[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1241-H1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MARGARET TRUMAN DANIEL AND HER LIFETIME OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 292) honoring Margaret 
Truman Daniel and her lifetime of accomplishments.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 292

       Whereas Margaret Truman Daniel was born to Bess and Harry 
     S. Truman on February 17, 1924, in Independence, Missouri;
       Whereas Margaret, a loving daughter, wife, mother, and 
     friend, passed away on January 29, 2008, after leading an 
     interesting and eventful life rooted in the strong will and 
     independent spirit of her mother and father;
       Whereas Margaret grew up in Missouri and moved to 
     Washington when her father became a United States Senator for 
     Missouri, during which time she attended The George 
     Washington University;
       Whereas Margaret became First Daughter when Vice President 
     Harry S. Truman, the former Missouri Senator, was sworn into 
     office after the passing of President Franklin D. Roosevelt;
       Whereas, on April 21, 1956, Margaret married newspaperman 
     Clifton Daniel in Independence, Missouri, at Trinity 
     Episcopal Church, the same church in which her parents were 
     married;
       Whereas after graduating from The George Washington 
     University in 1946 with a degree in history, Margaret pursued 
     a singing career, which featured performances at Constitution 
     Hall and Carnegie Hall;
       Whereas, in 1953, after the Truman presidency, Margaret 
     moved to New York City to work with the National Broadcasting 
     Company, working on such shows as Edward R. Murrow's ``Person 
     to Person'' and cohosting a talk show program with Mike 
     Wallace;
       Whereas, in 1955 and 1956, she acted as hostess on a radio 
     program called ``Weekday'', and in 1965 cohosted a half-hour 
     special events program broadcast live from Philadelphia;
       Whereas, in 1966, Margaret conducted a radio program called 
     ``Authors in the News'', a 5-minute interview with prominent 
     writers which was broadcast every weekday on more than 100 
     radio stations;
       Whereas, as a novelist, Margaret wrote 23 books, including 
     best-selling mysteries and biographies;

[[Page H1242]]

       Whereas Margaret exhibited a deep commitment to public 
     service, serving as secretary to the Board of Trustees of the 
     Truman Scholarship Foundation, as a member of the Board of 
     Directors of the Truman Library Institute, as a member of the 
     Executive Committee on the Truman Centennial Committee, and 
     as a constant advocate for Presidential libraries;
       Whereas, in 1984, Margaret received the Harry S. Truman 
     Public Service Award;
       Whereas for Missourians and countless others, Margaret will 
     be forever respected and considered a ``real'' person, who 
     grew up in Independence, Missouri;
       Whereas Margaret Truman Daniel was an intelligent, 
     independent, and gracious woman who made our Nation proud as 
     she flourished in every aspect of her life; and
       Whereas Margaret in every sense carried on the Truman 
     family legacy and is survived by 3 sons, Clifton Daniel, 
     Harrison Daniel, and Thomas Daniel, as well as 5 
     grandchildren, and is pre-deceased by her husband, Clifton 
     Daniel, and a fourth son, William Daniel: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress honors Margaret Truman Daniel and 
     her lifetime of accomplishments.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 
such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
  Mr. CLEAVER. First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the committee 
and the work that has been done by Chairman Davis. All nine members of 
the Missouri delegation joined together to support this concurrent 
resolution.
  As I think all people in this Nation know, Harry Truman was from 
Independence, Missouri, a part of the district that I currently 
represent, and we are very, very pleased and proud that Harry Truman 
not only rose to become President of the United States in 1948, but he 
contributed to our community in a number of ways.
  And his daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel, was not a person who had 
her sights on becoming an individual in Washington who would garner a 
great deal of attention, but it was bestowed on her. And when her 
father chose to run for President, she actually traveled around with 
him on the ``Whistlestop'' campaign.

                              {time}  1230

  Once he became President, she did all of the things that the 
offspring of Presidents will in fact do. But she had more to offer than 
just being the President's daughter. She ended up being a great singer. 
She performed at the Metropolitan Opera, she was on the old ``Ed 
Sullivan Show,'' and then eventually had her own television show in 
Philadelphia, a daily show in Philadelphia.
  She was such a factor in our community that on February 23, my 
colleague from Missouri, Ike Skelton, and I, along with all the members 
of the Truman family, buried her at the Harry Truman Library, alongside 
her parents in Independence, Missouri.
  And so it is my hope that Congress can make its expression of support 
of Margaret Truman Daniel by passing this concurrent resolution.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume
  I would like to submit my whole statement for the Record and be a 
little more brief.
  Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel, as has been stated, was the daughter of 
Harry Truman, who was one of the fighting Presidents of the United 
States, and his daughter, Margaret, was also a very strong young lady. 
As has been mentioned, she became a vocalist, had her own television 
show. She went to George Washington University, and in 1944, the same 
year her father was elected Vice President, she earned her first 
degree. In 1946, one year after her father was sworn in as President of 
the United States, Margaret graduated with her bachelors in history. At 
the age of 16, she became a singer, taking voice lessons from a friend 
in Independence, and after graduating from GW, she pursued her career 
as a vocalist.
  She was a very outstanding young lady, accomplished a great deal, and 
was a credit to not only her mother and father but her country. She was 
highly regarded. She married a gentleman from the New York Times, and 
they, I think, had four children and three or four grandchildren. She 
was a very fine lady, and I think it's appropriate we honor her today 
with this.
  I rise today to urge passage of this resolution honoring one of the 
great first-daughters of American history, Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel.
  Born to Harry and Bess Truman on February 17, 1924, in Independence, 
Missouri, Margaret Truman spent the majority of her childhood in her 
hometown until, in 1934, her father was elected to the United States 
Senate.
  Through the remainder of her primary school years, she split her 
education between Independence and Washington before graduating in 
1942.
  That year she enrolled in George Washington University and in 1944, 
the same year her father was elected Vice President, she earned her 
associates of art. In 1946, one year after her father was sworn in as 
President of the United States, Margaret graduated with her bachelors 
in history.
  At the age of 16 Margaret began taking voice lessons from a friend in 
Independence and after graduating from GW, she actively pursued her 
career as a vocalist.
  Making her concert debut in 1947 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, 
Margaret Truman embarked on a career that included several national 
tours and appearances at Constitution Hall and Carnegie Hall.
  Never shirking her duties as first-daughter, she always made time to 
break from her blossoming career to help her father, including frequent 
trips with him during his successful 1948 ``Whistlestop'' reelection 
campaign.
  After her father left the White House in 1953, Margaret took her 
vocal talents to New York City, where she spent a number of years 
working in both radio and television. While in New York, Miss Truman 
met Clifton Daniel, an assistant editor for the New York Times, and the 
two were wed in 1956 in Independence. The Daniels were the proud 
parents of four boys and grandparents of five.
  Beyond singing, Margaret Truman enjoyed a successful career as a 
writer. Completing her first book in 1956, she is probably best known 
for her Capital crime series novels, most of which took place in 
Washington, DC. She also published a number of biographies and non-
fiction books relating to her parents and her time in the White House.
  After her husband's retirement in 1977, Margaret spent the remainder 
of her years in New York.
  She maintained her deep commitment to public service until the time 
of her death, serving on the board of trustees of the Truman 
Scholarship Foundation and as a member of the board of directors of the 
Truman Library Institute, among other worthy bodies. In 1984, she was 
the recipient of the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award.
  On January 29, 2008, at the age of 83, Margaret Truman Daniels passed 
away in Chicago.
  She will live on in the hearts of this country not only as a 
dedicated first-daughter and public servant, but also as a passionate 
vocalist, talented writer, and loving mother and grandmother. Let us 
honor this tremendous American with swift and unanimous passage of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
fitting tribute.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might 
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Missouri, the chairman of 
the Armed Services Committee, Representative Ike Skelton.
  Mr. SKELTON. I certainly thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration for a remarkable Missourian 
that I support this concurrent resolution. This measure was introduced 
by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, which honors the life of my late 
friend, Margaret Truman Daniel.
  Margaret was a loving daughter, wife, mother, an accomplished 
vocalist, journalist and author. She was filled with the unique Truman 
spirit, and personified the plainspoken, no-nonsense nature of so many 
Show-Me-State residents. The qualities that defined Margaret as a 
person were instilled by her parents, President Harry S Truman and his 
wife, Bess. Throughout her life, Harry and Bess provided a steady hand 
and unfailing support and

[[Page H1243]]

love which allowed Margaret to flourish
  But Missouri itself played a meaningful role in Margaret's life. She 
was always a proud Missourian. On one occasion, she returned to 
Independence and spoke about Missouri's influence on her. She stated, 
``Even till today, I feel it in my bones. Although I have now spent 
much more of my life in Washington and New York than in Missouri, it is 
Missouri that has molded my character, my conduct, my sentiments, and 
yes, my prejudices; Missouri and its people, its customs, its 
attitudes, and its habits. These are ingrained in me.'' She added, 
speaking of her many Missourian artifacts and pictures in her home, 
``So you see that on every hand I'm reminded of my Missouri, Jackson 
County, Independence heritage. I couldn't forget it even if I wanted 
to.''
  Through the years, I had the great pleasure of working with Margaret 
on several occasions that honored her father's life. Her efforts gave 
added meaning to President Truman's legacy. Margaret was gracious, 
intelligent, wise, witty, and spirited. Truly her father's daughter. I 
was pleased that our paths crossed, as they did, during her lifetime.
  She will long be remembered as an inspiration to those who knew her 
and to all Missourians. I was honored to call Margaret Truman Daniel my 
friend.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my 
time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. 
Con. Res. 292, which acknowledges and seeks to honor the late Margaret 
Truman Daniel for her lifetime of achievements and accomplishments. H. 
Con. Res. 292 was introduced by Representative Emanuel Cleaver of 
Missouri on February 12, 2008, and was considered by and reported from 
the Oversight Committee on February 26, 2008, by voice vote.
  This measure has the support of over 50 Members of Congress, and 
provides our body a collective opportunity to both recognize and pay 
tribute to one of America's remarkable and accomplished first 
daughters, the Honorable Margaret Truman Daniel.
  Margaret Truman Daniel was born on February 17, 1924, in 
Independence, Missouri, to the parents of former President Harry S 
Truman and first lady Elizabeth ``Bess'' Virginia Wallace. In fact, she 
was the couple's only child. A public school student up until the time 
of her father's election to the U.S. Senate in 1934, Margaret Truman 
Daniel would later attend George Washington University, beginning in 
the fall of 1944, which was the same year her father was elected Vice 
President.
  Ms. Truman Daniel graduated from George Washington University in 
1946, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in history. It was her 
father, who had been President since April 12, 1945, that delivered the 
commencement address at Ms. Truman Daniel's graduation ceremony and 
presented her with her diploma.
  Beyond her role as the daughter of an American President, Margaret 
Truman Daniel was a talented vocalist and skillful journalist in radio 
and print media throughout much of the 1950s. It was around this time 
that Ms. Truman Daniel would meet her husband, Clifton Daniel, with 
whom she would later raise four boys, Clifton, William, Harrison and 
Thomas.
  The 1984 recipient of the Harry S Truman Public Service award, 
presented annually by the City of Independence to an outstanding 
American citizen, and an acclaimed author, Margaret Truman Daniel was 
able to touch the hearts and minds of so many people in our country 
before passing away on January 28 of this year.
  I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that all of us agree and concur in the 
passage of this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support 
of H. Con. Res. 292, as offered by my distinguished colleague from 
Missouri, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. This resolution recognizes and 
honors the lifetime accomplishments of Margaret Truman Daniel. Margaret 
Truman Daniel, a singer and an author, was the one and only child of 
the late President Harry S Truman. Margaret Truman Daniel deserves no 
better tribute than that of being honored by members of the United 
States Congress.
  Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was born on February 17, 1924, in 
Independence, Missouri. When Margaret Daniel Truman was 16 years old, 
she began taking voice lessons in Independence, Missouri, from Mrs. 
Thomas J. Strickler, a family friend. Mrs. Daniel graduated from George 
Washington University in 1946 and received a bachelor of arts degree in 
history. Her father. President Harry S Truman, took office one year 
before on April 12, 1945, gave her commencement address, and presented 
her with her diploma. She made her first outdoor appearance as a singer 
on August 23, 1947 at the Hollywood Bowl before a crowd of 
approximately 20,000 people with Eugene Ormandy conducting the 
orchestra. She later had her first concert on October 17, 1947, in 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel married Clifton Daniel on April 21, 1956, 
at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri. They had 
four children; Clifton Truman, born June 5, 1957; William Wallace, born 
May 19, 1959 (died September 4, 2000); Harrison Gates, born March 3, 
1963; and Thomas Washington, born May 28, 1966. The Daniels' family has 
five grandchildren.
  Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was the author of 23 novels, non-fiction 
and fiction, including two biographies on her parents' lives. The 
biographies, Harry S Truman (1972) and Bess W. Truman (1986), described 
the lives of the former President and former First Lady from the 
perspective of their only daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel. After her 
father's death in 1972, Mrs. Daniel worked as an advocate for 
presidential libraries. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel died in Chicago, 
Illinois, at the age of 83 on January 29, 2008.
  It is not often in American history where the nation has the 
opportunity to witness the only child of a President of the United 
States become a singer and a novelist. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was 
widely known for these accomplishments but to many Americans she was so 
much more. She deserves to be honored today by our Nation.
  Today, I seek to offer my condolences for her death, and also 
recognize her lifetime accomplishments. For these reasons, I strongly 
support H. Con. Res. 292 and urge all Members to do the same.
  Mr. Davis of Illinois. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 292.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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