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    "label": "Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Gilmore Clarke",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Gilmore Clarke",
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            "logicalDate": "1947-01-01",
            "year": 1947
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    "ocrText": "December 2, 1947\nMy dear Mr. Clarke:\nI read your letter of November twenty-sixth with a great deal\nof interest and some surprise.\nMy understanding was when the matter was discussed with you\nwith regard to the arrangement on the south portico that when\nMr. Delano made up his mind, the situation would be satisfactory\nto you. Now you confess that you hoped he would make up his\nmind in a manner that you approved of and that you didn't enter\ninto the matter at all with an open mind - that is a great state-\nment for the Chairman of The Commission of Fine Arts to send\nto the President.\nI can't understand your viewpoint when those dirty awnings are\na perfect eyesore with regard to that south portico. I have had\nthem painted; have had them washed and they have been renewed\nevery year and still they look like hell when they are on the porch.\nOf course, I wouldn't expect you to take into consideration the\ncomfort and convenience of the Presidential family in this ar-\nrangement. The President is not to be considered but the outside\nappearance of The White House it seems to me is your principal\nreason for existence and I can't see how anybody could come to a\nconclusion that those dirty awnings are better looking than an ar-\nrangement which is approved by The White House architect and\nby Mr. Delano.\nI certainly would like to have your reasons for preferring the\ndirty awnings to the good looking convenient portico and then\nmaybe I*ll come to a conclusion on the subject. I don't make up\nmy mind in advance. However, I*ll have to be convinced.\nSincerely yours,\nHonorable Gilmore D. Clarke\nHARRY S. TRUMAN\nChairman\nThe Commission of Fine Arts\nTROWAN\ns\nWashington, D. C.\nSERVICE\nCs."
}