Harry Truman Returns to Jackson County Missouri as President Independence Motorcade

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President Truman's blue Cadillac approached the Independence square via West Lexington and circled the square traveling west on Maple Street, directly in front of the 1933 Courthouse, which he had remodeled when he was County Judge.

The Independence Chamber of Commerce and residents had worked hard to decorate the square for Truman's arrival. Truman saw the flags that were placed on virtually every light pole. The courthouse and city were also bedecked with flags and as the motorcade passed by, some in the crowd held up their "Welcome Home" signs.

The motorcade passed Memorial Hall, which served as the President's polling place and then pulled up to 219 N. Delaware, which had been blocked off in front of the home from Van Horn (now Truman Road) to Maple Street.

The next day, the editor of the Independence Examiner, Frank Rucker, had this to say about the role Independence played in the homecoming:

"It was a great day for everyone."

"President Truman's Jackson County friends, who have observed him in many pleasant situations, were agreed that they had never seen him appear quite so happy as he did yesterday when he rode through the streets of Independence waving his hands and bowing in recognition of the exuberant and sincere greeting accorded him and last night when he stood before more than 8,000 persons, mostly neighbors, friends and personal acquaintances, and told them that he knew he had the support of the people of Jackson County in winning the war and the peace. The smiles that broke over his face when his daughter, Margaret, rushed into his arms as he was about to alight from his airplane in Kansas City, never left him all day. It was a joy to be at home with his family and friends in Independence. It was a great day for the President."

"Citizens of this community never entered more heartily or gave finer cooperation for any special occasion than they did for this one. They did more than they were asked to do by the committees in charge. They put forth a special effort to make the President's home coming pleasant in every way and to provide cordiality for all who were their guests. They dressed up their home premises to help make the town more beautiful and inviting. They performed many acts of extraordinary kindness that will never be given publicity. They cannot be singled out but they blended into the general atmosphere of hospitality that marked the day."

"It was a wonderful day for the children. Many youngsters who had never seen a President before wreathed their faces with smiles of admiration and waved their hands in salute to a President who was their very own--one who came from their own community and who started life under no more promising circumstances than they. They witnessed greatness that had sprung from the blood stock and environs of Jackson County."

"Judging by the many complimentary words spoken by the representatives of the press, who came here from all sections of the nation to observe the President and his home folks, it was a delightful day for them. Between the writing and filing of their stories on the events of the day, they found time to eat some Jackson County fried chicken and ham and to become acquainted with our townspeople. Correspondents from the great cities of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Tulsa, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, came here and worked hard and then rested their tired legs while they talked shop with Examiner reporters. The East, the West, the North and the South saw here the Middle West and liked it."

"From all appearances and from what we were told, it was a day to be remembered by all." Independence Examiner June 28, 1945.