Correspondence Between Brigadier General Harry Vaughan and Charles Lamkin

2 P.I. 1429 September 27, 1945 Dear Charles: In about 1943 Harry Truman was given a chance to be famous enough to be offered degrees from various colleges. He refused some six or eight and was finally persuaded by Guy Gillette to accept one from Grinnell. Gillette claiming that by so doing it would assist him in his campaign for re-election. Evidentally it took more than Mr. Truman's accepting a degree to get Gillette elected. Its been the President's intention all along that not having any formal education, that is, beyond xP171-A High School and one year at Kansas City Law School, he does not merit a degree, but has been forced to accept about four LL.D.'s There are some fifteen or twenty requests on file at the moment for him to appear and accept additional LL.D.'s. I have suggested that he hold out for a D.D. or a Ph. D., as there is no advantage in getting too many of the same variety. There was some discussion the other day as to his getting an LL.D. from William Jewell. I reminded him that if he took one from William Jewell he would have to take one from Westminster. I will contint to work on him and see what can be done. PP71658 Sinceroly, HARRY H. VAUGHAN Brigadier General, U. S. Army Military Aide to the President Mr. Charles F. Lankin, x Alunni Association of Westminster College, x Fulton, Missouri. xPP725 xPP7225