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“IFYOU AND I DON’T KNOWWHATTHE SCORE IS . . .
THERE IS NO ONE . . .WHO DOES”
204
●
TRUMAN, HARRY S. Group of 8 Typed Letters Signed, “Harry” or in full, 7 as
President, including 3 with holograph postscript, to James M. Pendergast (“Dear Jim”), on
various personal and political topics.Together 9 pages, 4to,White House or “Office of the
Vice President” stationery, most with integral blank; condition generally good. Most with
the original envelope. (TFC)
Washington, 1945-52
[3,000/4,000]
5 March 1945: Arranging trans-
portation for a trip. The holograph
postscript: “We’ve got a seat tied up
for [Catherine]—that no priority can
reach. I hope. I hope. I hope.”
2 April 1947: Accepting his recom-
mendation of [William G?] Boatright
as a replacement of [retiring judge of
the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals]
Stone, and thanking him for comple-
menting [daughter] Margaret’s singing.
8 November 1947: Longing to go
duck hunting and conveying satisfac-
tion at Margaret’s singing tour, with a
holograph postscript: “Say hello to
Mrs. P. and the daughters.”
27 February 1951: “. . . I am look-
ing forward to the map on the
redistricting of the State. If we don’t
watch that situation closely they will
maneuver us out of a couple of
Democratic Districts . . . .”
17 January 1952: “I understand
that everything has been decided in
the State and I would like very much
to know just how it has been decided
because I have some personal interest in the situation in Missouri. . . .”
29 January 1952: “. . . It has been a wonderful thing to be President . . . and have a line of
Governors opposing every policy . . . , especially for the improvement of the Missouri River and for the
fixing of the power problems . . . .
“
. . . I hope . . . I can see you and have a discussion on the Missouri political situation. It needs con-
siderable discussion by people who know what the score is and if you and I don’t know what the score
is I suppose there is no one in the State who does. . . .”
WITH
—
Two typed letters from Pendergast to Truman, unsigned, retained carbon copies.The first, on
personal matters and mentioning congressional redistricting maps. 1 page, 4to, “Jackson Democratic
Club” stationery.The second, recalling their history together beginning in 1922 and ending with an
account of how their relationship had soured. 4 pages, 4to. Kansas City, MO, 23 February 1951; Np,
8 December 1958.
James M. Pendergast (1896-1966) was the nephew of Kansas City political leader Thomas J.
Pendergast. The younger Pendergast fought with Truman during World War I, and later became
President of the Jackson Democratic Club, where he was instrumental in shaping fellow-club member
Truman’s political career.