Letter from Joan Head to President Harry S. Truman

P.P.F. December 9, 1950 Los Angeles, Cal. Hume can 800 Bel Rd. Mr. Harry S. Truman President of the U.S.A. H Washington, D.C. ARCHIVES "NATIONAL RECORDS AND LIBRARY TRUMAN HARRY SERVICE U.S. GOV Mr. President; I realize this letter will probably never reach your hands, but at least I shall h ave the satisfaction of seeing my thoughts on paper. In our papers this morning, I read the most ridiculous, juvenile, thoughtless lines of prattle I have read thus far in my 21 years, and I might add, statements most unworthy of the presi- dent of our great country. I do not capitalize the word "presi- dent" in the last sentence, as I use the term loosely in connec- tion with you, Mr. Truman. I do not consider myself even a near criterion on affairs of state so I shall continue no further in that vain, except to say that your hot-headed, childish rebuff to Mr. Paul Hume, Critic of the Washington Post, was most unworthy of a Father, muchless a President. As for rights your right to answer as done is as valid as mine in writing this letter, how- ever the difference lies in the fact that yours reached its des- tination, whereas mine will do well to reach the White House janitor. While we re on the subject of rights Mr. Hume was merely exercising his rights in reporting his views and carrying out his job as you and I must do, I might add. If Mr. Hume's views did not suit you, it is merely a case of accepting our ways of life and work as the rest of your citizens do each day of their lives. Do you think the young girl in her first Broadway Show is pleased to read a bad review? Being in that calabra, I believe I can safely vouch for the rest and say plainly, "SHE DOES NOT," yet I dare say in only rash, extreme cases will you find their fathers or other relatives writing the critics scrawlings of temper and ignorance. Such would not help matters but merely make a fool of the writer and humiliate the lady of subject. I admire Miss Truman now m ore than ever before that her answer to Mr. Hume's critisism was that of a level-headed, well controlled LADY, even in the face of such humliation by none other than her own Father. Even Mr. Hume's answer was that of a gentlem an even AFTER your ungentlem anly letter. Granted, as Mr. Hume says, = A man carrying the terrible burden of the present world crisis ought to be indulged in an occasional out- burst of temper," but Mr. Truman, don't you think you are