Country Vacations & Resorts

Time in Office: April 1945- January 1953
Terms: Less than 2 – assumed office after Roosevelt’s death
Birthday: May 8, 1884
Birth Place: Lamar, Missouri
Date of Death: December 26, 1972
Place of Death: Kansas City, Missouri
Buried: Truman Library – Independence, Missouri

Notes:
~ Middle initial “S” but no middle name
~ Was legally blind in one eye
~ A member of the Freemasons
~ Had several business failures
~ Inaguration was the first televised nationally
~ Only President who served after 1897 without a college degree
~ “Time” magazine’s “Man of the Year” – 1945 and 1948
~ Created and organized the Department of Defense
~ Approved the Berlin Airlift
~ Received the first ever Medicare card

Photo Credit: Young Harry S. Truman
Trumanlibrary.org

Born into a farming family, Harry S. Truman, America’s 33rd President, spent most of his formative years in Independence, Missouri. Harry didn’t attend a traditional school until the age of 8 but he loved to read – having been taught by his college-educated mother, and he loved both history and music.

Harry would get up at 5am to practice piano for two hours each morning before heading off to school. A somewhat quiet and bookish young man, Harry served as a page at the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City, graduated from Independence High School in 1901, and began looking for ways to earn a living – working various clerical positions in the Independence and Kansas City areas. In 1906, his father called him home to help work the farm which Harry did without complaint.

In 1905-1911 Harry was also a member of the Missouri Army National Guard. His eyesight was so poor in one eye that Harry passed the physical exam only by memorizing the eye chart in advance. In 1911 Harry also made his first proposal to Elizabeth “Bess” Wallace – a girl he had loved since he’d first met her at Sunday School at the age of 5. She rejected him and in Harry’s practical mind, she should have since he was, according to himself, a rather useless farm boy!

Prior to leaving for the war Harry was sent to Camp Doniphan in Oklahoma and then on to France. Rising to the rank of Colonel, Harry first exhibited leadership qualities and his successful war record would, in future, help him politically. At war’s end, Harry was in a bit of a hurry to get back to Missouri. His second proposal to Bess had been accepted and in June 1919 they married.

After a haberdashery business failure Truman, with the aide of a wealthy but shady local political bigwig, was elected county commisioner for Jackson County, Missouri. He became popular due to his diligence and willingness to work hard for the good of the county and it’s citizens but the connection to his benefactor who had connections to organized crime, constantly plagued him. Backed by the same benefactor, (Thomas Pendergast) in a run for the Senate in 1934, Truman would win the election, but arrive in Washington with a reputation as having bought or stolen his election. Truman would spend the next several years earning the respect of his senatorial peers.

Harry moved his wife Bess and his daughter Margaret to a rented apartment in Washington, but Bess was not pleased to be there. Having spent her entire adult life living – even after marriage – with her mother in what was her mother’s home, Bess returned to Independence, Missouri though she and Harry communicated by letter almost daily. Harry took his job as Senator very seriously and began the committee that exposed fraud and waste in military contracting during World War II.

Presidential Travel – Harry S. Truman

His honesty and willingness to dig for the details brought him to national notice and when the party was looking for an acceptable Vice Presidential nominee to Franklin’s Presidential election in 1944 – Harry was selected. Party members knew that Roosevelt’s health was deteriorating and Truman’s eventual win as Roosevelt’s VP almost guaranteed he would one day be President.

After only 82 days as Vice President, Truman learned that Roosevelt had died. His panic and feelings of being unprepared and unworthy to serve as President were summed up in his quote,”…I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me.” (More quotes from Harry)

With no time to waste Harry immediately learned about underway plans for an atomic bomb, and was soon attending the Potsdam Conference in Europe. By august, with the Japanese unwilling to surrender, Truman authorized use of the atomic bomb:

In 1950 he would approve development of the hydrogen bomb – 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic version.

Truman’s re-election would prove an arduous and seemingly impossible task. The US transition from war-time to peace-time had not gone smoothly and Truman was held responsbile. His efforts to win re-election took him over 21,000 miles across the United States in 1948. While supportive crowds continued to grow as news of Truman’s “Whistlestop” train tour spread, political pollsters predicted Truman would lose the election to his rival, Republican Thomas Dewey. Truman won the election – photographed proudly waving newspapers with headlines predicting his loss.

Not long after his inauguration, the Truman family was moved to Blair House in Washington, DC while extensive renovations were done at the White House. On November 1, 1950 an assassination attempt was made against Truman while he was still living there. Although it would have been allowed, despite the new 22nd amendment against third-term Presidents, by 1952, Truman decided not to run for re-election.

In 1956 Truman traveled to Europe and, after accepting an offer to give a speech in Philadelphia, drove himself and his wife, turning down “official” transport. In 1972 Truman was admitted to a Kansas City hospital suffering from pnuemonia. On December 26, 1972, at the age of 88, he died. He was buried at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. His wife Bess joined him there in 1982.

Links:
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

Former President, #32 – Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Up next, America’s 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhower

Series: “Traveling with American Presidents“

Time in Office: March 1933 – April 1945
Terms: 4 (died in office – fourth term)
Birthday: January 30, 1882
Birth Place: Hyde Park New York
Date of Death: April 12, 1945
Place of Death: Warm Springs, Georgia, The “Little White House.”
Buried: Springwood Estate, Roosevelt’s family home in Hyde Park, NY

Notes:
~ Only American President elected to more than two terms
~ Only physically disabled US President
~ Was an avid sailor
~ Roosevelt’s dog “Fala” was the most photographed dog in the world
~ Won his third election with a 55% popular vote
~ Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America

Although America’s 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a privileged and somehat isolated start in life, he would be known as an advocate for the “common man” and one of the most politically savvy of all the US Presidents.

Born in 1882 to a wealthy and socially prominent family in Hyde Park, New York, young Franklin had, before he reached the age of 10, had traveled with his parents to Europe several times. His father taught him to sail, he could converse in German and French, but when it came time to board at the exclusive Groton School in Massachusetts, Franklin’s social skills with boys his own age was lacking.

Roosevelt graduated Harvard in 1903. While he was there, his fifth cousin, Theodore, became President of the United States. It was at a White House reception he attended in 1902 where Franklin became reacquainted with the niece of Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, also a distant relation of Franklin.

March 17, 1905, during the time Franklin was working on Wall Street, he and Eleanor married and moved into Springwood. Many summers were spent swimming and sailing from their house at Campobello, Canada. By 1916, the couple had six children but a marriage that was less than perfect – Franklin being social and outgoing while Eleanor was more quiet and introspective.

Two terms in the Senate led to his appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1913. Taking an active role during World War I, Franklin visited Britain and France in 1918 where he first met Winston Churchill. Nominated as the Democratic Vice-President in 1920, but defeated by Republicans, Roosevelt returned to his New York law practice.

In August 1921 at the age of 39 and while vacationing at Campobello, Roosevelt became ill – leaving him partially paralyzed. Polio was the diagnosis although later opinions suggest Guillian-Barr Syndrome.

Never believing his paralysis was permanent, Roosevelt bought a boat and for most of the next seven years, was at least physically absent from politics – instead spending his time fishing and sailing in south Florida and the Caribbean. It was during this time frame that Franklin first visited Warm Springs, Georgia – believing the thermal pools there would benefit his physical condition.

Eleanor was instrumental in keeping FDR’s name in the political forum during this time and by the 1928 election, Franklin was Governor of New York. By March 4, 1933, he was inaugurated President of the United States. In the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin worked tirelessly to re-start the economy and develop systems to create jobs for the high number of unemployed and economically devastated Americans. He was re-elected in 1936 and again in 1940 – facing continuing if lessening economic issues, and the growing threat of war in Europe, and US involvement.

Presidential Travel Map – FDR

As expected in over a decade in office, Franklin Roosevelt traveled extensively: a secret meeting with Churchill aboard the HMS Prince of Wales in the North Atlantic in 1942, the Casablanca Conference in early 1943, in Cairo at another conference in December 1943, and the Yalta Conference in 1945.

By 1944 at the age of 62, Franklin was in declining health and returned frequently to his ‘Little White House” Warm Springs, Georgia to rest.

On April 12, 1945, just 82 days into his 4th Presidential term and one month prior to the end of World War II, Roosevelt collapsed at Warm Springs and died.

His body was placed onboard the Presidential train headed for a White House funeral on April 14th and then his final journey to his burial at his boyhood home in Hyde Park, New York.

Thousands of people lined the train’s route to pay tribute to FDR, the People’s President.

Links:

Roosevelt Memorial
Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Former President #31, Herbert Hoover.

Next President #33, Harry S. Truman

Time in Office: 1850 – 1853
Terms: Took over after the death of Zachary Taylor
Birthday: January 7, 1800
Birth Place: Moravia, Cayuga County, New York.
Date of Death: March 8, 1874
Place of Death: Buffalo, New York
Buried: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York

Notes:
~ No formal education
~ Started a law firm in 1834 that still exists today
~ Started the University of Buffalo in 1846
~ Started the White House library
~ California became a State during Fillmore’s Presidency
~ Helped found the Buffalo Historical Society

Millard Fillmore – Younger years…

Born in a log cabin in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Millard Fillmore’s first foray into the world of business was as apprentice to a cloth maker in both Sparta, and New Hope, New York. Remembering that this upstate New York location was still considered the “frontier” in Fillmore’s days, he struggled to get an education and by late 1819 he found himself in Montville, New York – working as a law clerk.

**Interesting to note that so far, nearly all future Presidents seemed to head towards either the law or the military – a trend that continues today…

Home of Abigail and Millard Fillmore

Fillmore married Abigail Powers in 1826 and for the next 20 years spent the majority of his time in the State of New York. Politics entered the picture in 1828 when he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He followed this with election as a member of the 23rd Congress, and was the first New York State Comptroller in 1848-49. Fillmore’s election to Vice President in 1849 was seen more as a political manuever than anything else. The growing dissension regarding slavery had a major impact on his selection as VP – from a non-slave state.

Though Fillmore was heavily involved in foreign affairs as President, his travel to Europe took place after his Presidency and after the death of his wife, and then his daughter, in 1855. Although offered an honorary degree from the University of Oxford (England), Millard turned it down. He said if he couldn’t read Latin – then he shouldn’t receive a degree printed in a language he could not read.

He returned to New York and married Carolina McIntosh – a wealthy widow. Fillmore remained near their residence in Buffalo, keeping an interest in politics, until his death from a stroke in 1874.

I try not to put too many personal opinions in any of these posts but I do have a point to make about Millard Fillmore.

He is one of the lesser-known and discussed Presidents but I believe he deserves more credit. For someone who had very little education, he rose to become President of the United States. He also seemed to feel the loss of a formal education and wanted others to have access to what he had not. The fact that he founded historical societies, the White House library, and a university prove that he felt a vested interest in educating those who came after him. This deserves praise.

Visit Fillmore Glen State Park

More on Millard Fillmore and some travel ideas in the great State of New York:

Next – America’s 14th President, Franklin Pierce.

Time in Office: 1849 to 1850
Terms: 16 months of one term
Birthday: November 24, 1784
Birth Place: Barboursville, Orange County, Virginia
Date of Death: July 9, 1850
Place of Death: Washington, DC
Buried: Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.

Notes:
~ Last sitting President to own slaves
~ Died after only 16 months in office
~ Known as a terrible student
~ Nicknamed “Rough and Ready”
~ Spent nearly 40 years in the military
~Appointed the first Secretary of the Interior
~ Never voted until his own election day

Election day, November 7 1848 – First time the entire nation voted on the same day

Little detail is known about the early life of America’s 12th President, Zachary Taylor. Born in Virginia where his father was a planter and Burgess of Northumberland County, the family soon relocated to Kentucky. With little formal education available, Zachary’s father hired tutors, but Zachary was just not great student material. By the time he turned 24, Zachary had chosen instead to pursue a career in the military and in 1808 his military service began.

The United States – 1800

National Military Hero

Ordered west to Indiana Territory by his cousin, James Madison, Taylor was promoted and assumed and maintained command of Fort Knox until 1814. Sometime in the year 1810, Zachary found time to marry Margaret Smith, who followed him during many of his military postings.

During the course of the next 20+ years, Zachary Taylor was either taking part in or leading battles such as the Battle of Wild Cat Creek, and defending Army forts in the Indiana Territory. In 1821 he was sent to Louisiana and in 1837 he defeated the Seminole Indians in Florida. In 1842, with little more than two-third’s of his eventual military career behind him, he was appointed commander of the southern division of the United States Army.

By 1845, Texas became a state and Taylor is sent to command the American forces at the the Rio Grande. His successes at the Battle of Palo Alto, Battle of Monterrey, and the Battle of Buena Vista made Taylor a national military hero. His nickname, “Rough and Ready” apparently came from his willingness to get in the midst of heated battles along with his men, while still directing the battles atop his favorite horse, “Old Whitey.”

Zachary Taylor and his favorite horse, “Old Whitey”

A non-political President

An independent thinker, and a man busy on various military frontiers for the first 60+ years of his life, Zachary Taylor might seem an unlikely candidate for President of the United States. But, his status as a military hero carried him to national prominence and he was elected 12th President of the United States – taking office March 4, 1849.

Much of Zachary Taylor’s 16 months in office were spent dealing with the subject and growing controversies regarding slavery. Although Taylor owned slaves, his moderate position on the subject remained consistent during his administration. His attitude was that laws were to be followed without exception until changed.

On July 4th, 1850, Taylor was spending an oppressively hot and humid day attending groundbreaking ceremonies for the Washington Monument. Trying to cool himself down with a pitcher of milk and a bowl of cherries may or may not have led to his demise. When Taylor died on July 9, just 5 days later, rumors of poisoning and assassination were suggested. Later attempts to discover the true cause of his death found no traces of poison and it is believed he died from gastroenteritis also known then as Cholera.

America’s 12th President’s final resting place is the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. Taylor’s body was exhumed in 1991 to test for poisons, but none were found.

More about President Zachary Taylor:

Next in line…US President Number 13 – Millard Fillmore.

Prior “Presidential” posts!

“H” stands for History. 

A huge subject and some great destinations.

History, as a subject, gets a bum rap – partially from the uninspired way it is often taught in schools.  Not sure who said it first, but if you don’t know where you have been, how do you know where you are going???  Take control of the situation and plan some history travel for yourself and your family.

In the United States…

National Park Service – National Register of Historic Places

US taxpayer – here are some of your dollars at work, providing interesting and comprehensive information on historic destinations in the US. Why not take advantage of this research for your next vacation?

Governor’s Palace, Williamsburg, Virginia, US

From the NPS home page, you can develop your own travel itinerary by state, region, or theme. Each itinerary provides:

- Descriptions of each historic place and its importance in American history, plus contextual essays.

- Tourist information for historic places open to the public including hours of operation, tour possibilities, phone numbers, and website links.

- Interactive maps.

- Color and vintage photographs.

- Links to related preservation and tourism web sites.

Take a step further and plan a trip to a Preserve America community. Read more details here.

A list of Preserve America communities can be found here. I can’t think of a better way to research and plan a true “country” vacation in a true “country” location.

Need even more historic travel ideas? Spend some time with National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine. Interested in tours with a military focus? Get some unique military and historic destination ideas at Valor Tours Ltd.

National Trust – UK

If you are looking for historic travel in the UK, why not start with the National Trust. With hundreds of options for walking tours, focus on wildlife venues, garden and historic homes tours, cycling tours, and group travel, the National Trust is a great place to start your UK vacation adventure. The Trust’s strong focus on conservation also makes this an ideal source of “green travel” information.

Search here for properties, venues, themes and destinations listed via the National Trust.

Special values for US visitors to the UK…

Planning travel to the UK? Want to streamline the process and get special savings at the same time? Why not become a member of the Royal Oak Foundation?

The Royal Oak Foundation offers regular opportunities for premium quality international travel. Destinations include, but are not limited to, Europe and British Commonwealth countries. Each tour is unique and staffed by experienced guides – accompanied by experts in relevant fields.

Trips to consider include: Historic House Hotels Garden Tours, and a tour of Italian Gardens and Villas . You’ll have to hurry to catch the gardens at Bruges we discussed in a prior post. This particular tour of the Dutch & Flemish Landscapes, The Netherlands & Belgium aboard The Amadolce begins April 8th, 2010, so hurry if interested…

Find membership info on the Royal Oak Foundation here.

History, whether about your native country, or about any country in the world, can provide fascinating vacation options. Learning about the past can be fun – if you make it so…

And a few vacation rental options in Williamsburg, Virginia. Click anywhere on the image to view additional rentals.

Need more ideas for some great “History” travel? Check out the Country Vacations and Resorts new section, “Traveling with US Presidents.”