[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.
____________________