Harry S. Truman's Little White House

Harry S. Truman's Little White House in Key West was a place where the routines of presidential work and the relief of a working vacation occupied the same ground. Truman returned there repeatedly to swim, walk, read, and relax, but official business followed him—and in March he used the lawn beside the house to confront Joseph McCarthy publicly.

Setting and purpose

The Little White House occupied what had been the commandant's residence at the Key West naval base. It was a modest, white-frame house in the West Indian style, with jalousied porches and simple, comfortable furnishings. Hibiscus and bougainvillea bloomed in the garden. The setting appealed to Truman more than any other retreat described in the account: the warm sea and tropical nights offered a marked contrast to the pressures and formality of the presidency.

The house was not an escape from governing. Truman's March visit was his sixth working vacation in Key West since becoming president. The White House pouch arrived daily, while Cabinet members, congressional leaders, and the Joint Chiefs flew in and out for meetings. Some days, Truman spent more time on the telephone than he wanted. The place eased the demands of office without suspending them.

A working vacation

Truman's days at Key West had a settled rhythm. He wore bright patterned sports shirts, later known as Harry Truman shirts, and took early walks through the old town, sometimes stopping for coffee at a local lunch counter. He swam daily in his self-styled sidestroke, keeping his head above water to protect his glasses. Navy boats stood guard, both keeping other boats at a distance and watching for barracudas.

Between official business and recreation, Truman loafed in the sun with staff members, joked, swapped stories, read, and listened to classical music on the phonograph. He took afternoon naps and played poker on the porch nearly every evening. Before his morning walk, he began the day with a shot of bourbon. These ordinary habits made the retreat feel personal, even as the daily pouch and visiting officials kept its presidential function in view.

The March press conference

On March 30, midway through his stay, Truman decided to speak out against McCarthy. The political contrast was sharp: polls showed that half of Americans held a favorable view of the senator and thought he was helping the country, while Truman's approval had fallen to 37 percent. He arranged a rare press conference on the lawn beside the Little White House.

Under sunny skies and a breeze stirring the palms, a tanned Truman sat in a white wicker chair as reporters gathered in a circle. Asked whether he expected McCarthy to uncover disloyalty in the State Department, Truman replied that McCarthy was the Kremlin's greatest asset. The confrontation brought national political conflict into the relaxed setting of the Key West retreat, showing how the Little White House could serve not only as a place to recover, but also as a stage for presidential business.