Arden Steele grew up in Jefferson City and lived there for 50 years, and currently lives in Florida. She spoke with the Missouri on Mic team at a local 4th of July celebration.
She says that Missouri’s history is worth celebrating as the state turns 200 – which might make sense, given her proximity to one of the Show-Me State’s most famous residents – President Harry S. Truman. She spoke about her childhood memories of the 33rd president of the United States.
Missouri on Mic is an oral history and journalism project documenting stories from around the state in its 200th year.
Arden Steele: Harry Truman and my dad were acquaintances through the American Legion, and when we would go to the American Legion's State Convention, Harry Truman would come and Dad and a bunch of other gentlemen would go and greet him and bring him to the convention hall. And I was probably about 10 years old at the time, and would go with them.
And then our church had an exchange minister with England, and during that time, Dad was supposed to entertain the minister one day.
So, he made arrangements to take the minister to Kansas City to the Truman Library, and to meet Harry Truman, and Harry, like I said earlier – Dad and Harry Truman weren't best of friends, but they were acquaintances through the American Legion.
"I can remember one time especially – Harry Truman began his speech and the legionnaires would yell, 'Give 'em hell, Harry!' and he'd say, 'You know, you shut up and I will.'"Arden Steele
Harry Truman came out of his office to greet Dad and this minister, and my mother and the minister's wife and daughter was there and Harry Truman looked at Dad said, "Steele, you old four-eyed son of a gun! I'm glad to see you."
And the minister and his wife, being from England — and their royalty are more reserved — couldn't get over that and talked about that for many years.
He had been president by the time I knew him he was it was probably in 19...late 50s.
Yeah, it was it was it was fun to be in his company. I was in his company one night when he played the piano. And that was a fun thing: we all stood and sang while he played.
And we would go to the same convention of the American Legion every year and like I said, dad and his group of gentlemen would go get Harry, they'd bring him in, and he would always address the convention.
The legionnaires would always stand up and, and I can remember one time especially Harry Truman began his speech and the legionnaires would yell, "Give 'em hell, Harry!" And he'd say, "You know, you shut up and I will."
