Harry Truman in the Northern Marianas, 2004

Bill Worley as Harry Truman

At first it seemed a bit incongruous. In June 1944 Harry was merely an influential, but not well-known member of the U. S. Senate Military Affairs Committee. As it turned out, however, he proved to be a very usable character during the 60th Anniversary observance of the Battle of Saipan because of the inclusion of the three surviving members of the Enola Gay crew which took off from Tinian's North Field that August morning, bound for Hiroshima. By that time, Harry had passed through a brief apprenticeship as Vice President and served as the nation's Commander-in-Chief for the conclusion of the War.

From the standpoint of a Humanities presentation, the Enola Gay emphasis with the attendance of pilot Paul Tibbetts, navigator "Dutch" Van Kirk and weapons officer Morris Jeppson framed a useful background for the presence of Truman. While the aviators focused thoughts on the Battles of Saipan and Tinian as the springboard for the Bomb, Truman was able to focus on the eventual developments in his administration that set the stage for a post-War world of interdependence.

On more than one occasion, questions in response to Truman's presentations evoked observations about the organization of the United Nations, the development of the Marshall Plan and the successful reconstruction of Japan as equally important events to those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The intersection between the presence of the real aviators and the pretend Truman came on the critical issues of ending the War and the creation of the post-Bomb world. As a result, the connection of the real and the Chautauqua worlds was remarkably cogent.

Still, it is possible that the presence of the dozens of veterans, including at least one aged Japanese man, provided just as much of an opportunity for Humanities content and discussion during the week as did the instances where "Truman" and the aviators appeared in succession or in tandem. These men who had engaged in one of the most contested and important battles of the Pacific theater gave a real life context to the series of events.

With all that in mind as I reflect on my week in the Marianas portraying the 33rd President, there are several highlights. One came in the very first event after arrival when one of the ranking Marine officers during the invasion rose at the end of the presentation to thank "Truman" for his decision to approve the Enola Gay mission. It was a moment of suspended disbelief on my part as well as his.

The most intense give-and-take of the week came on Wednesday morning when I presented "Truman" to a group of Northern Marianas Community College Students in the college student center. Through a series of quite perceptive questions from both students and faculty members, it was possible to present the Missouri President's views on both War and domestic issues in more depth than in most of the other venues.

Possibly the most dramatic presentation occurred on Wednesday night in Tinian at the Veterans' Dinner featuring the Enola Gay. The veterans were presented with mementos prior to the meal. My representation of Truman came while the audience was completing their desserts. Upon completion of a 15-minute talk, one resident of Tinian rose to question the Bomb decision. This allowed for a response about Truman's reasons for the decision. Another veteran, a former Marine, asked about Truman's much later observation that he would like to eliminate the Marine Corps from the U. S. military forces. This allowed "Truman" to get a little defensive [after all, it was an unfortunate off-hand remark in the first place] and demonstrate his human side by observing that he was an Army man anyway. The answer struck the right chord for the evening.

On Thursday, I did an informal presentation at the "USO Canteen" in the Hotel Victoria. Several good questions came from a young African American man. Afterwards, he introduced himself as working with a group of NMCC students who were interviewing veterans attending the observance. What followed was an intense set of videotaped questions in which I was able to offer a number direct Truman quotes. One of the questions, one which I very seldom get while doing Truman -- what importance were his religious beliefs on his Presidential decisions. It was an excellent opportunity to respond with his views about the importance of the ideals of the Sermon on the Mount while at the same time disavowing particularistic religious doctrine. It was, as we Chautauqua types sometimes say, "a Chautauqua moment."

The public presentation at Tinian High School provided an opportunity to present Truman in a much more informal manner where I could interact directly with the students. The presentation on Thursday evening at the amphitheater drew some well-informed questions from a diverse crowd including some local and U. S. government representatives. The Friday presentation on the island of Rota was unique because it was to an all-youth audience and included the opportunity to meet the Mayor of Rota, a legend in his own time.

On most days, there were either two or three presentations. This was a rigorous, but not overwhelming schedule. I do think that between the various interviews, public presentations, Rotary presentation, and occasional opportunities to discuss Truman issues raised in informal settings like hotel lobbies and even airports provided a great deal of opportunity for the Humanities message to be presented. I estimate that throughout the week I presented Truman to upwards of 1,000 different people from the youth of Rota to the business elite of Saipan [at Rotary] to the veterans and residents of Tinian. This is a larger set of venues than almost any Chautauqua I have experienced.

Finally, I have to observe that the week of doing "Harry in the Marianas" was at least as educational for me as for the various participants. I learned a tremendous amount about a portion of the United States and the world that seldom receives any attention in the U. S. itself. I learned about the people, the culture and the beauty of the islands. All in all, it was a marvelous and unforgettable week.

I can only say a huge "Thank You!" to Isaac Magofna and Scott Russell who served as wonderful hosts to my wife Kathryn and I during our wonderful week. Thanks also to the Kansas Humanities Council for their initial recommendation.

William S. Worley
Kansas City, Missouri
July 10, 2004

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