A Saturday morning art market was setting up in front of the Jackson County courthouse where Truman had an office in his early years. Ted Stilwell, one of the artists, told us a story. As a child, his school class had visited the Truman house to make some drawings. The teacher made it clear beforehand that this was an assignment to be handed in for grading. The students were completing their drawings when a car pulled out of the driveway, the window came down and President Truman himself enquired of Ted, who was nearest the car, what they were doing.

Seeing Ted’s work, he exclaimed it was the best picture he had ever seen of the house and asked if he might keep it. Ted complied, with unexpected consequences: he received a failing grade for not having artwork to hand in after the class outing. To this day he feels an injustice was done. Ted’s story convinced me that this really is (or was) the “Show me!” state.