The Truman Little White House in Key West

If you find yourself, as we did, in the vicinity of Key West, Florida, this winter or really any time of year, consider a visit to the Harry S Truman Little White House.  You will be glad you did.
                                                                   
Key West is the southernmost city in the United States.  Located on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico, it is only about 30 miles from Cuba.  If traveling along Highway US 1 through the Florida keys, it is were mile marker 0 marks the end of the road.

Known primarily as a party town and the home of Ernest Hemingway, the Little White House is a diversion from the usual tourist stops and shops.  Situated at 111 Front Street, it is just a short distance from Sloppy Joes,where Hemingway is reputed to have spent much of his time in Key West.

Harry Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, succeeding Franklin Delano Roosevelt upon his death in April, 1945.Truman had been vice president for less than three months at the time and was unaware of many projects within the government, particularly the building of an atomic bomb, known as the Manhattan Project. It was Truman, however, only months later,who approved the use of the bomb over Japan, bringing an end to World War II,  Truman served out the remainder of Roosevelt's term and was reelected on his own in1948 in an upset over Thomas Dewey.According to a recent CNN poll, Truman is ranked as the fifth most admired president.

Looking for a place to find relief from the burdens of the presidency, it was suggested that he vacation in Key West at the then empty home of the commander of the Key West naval base.
He went there and liked it so much he would spend 175 days there during his presidency.

If you take the tour ($15 per person, slightly less for boomers over 62) you will see why. Among other things, it has the original man cave.  Located on the first floor, it has a bar, where it is said Truman would have a glass of whiskey each morning, and a poker table, where he would play every evening. Also located on the first floor is the desk where Truman signed the order which fired General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean war for insubordination. On the second floor are the bedrooms of Truman and his wife Bess, with many pieces of original furniture.

In addition to Truman, Presidents Kennedy, Clinton and Carter have all used the Little White House. Kennedy is said to have met with the then British prime minister, Harold MacMillan, in 1961 around the time of the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.