Does anyone remember the coverage that Truman got?

[dsc]

I was only a small child back then (I had just turned 5) so I have no real memory of Truman's funeral. This would be the closest comparable thing I would think. Both had been out of office for quite some time, both had served esentually two terms. Did Truman get wall to wall coverage in 1972? Did he get five days of hoop la? Was Bess still alive? I could look this up but I would like some personal memories if at all possible. Thanks.

[JI7]

1. the media today

we now have cable tv, the internet and other ways of easy and fast access things so i'm sure the coverage would seem far more today than then.

as for truman's funeral, i wasn't around then so i can't say how things were then.

[frankly_fedup2]

6. I remember Richard Nixon's death and funeral . . .

and it was all that was on the news. However, for some reason back then, his impeachment WAS talked about. He was not canonized like I have a feeling Ronald Reagan will be.

I was always taught not to speak ill of the dead; however, just because someone dies does not automatically make them a saint.

What has bothered me over the past couple of days is that the news channels say Ronald W. Reagans death is the top story. . . HELLO!! We are still at war and lost 9 Americans today. I find that to be more important news then the death of Ronald Reagan.

Of course, they should report a previous president's death and cover the memorial. However, all they are showing is the best of Ronald Reagan. No one can bring up the weapons for hostages, etc.

Like I said, the man was just a man. He was not perfect and he made mistakes. However, he is a former president, and he should be honored for his service to this country.

[RoyGBiv]

2. There aren't any direct comparisons...

When Truman died, there were only three networks, and 24-hour programming meant watching a test pattern or simple static through the night.

The media culture was also very different. Thank CNN, and to a great extent the first Gulf War, for the current state of "news as entertainment." That's what drives a lot of this.

That said, when Nixon died, there was wall-to-wall coverage, and there were a number of people coming out of the woodwork to talk about how despite Watergate, he was one of the US's greatest Presidents.

[hlthe2b]

3. No... but I do remember Nixon's which was extensive, even without a

State Funeral and despite his having been exiled after Watergate.....

So, I imagine we are par for the course, especially given the 24/7 news channels...Maybe Scott Peterson will stub his toe and cry out for Lacie, or something....

[candy]

4. I was around then,I was even around when he became president

There was lots of coverage but there were just the 3 main networks so it wasn't 24 hour coverage from all over the world.I think Bess outlived him.

[dsc]

5. From what I have read about Truman

He would have been appalled to get maudalin type coverage that Reagan is getting. I don't recall Nixon getting this kind of treatment but I was drinking back then so maybe my memory is faulty.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

7. I'm old enough to remember it but I don't

I was probably off commiting youthful indiscretions at the time.

I do recall that 1972 was the first year I was eligible to vote, and the whole family was glum and angry over Nixon's reelection. I imagine President Truman's death was the frosting on the cake, occurring on the day after Christmas of that year.

Here is the Page One story from NYT 12-27-72. It includes the full text of the President's Proclamation. It also notes that Mr. Truman was the holder of Medicare card number 1, having been enrolled by President Johnson.

http://starship.python.net/crew/manus/Presidents/hst/hstobit.html

President Truman's body laid in state on the grounds of the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, and he was buried on a site there that he chose. His wife Bess was alive at the time; I think she lived another ten years. Their daughter Margaret is still alive.

A few photos from the Truman Library

The Johnson Family


The ceremony outside the Library


The Nixons


Arrival of the hearse at the burial site