Clifton Truman Daniel (born June 5, 1957) is an American writer and public relations executive who is the oldest grandson of former United States President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess Truman.[1] He is a son of the late E. Clifton Daniel Jr., former managing editor of The New York Times, and best-selling mystery writer Margaret Truman.
Clifton Truman Daniel | |
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| Born | June 5, 1957 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Children | 3 |
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Life
editDaniel was born on 5 June 1957 at Doctors Hospital in Manhattan, New York City,[2][3] the eldest son of Clifton Daniel and Margaret Truman. He has three brothers,[4] and is Director of Public Relations for Truman College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago. Prior to that, he worked as a feature writer and editor for the Morning Star and Sunday Star-News a New York Times paper[5] in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Daniel is the honorary chairman of the board of trustees of the Harry S. Truman Library Institute,[6] the member-supported, nonprofit partner of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. He is a frequent speaker and fundraiser.
Following in his grandfather's footsteps, Daniel is a brother in Freemasonry through various appendant bodies. On December 3, 2011, Most Worshipful Brother Terry L. Seward, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, made Brother Daniel a Mason at sight. In August 2021, he was inducted into the class of 33° Honorary Members of the Scottish Rite, NMJ, serving as Exemplar for his class. He has been a Scottish Rite Mason since 2014 and is a member of the Valley of Chicago. [7]
Daniel visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2012, the sites where his grandfather had ordered the only use of atomic bombs for warfare in history. He has frequently been asked to comment on that 1945 decision to use nuclear weapons.[8][9][10][11]
He appeared in 2016 on Race for the White House as a commentator for his grandfather's experiences during both his first term and the 1948 United States presidential election.[citation needed]
Since 2017, he has acted the role of his grandfather in performances of the 1975 play Give 'em Hell, Harry!.[12][13]
Daniel attended Milton Academy and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He married Polly Bennett in 1986, on the 67th wedding anniversary of his grandparents.[14][15]
His first book, Growing up with my Grandfather, was published in 1995. In addition to including his memories of his grandparents, it frankly discusses his descent into drug and alcohol abuse, and return to sobriety.[16][17]
Works
editDaniel is the author of two books:
- Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman. Birch Lane Press. 1995. ISBN 978-1559722865.
- Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman's Letters to Harry Truman, 1919-1943. Truman State University Press. 2011. ISBN 978-1935503255.
References
edit- ^ Roberts, Roxanne (28 December 2021). When Harry Truman is your grandpa: The complicated lives of presidential descendants, Kansas City Star (Washington Post article reprint)
- ^ Cohan, William D. (July 9, 2019). Four Friends: Promising Lives Cut Short. Flatiron Books. ISBN 978-1-250-07053-1.
- ^ (10 June 1957). Former President's Grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, Makes His Debut, The New York Times
- ^ (30 January 2008). Margaret Truman Daniel: 1924-2008, Chicago Tribune (" In addition to Clifton Truman Daniel, Mrs. Daniel is survived by two other sons, Harrison Gates Daniel and Thomas Gates Daniel, and five grandchildren. Her son William Wallace died in 2000.")
- ^ "A Week of Ghosts: Japan's Annual Grieving". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Truman Library Institute. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "Brother Clifton Truman Daniel".
- ^ "Clifton Truman Daniel: Hiroshima and Nagasaki | Artsfest 2015". butlerartsfest.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ Smith, David (4 August 2020). 'He felt he had to do it': Truman's grandson on bombing Hiroshima, The Guardian
- ^ (4 August 2012). Truman grandson visiting Hiroshima, Nagasaki to mark 67th anniversary, Denver Post (Associated Press story)
- ^ Coorsh, Karolyn (27 May 2016). Truman expressed regret over loss of life after atomic bombings: Grandson, CTV News
- ^ Heuer, Alex (9 November 2021). For Clifton Daniel, playing Truman in 'Give 'em Hell, Harry!' is all in the family, St. Louis Public Radio
- ^ Staton, John (7 October 2017). Wild about Harry, Star-News
- ^ (29 June 1986). Polly Bennett Is the Bride Of Clifton Truman Daniel, The New York Times
- ^ Conconi, Chuck (30 June 1986). Personalities, The Washington Post
- ^ Brozan, Nadine (23 May 1995). Chronicle, The New York Times
- ^ (15 April 1995). Growing Up With My Grandfather (review), Kirkus Reviews
External links
edit- ctrumandaniel.com Website of Clifton Daniel
- Beneath the Mushroom Cloud Archived January 14, 2018, at the Wayback Machine An audio account by Clifton Daniel
- Appearances on C-SPAN