jamesashford

I have been searching for a home viewing copy of this magnificent series since the advent of Betamax/VHS. This month, approaching my 77th year, I finally scored.

A web search for the title will bring up the site from which I ordered the series. IMDb Guidelines prohibit more specificity.

I'm watching the episodes now. The quality and sound are quite adequate, given the unknown source of transfer. Remember that this was done on film in the early 1960s. Let me put it this way: viewing this DVD is like sitting in front of your black and white RCA 24" TV in 1961. Good enough for me just to have it.

In 1963 I was about to leave a graduate program in political science at Cornell to return to California and enter law school. In an attempt to get me to come back to Ithaca, my faculty adviser, Clinton Rossiter, suggested that on the way home I pass through Independence, Missouri, and spend some time at the Truman Library, on Cornell's dime. "Why don't you write the President?" said Rossiter. I did, and by return mail got a letter from Mr.Truman, inviting me to come on down. I ended up spending a couple of weeks, and aside from some formal interviews with the man, I saw and talked to him every day---it was his custom to wander through the research stacks and sit down with anyone there, to suggest what materials might be most helpful, and generally to shoot the breeze. He was in his element as a former President, and extremely generous and kind to this then 22 year old "scholar."

Gary Sinise appeared this summer at a symposium at California State University Fresno and, I am told, said that he considered "Truman" to be his best work. Based on my experience years ago, I'd say that Sinise was at the top of his game in his portrayal. He captured the man absolutely; looks, speech, mannerisms. The film is ambitious in historical scope, perhaps too much so, but for anyone who wants to experience what Truman was like in person, this is a film to watch.