Independence, Missouri, an elbow’s length from downtown Kansas City, is where Truman grew up and cut his political teeth. A compact walk through history traces Harry’s “morning constitutionals” and even crosses paths with Frank James, outlaw brother of Jesse James. Information and brochures are available from the tourism office www.visitindependence.com toll free 1- 800-748-7323).

Did former U.S. President Harry Truman put Barack Obama in the White House? It could be argued he did by starting the ball rolling with Executive Order 9981 which desegregated U.S. armed forces in July, 1948. History is a chain of events linked by surprising cause and effect.