The Life Of Harry S. Truman In A Nutshell

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ilities. Soon after war was declared, he received his commission as a first lieutenant in the Missouri National Guard. In March, 1918, he left for France with the 35th Division. Truman commanded a field artillery battery in several campaigns. Throughout the fighting he managed to maintain firm discipline among his unruly men yet retain their affection. He said afterwards: "I've always been sorry I did not get a university education in the regular way. But I got it in the Army the hard way--and it stuck."

After his discharge from the Army in 1919 with the rank of captain, Truman married his childhood sweetheart, Bess Wallace. Their only child, a daughter named Mary Margaret, was born in 1924. Soon after his marriage Truman entered into a partnership with one of his army friends and opened a men's clothing store in Kansas City. But in the postwar depression of 1921 the store failed. Truman lost his life savings and owed $20,000 in debts. He refused to go into bankruptcy, however, and instead scraped for 15 years to pay off the money he owed.

He Enters Politics

Truman's friends urged him to enter politics. Like his father, he was a DEMOCRAT with strong views. In 1922, Truman won ELECTION as one of three judges of the Jackson County Court. His friends called him Judge Truman, but his duties were administrative rather than judicial. Since he felt that his new responsibilities called for a knowledge of law, he studied at night for two years at the Kansas City School of Law. In 1926 he was elected presiding judge, an office he held until 1935.

During these years Truman was allied with the notorious political machine of Kansas City boss Thomas J. Pendergast (1870-1945). In spite of this, Truman maintained his reputation as a man of strict honesty and unusual efficiency. Pendergast complained frequently that Truman was "the contrariest cuss in Missouri" but respected him as a popular vote-getter. In 1934 he backed Truman for electio...