Truman

[W. Gray]

Harry and Bess Truman drove by themselves from Independence, Missouri, to the East Coast and back in July 1953. This was the only time in history that an ex-President has done this sort of thing.

When Truman left the White House he had only an Army pension of $111 a month. Unlike Bill and Hillary they were truly broke. There was no presidential pension at the time.

They ate in roadside diners and stayed in cheap motels.

The couple could not afford a more extravagant trip but they did take in some Broadway shows and appeared, by accident, on the NBC Today Show.

I recall that Eisenhower made the Homburg hat a nationwide fad. He insisted on wearing one to the inauguration and Harry wore one also although he wanted to wear a different type of hat.

Truman was the last president who could try to serve for more than two terms. He could have served an unlimited number of terms if the electorate was willing.

Initially, Truman's Presidential salary was $75,000 per year but out of this he had to pay all the expenses of the White House. One year those expenses were $70,800.

In 1949, his salary was raised to $100,000 plus he was provided an additional $50,000 for expenses.

[today, the annual salary is $400,000 plus $50,000 for expenses, $100,000 for travel and $19,000 for entertainment. Retirement pension is $203,700 annually plus $20,000 a year for the spouse if she has no other statutory retirement and Secret Service protection. Additionally, $150,000 per year is provided for a staff. The ex-president receives medical care from the military but must provide his own medical insurance to pay for that care]

The Truman's Secret Service detail ended when they dropped him off at the Washington DC train station on January 20, 1953.

Eisenhower consented to let them ride home on the Ferdinand Magellan, the official Presidential train car which was armor plated with bullet resistant glass. Both Roosevelt and Truman used the car extensively, however Eisenhower used it a few times and got rid of it in 1958.

For the trip to Independence, the car was attached to the rear of a Baltimore and Ohio and a Missouri Pacific passenger train.

The Ferdinand Magellan was known as "US Car No. 1." It is currently in a Florida museum.

It took 26 hours to get from DC to Independence.

[W. Gray]

This was rather timely in view of the above concerning Presidential retirement:

New legislation now sets an annual allowance of $200,000 a year for travel, staff and office costs that have become a standard part of life for ex-Presidents after the Oval Office.

For former presidents who make money through books, speaking fees and other ventures, the allowance is reduced for every dollar in outside income in excess of $400,000.

Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, like other former presidents before them, have earned millions in speaking fees since leaving office.

The legislation sets presidential pensions at $200,000 a year, nearly the same as the current amount. Each surviving spouse would be allotted a $100,000 annual survivor benefit.