Elizabeth Wallace Truman
1945-1953

Elizabeth Virginia Wallace was born on February 13, 1885, in Independence, Missouri.
Her nickname was Bess.

Her father committed suicide when she was 18.

Elizabeth (Bess) met Harry Truman in Sunday school when she was five. He was six.

They were classmates in high school. After high school, they went in different directions. They met up again several years later and dated for several years.

When Harry returned from fighting in France during WWI, they were married. It was June 28, 1919.

Margaret was their only child.

Library of Congress

Harry was sworn in as President after Roosevelt died.

On April 12, 1945 became the First Lady.

Bess Truman did not want Harry to run for a second term, but she did go with him on the campaign trail.

Harry's nickname for Bess was "The Boss."

She called the White House the Great White Jail.

Bess never held a press conference as First Lady.

Harry Truman died in 1972. Bess lived quietly in Independence, Missouri.

On October 18, 1982, at the age of 97 she died of a heart attack.

She was the oldest living First Lady.

She is buried next to her husband in Independence, Missouri.

Visit our site on U.S. Presidents

Books and Websites

Books

Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladiesby James Barber and Amy Pastan.
First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies) by Beatrice Gormeley.

Websites

http://www.firstladies.org/ National First Ladies Library
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/058_flal.htmlLibrary of Congress, Images of the First Ladies

Comments and/or corrections should be sent to Jim at jim@anewadventure.org.