation
issues of the day in Jackson County. Tom Gerend of the MidAmerica Regional Council provided a futuristic look at the
pressing transportation issues of today, going forward.
Truman and his Stafford
car at a picnic
1922 Jackson County,
Missouri, campaign flyer
Button supporting Truman’s
bond issue concerning roads
2007-Present
In September 2009, the Truman
Center presented “Democracy’s
Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s
Role,” the first of two Harry’s Front
Porch Forums, focusing on
Americans turning away from public
life and becoming spectators, rather
than participants. This was a smallgroup discussion format, led by a
moderator.
Former President Harry S. Truman
shakes hands with an unidentified
man at the Truman Library ca. 1964
2007-Present
On October 5, 2009, the Truman
Center hosted Dr. David Atkinson,
UMKC’s Curators’ Distinguished
Teaching Professor of Political
Science and Law. Dr. Atkinson
presented “Appointing the Supreme
Court: From Truman to Obama,” in
which he discussed the
controversial appointments of
Supreme Court Justices.
Dr. David Atkinson
2007-Present
In October 2009, the Truman
Center participated in the
second of Harry’s Front Porch
Forums, titled “Preparing
Today’s Kids for Tomorrow’s
Jobs: What Should Our
Community Do?” This smallgroup discussion focused on
the preparation of today’s youth
in a rapidly changing economy
and world.
President Truman greeting a group of
children
2007-Present
On October 20, 2009, authors
Allis and Ronald Radosh visit
Kansas City as guests of the
Truman Center and the Jewish
Community Relations Bureau.
They discuss their new, highly
acclaimed book, “A Safe Haven:
Harry S. Truman and the
Founding of Israel.”
2007-Present
On October 29, 2009, the Truman
Center hosted United Nations
Under-Secretary General, Dr.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, to
discuss the topic of children and
armed conflict.
Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy
Looking Ahead:
Programming Ideas & Plans
Programming Ideas & Plans
Truman Legacy Public Affairs Series
• The President as Manager of the Economy from Truman
to Obama (Truman was the first president required to manage
the economy by the Employment Act of 1946)
• The President and the Intelligence Community from
Truman to Obama (The CIA was created by Congress during
Truman’s first term in the National Security Act of 1947)
• The President and NATO from Truman to Obama
(Truman signed and the U.S. Senate approved the NATO
treaty in 1949)
Programming Ideas & Plans
Civic Engagement
•
Broaden Undergraduate Bootstrap Internship Program to
include full semesters in D.C. and/or in local Congressional
and other placement sites.
•
Identify and fund graduate student internships in local
governments (also addresses County Governance initiative.)
•
Encourage service learning opportunities in public and
governmental agency environments.
Programming Ideas & Plans
Civic Education
• Workshops, seminars and brown bag lunches for middle
school and high school civics teachers to meet public officials
up close and personal (similar to the Taft Seminars for
Teachers Program).
• Learning modules or activities for middle schools social
studies students on local government.
• Essay or project contests for middle school students on local
government issues.
Programming Ideas & Plans
Named Symposia & Prizes
•
We are examining the possibility of holding symposia on
topics that link back to some aspect of Truman’s legacy and
naming them to honor persons important in the public life of
the Kansas City area in the recent past or in the name of the
donor (or both).
•
We are looking at named prizes for some of the middle
school civic education activities being planned.
We hope you have enjoyed the sights found along the
“long road” to the start of the UMKC Truman Center.
We welcome your questions and would enjoy an
opportunity to visit with you regarding topics of
interest or suggestions you have regarding the Center.
Dr. Dale Neuman
Program Director
Gayla Curtis
Administrative Assistant
phone: 816-235-2787
e-mail: neumand@umkc.edu
phone: 816-235-2720
e-mail: curtisgd@umkc.edu
If you are interested in donating to the Truman Center,
please contact:
Debbie Kirchhoff
Development Director
phone: 816-235-5784
e-mail: kirchhoffd@umkc.edu
Visit us online at
www.cas.umkc.edu/trumancenter
Truman Center Logo
Commissioned by the Truman Center, and developed in
collaboration by UMKC Graphic Design students
Natosha Snidow, Riley Davis, and Samantha Kuns