12.+Franklin+Roosevelt’s+Death+and+Harry+S.+Truma

“Gram, you were around Allie May’s age when Franklin D. Roosevelt died right?” Rose’s granddaughter, Meredith, asked innocently. “Meredith, how many times do I have to tell you? Your gram was a servant in the White House during the nation’s thirty-second president Franklin D. Roosevelt’s term from 1933 until 1945 (Danzer et. al. r52). On April 12, 1945 when Roosevelt suddenly died from a stroke while posing for a portrait, Gram was working in the library dusting all the books (Danzer et. al. 577). Weren’t ‘cha Gram? ” Rose’s other granddaughter Allie May questioned. “Yes, that’s right,” Rose said smiling, trying to stifle a laugh. “ I was there to see all the hustle and bustle of the transition to Roosevelt’s vice president, Harry S. Truman, being appointed the new leader to the United States, all d uring the same . night of our beloved Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death (Danzer et. al. 577). Believe it or not, President Truman worked for eight years in the Whitehouse, from 1945 until 1953 (Danzer et. al. r52). All the chefs and servants put bets on how long he’d be able to last under the large amount of pressure and international conflict Roosevelt left him with. I remember Eleanor, Franklin’s widow, . // talking to him like it was yesterday. When he asked if there was any help or assistance she needed with anything, she responded, //“Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now.” //Just later on that day when Truman spoke to the people he said,// “I don’t know whether you fellow have had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me yesterday wheat had happened (Roosevelt’s death), I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me”// (Danzer et. al. 636).

I remember him always telling us it’s a year of decisions; it’s a year of decisions, all throughout his first year term (“Biographical” 1). In August 1945 Truman supported possibly the most controversial United States presidential decision ever taken. To ensure the country wouldn’t be attacked by Japan, the American military dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in the death of 100,000 (“Succession” 1). Truman understood what his President Franklin D. Roosevelt was fighting for, and continued to keep the containment of the Soviet Union expansion under control (“Biographical” 1). We sent over around $13 billion to repair European governments, and number larger than I could comprehend at the time (“Succession” 1). Well, I don’t want to bore you dear, but later on I’ll tell you even more of the White House gossip okay?” Rose concluded. “Wow Gram! I had no idea you got to witness all of this! I need to go tell Beth right away!” Meredith squealed running away. http://www.skotos.net/articles/artwork/WhiteHousePhysicalMap.gif

Works Cited “Biographical Sketch.” Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. 2008. 20 Oct. 2008 . Danzer, Gerald A. et. al. __The Americans__. Evanston: McDougal Little Inc., 2003. " Succession to the Presidency.” Harry S. Truman. 2008. 20 Oct. 2008  .
 * Name: ** Rosie Miller
 * Birthday: ** January 12, 1930
 * Date of incident: ** Franklin’s death on April 12, 1945
 * Interests: ** reading, writing, poetry, playing the piano, and enjoys spending time with the family.
 * General Information: ** currently living with her daughter and her children. Is full of fun stories and the “inside scoop” for her grandchildren.