Whistle Stops: "Truman and Pendergast" with John Herron

Travel back in time to the “wide open” town of Kansas City, where Prohibition was rarely enforced, the mob was ascendant and urban vice was rampant. At the center of it all was political boss Tom Pendergast. Many saw Tom as a “Robin Hood” figure who secured jobs, food and clothes for the poor, but his generosity always came at a price. What, then, is Pendergast’s price when he offers Harry Truman the position of Presiding County Judge in 1926? And what tradeoffs will the principled future president be willing to make during the early days of his political career?
John Herron was named Director of the Kansas City Public Library in 2020, following a dynamic, 17-year tenure at the University of Missouri-Kansas City that saw him arrive as an assistant history professor and rise to associate vice-provost for innovation and interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A native of western Montana, Herron earned a Ph.D. in American history from the University of New Mexico and taught at Tufts University in Boston and the University of San Diego. He is co-editor of Wide-Open Town: Kansas City in the Pendergast Era (2018).
Register now for upcoming stops in this fascinating series, generously sponsored by Black & Veatch. Learn more here: bit.ly/3o6PXvUtur

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

I almost forgot about it! A great reward after a day of work!

[@richardclegg5853]

A treasured family heirloom, a perfectly preserved signed letter from then Senator Truman to J.T. Pendergast in response to a request for some assistance in a "business matter" Mr. Pendergast was assisting my family with through his then relationship with the Senator... I love the story of President Truman attending Mr Pendergast funeral, "because he was my friend", we sure don't make politicians like that anymore

[@chuckschafer942]

"IF IT WERE NOT FOR TOM PENDERGAST I WOLDENT BE THE VICE PRESIDENT"

[@PeterChan-vk7kb]

@@chuckschafer942 Yes, the political bosses (like Pendergast and also Crump, Kelly, Hague, ) decided that Wallace would never win the presidency on his own, so they made Truman Vice-President, Pendergast also obviously made him Senator (although Truman won partly due to his own political skill and only partly due to Pendergast) .
It is unfortunate that FDR betrayed Pendergast, after Pendergast had supported FDR for his entire career.
Truman was never like FDR, who while being a great president and a most gifted politician was a fairly notorious backstabber.
Truman stayed true to the people who helped him!