[Harry S. Truman - Press Conference]

Transcript (Download)

They give you fellow something to talk about and ask questions about.

They're of no use whatever in a convention.

For this reason, I think there are only three out of the presidential primaries that are binding and the rest of them aren't.

They can either go by them or do as they please with them.

And they're not in some instances where they are binding.

They do not limit them to a party primary.

They can cross over and vote on both sides of the thing.

And you wouldn't have any in that case, you would hardly ever have any conventions except to pass resolutions on what the platform of the party ought to be.

President, you referred to presidential, presidential primaries as I watch.

How do you feel about state nominated primaries? State nominating primaries are statewide and they're perfectly all right.

I've been through two of them myself.

And to the bitterest fights I ever had in my life, but I won them.

But that's a different matter entirely.

Now I'm putting the whole United States on the same basis as a statewide primary is.

Well, how do you feel in particular about the state primaries? Is it a worthwhile institution? Oh yes, I really think it is.

But here's the thing you want to take into consideration.

Out in the world is a man going to make a campaign for president of the United States and at the same time make a president of the campaign to be nominated for president of the United States in 50 states now.

It's almost a physical impossibility.

I don't think it could be done.

Now that's my honest opinion.

Just to tell you something, if you were to go to the store and ask them what this is, if anyone came to my store and asked what this is, that's all I'm allowed to do.

Now I sent you a telegram telling you just exactly what I'd do.

But I wouldn't throw them out if they came in there to buy and said I don't know if they're hating themselves at the counter, just like any other customer.

But if they came in there to close up my place of business, they'd have a hard time doing it.

Does it seem to us that you are supposed to be a citizen of the United States? Yes, I think they're foolish in doing that.

They're causing ill will among the people who want to be their friends.

Is there any alternative? Yes, there's an alternative.

Of course there's an alternative.

We're working on it all the time.

Have you ever read the book that I had published when I was president of the United States to secure these rights? If you haven't, you get it in reading.

You'll find out something.

Maybe you don't know if you haven't read it.

I haven't read it.

All right then, you know what it means.

But there's no real reason for it.

Well, yes, there's discrimination.

And the only way to overcome that is by goodwill and common sense.

And you can't do it by closing up a man's place of business.

You just make sympathy for him like you did with me.

On your friends.

Good way to lose friends, non -influenced people.

I think he's got perfect rights to do it if he wants to.

What's wrong with it? Is it different from any other citizen? I guess a whole lot of you fellas are going to endorse him.

Did you endorse a candidate when you were president? Yes, I did.

His name was Adley Stevenson.

Did you endorse him again, sir? We'll wait and see about that.

He has announced that he's a candidate yet.

How do you feel about Mr.

Simonson? I think it was a proper thing for him to do.

If he's going to run for president, he's got to announce it sometime.

He's got to announce that he wins by a big victory in the campaign he's made.

If he will, what will that do in your candidate? How do you know he's my candidate? I haven't announced it for anybody.

You're putting words in my mouth that haven't come out of it yet.

Would you like to make out and enter a primary with the president? No, I don't.

I advise him not to do it.

And I advise all the rest of them not to do it too.

Just like I told you a while ago, I don't think they amount to anything.

Except for you to talk about it.

What is your attitude towards the handicap that a Catholic has such as for elections to the presidency? I've never admitted that there wasn't any such handicap.

The only handicap for in that situation is the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

If you haven't read it, you better read it.

A man's otherwise qualified as religion oughtn't to enter into a campaign for the presidency of the United States.

And I've said that all over the United States.

I'm saying it again here for your benefit.

I'd like to put them aside.

Somebody asked me a question? I'm in favor of Senator Kennedy.

Well, if Senator Kennedy continues to win in primaries, Mr.

President, don't you think that's going to give him an overwhelming advantage? Well, now, if you want to be a political pollster and a prophet, that's your business, not mine.

The Democratic National Convention will decide who the candidate will be.

And I'm anticipating being present at that convention.

I can't tell you yet.

The Missouri Convention hasn't met and they elect the delegates in the convention.

I have never seen it have any value yet.

You know when the first dark horse was? No.

Polk was nominated.

And Polk came out.

And he was only elected once.

And that is by the Chicago Tribune on the day of the election.

I don't see the parallels.

They're just exactly in the same line that you're talking about.

You fellas have made up your mind that somebody's going to be president and you're not going to be convinced until you're convinced by the election.

And that's the way you all are.

Truman, would you care to discuss the other possible Democratic candidates for Senator Johnson? Yes, I know all of them and I like every single one of them.

It's been my privilege to introduce them at various places.

They're all good men.

And it's a wonderful thing that the Democratic Party can produce so many able and competent candidates.

And the Republicans can only produce one.

And I don't think he's confident.

So there you are.

Can you give us your estimate of the major campaign? What the major issue is? That's the way the former president reacted to today's questioning in Chicago.

Now back to John Bailey in New York.

Let's try it once more.

Keep it rolling.

Keep it rolling, will you, Tony? That's the way the former president reacted to today's questioning in Chicago.

Now back to John Bailey in New York.

Now that's good.

Identifier

F.2012-03-1060

Date Of Production

circa 1959

Abstract

Black and white outtakes of former U.S. president Harry Truman at a press conference answering questions about presidential primaries, national conventions, and presidential candidates. He thinks primaries are not that important and that the decision of who will be the Democratic candidate will be made at the National Convention in Los Angeles in 1960. He thinks it is fine for President Eisenhower to endorse Nixon as Truman endorsed Adlai Stevenson when he was president. He does not think being a Catholic should be a handicap to becoming president. He thinks the Democrats are lucky to have so many competent candidates running. Future presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson are two of the candidates mentioned.

Run Time

0:06:53

Format

16mm

Extent

247 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Negatives

Genre

Political

Form

Outtakes
Press Conferences

Subject

Politics and government
Political conventions
Presidents
Politicians

Related Collections

SUBSERIES I: Politics & Government

Main Credits

Koza, Frank (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers

Truman, Harry S. (is actor)

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