Transcript The Long Road to the Short History of the Truman Center at UMKC.

The Long Road to the Short History
of the Truman Center at UMKC
This collection of events and upcoming plans along
“the long road to the short history” of the Truman
Center was prepared for our friends and supporters –
for those who believe in the power of civic education
and civic engagement, as Harry Truman did.
We hope you enjoy our story. We would welcome an
opportunity to discuss programs or plans that are of
specific interest to you.
Dr. Dale Neuman
Program Director
phone: 816-235-2787
e-mail: [email protected]
Gayla Curtis
Program Associate and
Assistant to the Director
phone: 816-235-2720
e-mail: [email protected]
Or visit us online at
www.cas.umkc.edu/trumancenter
The Establishment of the
Truman Center at UMKC
In the Beginning…
In 1969, President Harry S.
Truman, in a letter to UMKC
Chancellor James Olson,
authorized the establishment
of the Harry S. Truman
Center for Governmental
Affairs.
Over the course of the next
25 years, committees meet,
studies are done and
recommendations come
forth to no avail. The Center
lies dormant.
A New Start
Beginning in 2007, following a
mandate from a new chancellor,
a transition advisory committee
that included persons from
public life and the university was
created to develop a mission
statement and identify initiatives
for the Truman Center.
Harry S. Truman,
33rd President of the United States
Truman Center Mission & Initiatives
Truman Center Mission:
To honor Harry S. Truman’s legacy of public service, leadership,
and the importance of the contribution of the ordinary citizen to
the well-being of the political community through public affairs
and educational programs.
Truman Center Initiatives:
It was agreed that each initiative must address something that
was important to Harry Truman and, when taken together, could
serve to honor his legacy.
Those initiatives came to be Civic Education,
Civic Engagement and Local Governance.
Cooperating Partners
In June 2007, Dean Karen
Vorst of UMKC’s College of
Arts and Sciences, and Dr.
Michael Devine, Director of the
Truman Presidential Library,
sign a Memorandum of
Understanding whereby the
two Truman-named entities
would become cooperating
partners in programming to
honor Truman.
Dr. Dale Neuman and Dean Karen Vorst of UMKC,
and Dr. Michael Devine and Dr. Ray Geselbracht
of the Truman Presidential Library gather to sign
the Memorandum of Understanding
Subsequently, the Truman Forum of the Kansas City Public
Library began to partner with the Truman Center by providing a
venue for our programs.
Programming & Events:
2007-Present
Inaugural Event
In November 2007, Frank K.
Kelly a UKC alumnus, Class
of 1938, inaugurated our
public affairs series when he
returned to Kansas City and
UMKC to discuss writing
speeches and working for
Truman in 1948.
Frank K. Kelly, former Truman speechwriter,
at UMKC
2007-Present
In February, 2008, Ken
Hechler, who worked in the
Truman White House from
1949-1952, came to UMKC to
discuss issues of staffing the
White House Office and the
difference between the way
Truman and presidents of
recent years chose and used
advisors.
Ken Hechler, assistant to Truman from 1949-1952
2007-Present
In April 2008, David Moore,
former Gallup vice president
and senior editor of the Gallup
Poll came to Kansas City and
revisited the difficulties with
opinion polls in the Truman
election of 1948. Moore also
discussed issues relevant in
the conduct of recent polls.
David Moore discusses “Polling in America: From
Truman to Bush”
2007-Present
In May 2008, two undergraduate
students, are named the first two
Harry Truman Bootstrap
Scholarship Interns. In June,
they are sent all expenses paid
to Washington to intern in
Congress for both Senator
McCaskill and Representative
Cleaver.
United States Capitol
The scholarship included tuition
and fees so interns could earn
academic credit by combining an
academic program with realworld experiences.
2007-Present
In October 2008, UMKC celebrated its 75th anniversary. As part of
the celebration, William Worley, adjunct history professor, provided
an impersonation of Truman, recreating memories and events,
including Truman’s acceptance of an honorary degree on the steps
of Scofield Hall at the University of Kansas City.
Truman accepts
honorary Doctorate
of Law degree at
UKC in 1945.
William Worley as
Truman in 2008.
Truman’s honorary diploma from UKC, 1945
2007-Present
Later that month, the Truman Center
partnered with the Kansas City
United Nations Day Committee to
host a program on global warming.
Dr. John M.R. Stone, provided a
presentation titled “Challenges and
Opportunities of Climate Change,” in
which he discussed his work on the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, which shared the 2007
Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice
President Al Gore.
Dr. John M.R. Stone
2007-Present
In February 2009, the
Truman Center hosted Dr. D.
Robert Worley, noted expert
in national security, for a
discussion of the president’s
use of the National Security
Council, beginning with its
initial organization under
Truman.
Dr. D. Robert Worley
2007-Present
In the summer of 2009, the Truman Center presented “Harry
Truman the Road Builder: A Look Forward from 1920 to 2040.”
Archivist Dr. Sam Rushay discussed Truman’s fascination with
roads and automobiles, along with his impact on transportation
issues of the day in Jackson County. Tom Gerend of the MidAmerica Regional Council provided a futuristic look at the
pressing transportation issues of today, going forward.
Truman and his Stafford
car at a picnic
1922 Jackson County,
Missouri, campaign flyer
Button supporting Truman’s
bond issue concerning roads
2007-Present
In September 2009, the Truman
Center presented “Democracy’s
Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s
Role,” the first of two Harry’s Front
Porch Forums, focusing on
Americans turning away from public
life and becoming spectators, rather
than participants. This was a smallgroup discussion format, led by a
moderator.
Former President Harry S. Truman
shakes hands with an unidentified
man at the Truman Library ca. 1964
2007-Present
On October 5, 2009, the Truman
Center hosted Dr. David Atkinson,
UMKC’s Curators’ Distinguished
Teaching Professor of Political
Science and Law. Dr. Atkinson
presented “Appointing the Supreme
Court: From Truman to Obama,” in
which he discussed the
controversial appointments of
Supreme Court Justices.
Dr. David Atkinson
2007-Present
In October 2009, the Truman
Center participated in the
second of Harry’s Front Porch
Forums, titled “Preparing
Today’s Kids for Tomorrow’s
Jobs: What Should Our
Community Do?” This smallgroup discussion focused on
the preparation of today’s youth
in a rapidly changing economy
and world.
President Truman greeting a group of
children
2007-Present
On October 20, 2009, authors
Allis and Ronald Radosh visit
Kansas City as guests of the
Truman Center and the Jewish
Community Relations Bureau.
They discuss their new, highly
acclaimed book, “A Safe Haven:
Harry S. Truman and the
Founding of Israel.”
2007-Present
On October 29, 2009, the Truman
Center hosted United Nations
Under-Secretary General, Dr.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, to
discuss the topic of children and
armed conflict.
Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy
2007-Present
On June 22, 2010, Dr. Meena
Bose, Director of the Kalikow
Center for the Study of the
American Presidency at Hofstra
University, presented a lecture on
The Role of the UN in U.S.
Foreign Policy: From Truman to
Obama.
2007-Present
On September 27, 2010, Dr.
George C. Edwards III, George
and Julia Blucher Jordan Chair in
Presidential Studies and
Distinguished Professor of
Political Science at Texas A&M
University, spoke on “Presidential
Leadership and Health Care
Reform From Truman to Obama.”
Edwards examined the
challenges our presidents face in
setting healthcare policy.
2007-Present
On October 18, 2010, the
Truman Center hosted UN UnderSecretary General B. Lynn
Pascoe, head of the U.N.’s
Department of Political Affairs.
Pascoe addressed his
department’s chief responsibilities
in “preventative diplomacy.”
2007-Present
October, 2010, the Truman
Center co-partnered with the
Truman Forum at the Kansas City
Public Library—Plaza Branch on
the topic of “America’s Role in the
World: What Does National
Security Mean in the 21st
Century?”
2007-Present
In November, 2010, the Truman
Center and the Kansas City
League of Women Voters, in
collaboration with a delegation
from Azerbaijan, presented a
discussion “Learning Democracy:
Election Processes in the U.S.
and Azerbaijan.”
2007-Present
In May, 2011, Ambassador James
McLay, New Zealand’s permanent
representative to the United
Nations, addressed a Truman
Center audience on the occasion
of the memorial to those UN
Peacekeepers who lost their lives
on peacekeeping missions in
2010.
2007-Present
The Truman Center, along with
UMKC’s Political Science Honor
Society (Pi Sigma Alpha) and
GCKUNA, hosted Deputy
Secretary-General of the UN, Dr.
Asha-Rose Migiro of Tanzania.
Dr. Migiro spoke on the need for
everyone to get involved in the
global issues that affect the UN,
because ultimately, they affect not
just one country or region, but us
all.
2007-Present
On President’s Day, February 20,
2012, Historian of the U.S.
Senate, Don Ritchie, presented “A
Conflicted Legacy: Presidents
and Congress from Truman to
Obama.”
2007-Present
Dr. Susan Levine came to Kansas
City in March of 2012 to present
“School Lunch Politics: From
Truman to Reagan” in honor of
Truman’s signing of the first
school lunch bill.
2007-Present
In celebration of Mayor’s UN Day,
2012, Lynn Stratford, Senior VicePresident of Program & Strategic
Partnerships for UNICEF, spoke
at a pre-dinner session on global
efforts on behalf of children’s
health.
2007-Present
In observance of 2013’s UN
Peacekeepers Day, Kieran Dwyer,
Chief Spokesman, U.N.
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, addressed the
challenges in current
peacekeeping operations.
Peacekeepers Day is a time to
honor the women and men from
many nations who don Blue
Helmets to defend the helpless
and keep the peace.
2007-Present
On October 23, 2013, in
celebration of Mayor’s UN Day,
Kristin Hetle, Director of Strategic
Partnerships-UN Women, along
with other KC organizations
focused on women’s issues.
Discussions included the
achievements and challenges in
promoting gender equality and
empowering women in the U.S.
and abroad.
2007-Present
Jordie Hannum, Director of the
Better World Campaign of the UN
Foundation, on June 6, 2014,
discussed the history, role,
effectiveness and costs of the UN
Peacekeeping Operations as they
deal with preventing and reducing
violence around the world.
2007-Present
On June 3, 2014, Dr. Melvin
Goodman presented “Presidents
& the CIA: From Truman to
Obama” at the National Archives,
where he discussed the
intelligence and operational
successes and failures of the CIA
from the perspective of the
relationship between the
Presidency and the CIA.
2007-Present
On September 24, 2014, Dr.
Stephen Sestanovich discussed
Maximalist: America in the World
From Truman to Obama.
Beginning with President Truman,
he examined the winding road of
American foreign policy,
illustrating where the U.S. often
must make detours amid great
controversy.
2007-Present
In observance once again of the
Mayor’s United Nations Day 2014,
recently retired Ambassador
Rosemary DiCarlo spoke at a predinner session for high school and
college students on Oct. 27th.
She addressed the current U.S.U.N. relationship and also
participated in a Q&A session
with the students, describing in
detail life in the foreign service.
Looking Ahead:
Programming Ideas & Plans
Programming Ideas & Plans
Truman Legacy Public Affairs Series
• The President as Manager of the Economy from Truman
to Obama (Truman was the first president required to manage
the economy by the Employment Act of 1946)
• The President and Nuclear Arms from Truman to Obama
• The President and NATO from Truman to Obama
(Truman signed and the U.S. Senate approved the NATO
treaty in 1949)
Programming Ideas & Plans
Civic Engagement
•
Broaden Undergraduate Bootstrap Internship Program to
include full semesters in D.C. and/or in local Congressional
and other placement sites.
•
Identify and fund graduate student internships in local
governments (also addresses County Governance initiative.)
•
Encourage service learning opportunities in public and
governmental agency environments.
We hope you have enjoyed the sights found along the
“long road” to the start of the UMKC Truman Center.
We welcome your questions and would enjoy an
opportunity to visit with you regarding topics of
interest or suggestions you have regarding the Center.
Dr. Dale Neuman
Program Director
phone: 816-235-2787
e-mail: [email protected]
Gayla Curtis
Program Associate and
Assistant to the Director
phone: 816-235-2720
e-mail: [email protected]
If you are interested in donating to the Truman Center,
please visit us online at:
www.cas.umkc.edu/trumancenter
Truman Center Logo
Commissioned by the Truman Center, and developed in
collaboration by UMKC Graphic Design students
Natosha Snidow, Riley Davis, and Samantha Kuns