Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure exemplifies a novel approach as to how an effective storyteller conveys a touch of history and a hint of biography. Coincidentally, I came across another such book a few months ago: Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy by Nathaniel Philbrick. In both books, the authors traveled as closely as possible the same routes taken by two historical figures, telling readers not only about the events that befell the principal subjects but also regaling us with their own experiences along those routes and describing the differences that time and “progress” bring along to change the environment, be that physical, cultural, technological, legal, or societal.

Matthew Algeo's book deals with show more a road trip that ex-president Harry Truman took from his home in Independence, Missouri to the east coast in 1953, a drive that took him through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia. Truman was accompanied only by his wife, Bess—no Secret Service, no escorts, and no entourage of reporters. He drove the route just as any private citizen would, being stopped by highway patrolmen, gassing up his Chrysler New Yorker at service stations along the route, and staying some nights at roadside motels. Was this road trip especially significant to the history of the nation? Not at all, yet it was indeed significant in the fact that it was the last time that an ex-president could do such a thing.

The book is rife with humorous incidents and anecdotes of Truman's interactions with service station attendants, waitresses, hotel managers, and taxi drivers, as well as a few sheriffs and state police troopers he encountered along the way. Quite a few bits of “serious” history find their way into the narrative as well, e.g., the absence (and later provision) of pensions for ex-presidents, the absence (and later provision) of Secret Service protection for ex-presidents and their spouses, the enmity (and later reconciliation) between Truman and his successor, Eisenhower, the absolute detestation that Truman felt for Richard Nixon, and some facts about the Sacred Cow, the first version of what would eventually be known as Air Force 1.

A small mystery that Algeo introduces in his book (but fails to resolve) involves the “Blue Room” in Hangar 18 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. According to the author, supposedly a connection exists between that hangar and Roswell, New Mexico. I remain unpersuaded, but UFO aficionados will undoubtedly take note. This reference is the only part of Algeo's book that leaves me just a bit doubtful of his seriousness as a historian, but then I'm not sure just how firmly his tongue may be planted in his cheek in that brief section of his book.

All in all, Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip is an interesting and frequently amusing read of an ex-president's low-key personal adventure in a time when it was still possible for such a person to mingle with the public without dire concern for security. Whatever one's opinion of Harry Truman's performance as President, the reader finishes this book with a more complete picture of Truman as a (nearly) private citizen and also enjoys a touch of nostalgia for the relatively slower pace of life in the United States of seventy years ago.

Overall, Algeo is a competent writer who has given us a readable narrative that holds our interest and does not distract us with syntactical, morphological, or grammatical faux pas, something I cannot say for every contemporary published author. Having said that, however, I must mention the sole error I found in the entire book. Everyone—the author, the proofreader, the editor—allowed an error on page 93 to go uncorrected, and we read that using a hotel where Joseph McCarthy had given a speech that set off the great “Red Scare” concerned Truman “not a wit.” The correct expression, of course, is “not a whit.” Having now picked that nit, allow me to recommend Algeo's book as an interesting, often amusing, and frequently informative read. show less

“I like roads. I like to move.”

“Harry Truman was the last person to leave the White House and return to something resembling a normal life. And in the summer of 1953 he did something millions of ordinary Americans do all the time, but something no former president had ever done before—and none has done since. He took a road trip...”

In this charming and well-researched book, we get to ride along with Harry and Bess, in their new Chrysler New Yorker, on their trip, from Independence Mo, to the East Coast. The author documents, much of their route, including gas station and restaurant stops, along with their overnight lodging. Harry chats with mechanics, cabbies, fellow diners and state troopers. The author also followed this show more route, while researching the book and makes interesting comments about how things have changed across the Midwest, in these 60-plus years.

Truman is one of my favorite historical figures. Someone I would love to sit down and have a beer with, plus he loved books. If you would like a little slice of American history, hop in the backseat and give this one a spin. show less

An endearing light history about an interstate road trip Harry Truman took with his wife not long after leaving the presidency in 1953. An honest, genial ex-farmer living a simple post-retirement life in his Missouri hometown (presidents then having no pension plan and paying their own expenses), who famously refused to cash in on his status as an ex-president (rightly claiming such lucre would diminish the office), Truman is a good person to read about for a few hundred pages, and a far cry from the politicians of today.

That might be overly cynical of me (particularly considering Truman crossed swords with the likes of Richard Nixon) but there is a sense of warmth, bonhomie and American prosperity and vitality embodied in Truman's road show more trip. There are no seatbelts, no corporate endorsements, and no Secret Service detail. But there are chromed Chryslers, flashbulb press photographers and Fifties diners. Even though the road trip itself is rather uneventful, author Matthew Algeo captures that wistfulness we might feel towards a long-gone age. It is all very wholesome, with ordinary 'folks' stopping Truman every two minutes just to shake his hand or say hello. And through it all is "that famous toothy smile" (pg. 33) of Harry S, one of the last truly decent men to hold the office of the US presidency. show less

In 1953, the year after he left the Presidency, Harry Truman and his wife Bess departed from their home in Independence, Missouri. They were setting off in their Chrysler New Yorker on a nineteen day road trip that would take them to New York City and back. They did so unaccompanied by Secret Service protection or any type of entourage. Along the way, they stopped to visit old friends, returned to Washington DC, and upon reaching the Big Apple took in a Broadway play to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Between 2006 and 2008, public radio reporter Matthew Algeo retraced their journey, stopping at the same places the couple had visited along the way. Truman had hoped to travel incognito, but his face was so recognizable that wherever show more they stopped, crowds and press soon gathered. Algeo’s entertaining account details how Truman’s plan went awry, while bringing to life the sights and people they encountered along the way. Following in their footsteps more than fifty years later, he also contrasts the changes that have occurred since.

This book does a marvelous job of capturing Harry Truman’s personality. It shows a man who felt comfortable interacting with people no matter their station in life. After all, when he left the Presidency, he had no large bank account to fall back on. Nonetheless, his zest for life remained undimmed, as did his honesty when dealing with the world in general. Despite its rather silly title, this book takes the reader on a road trip they will remember fondly. Harry and Bess make for wonderful traveling companions. show less

I absolutely loved Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure by Matthew Alego. The book details a road trip that Harry Truman and his wife, Bess took in the early summer of 1953. Truman had said goodbye to politics and left Washington after Dwight Eisenhower was sworn in. He was now a member of the exclusive club of Ex-Presidents. He and his wife decided to undertake a road trip, driving from Independence, Missouri to the East Coast and back again. There was just the two of them in the car, no aides, no secret service, no photographers. They attracted some attention, but many times it was just Harry at the wheel, Bess as navigator and miles of highway to travel.

The author sprinkles tidbits of information about the 1950’s, the various show more states that they travelled through, the people along the way and the Truman’s in particular. This road trip came to be significant in that it helped to define the role of an ex-president. Harry Truman was the last president to return to civilian life with no retirement package or benefits of any kind.

The author captures the essence of the 1950’s effortlessly and whether he is describing a meal the Truman’s ordered in a roadside dinner or making a particular point about politics or history, he holds the readers attention easily. North Americans have long had a love affair with their automobiles and taking a road trip has become a tradition. Harry and Bess Truman’s 1953 road trip was great fun to read about and Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure is truly a gem of a book. show less

Matthew Algeo recounts Harry and Bess Truman’s 1953 post-presidential, 19 day road trip from their home in Missouri to Washington DC to NYC and back again. He travels the same roads and tells us what the Truman’s would have seen, what’s changed and what hasn’t. He stops where they stopped and talks to people who remember or were told of the Trumans’ visit to their town or business. There’s just a bit of politics and mostly just wonderful highway, city, car, hotel and restaurant history and facts, all befitting this charming travelogue. Wonderful little details and snippets of information are included. For instance, Harry Truman was once in the crowd outside of the Today Show and was spotted and interviewed. The author’s show more own attempt to appear on Today is also recounted to humorous affect. Interestingly, for me at least, I learned how the UN headquarters came to be in NYC, some history surrounding the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and how the Presidential plane became known as Air Force One. Interesting also, was Truman's post-presidental financial situation.

Told in a genial, humorous tone, it is indeed an “excellent adventure” as you sit back, relax and enjoy a little armchair travel along the back roads and blue highways of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic States. After this trip through a not so long ago, but truly bygone era, I’m ready for a road trip of my own. show less

Absolutely loved this book!!! It is the clash of 2 of my obsessions...the US Presidency and old cars. This was a delightful adventure where Mr. Algeo retraces this unique adventure taken by former President Truman and his wife Bess, only months after leaving the White House....paying his own way in his brand new 1953 Chrysler New Yorker with no Presidential pension, and no Secret Service or security....Just 2 'normal' citizens on a road trip! The mission was to enjoy an adventure on the road incognito......the reality was something quite different. I applaud Mr. Algeo's dedication and attention to detail enabling him to recreate the journey for himself as closely as was possible with the information available and the passage of time. show more The structure of the book is charming and very interesting, especially to a Presidential geek like myself. It did not hurt that i had just been to the Truman Library in Independence, MO barely a month ago. A great peak into another time in a warm and human manner, devoid of all the negative crap that seems to always be present in political circles today. A refreshing break...One that i was grateful for!! show less