wrong scan Truman, As Head of the Truman Committee, Will Do No Special Favors

In 1941, then-Senator Truman took the assignment that made his political career. Convinced that waste, inefficiency and corruption were hampering the nation’s preparedness on the eve of World War II, he chaired the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program. During the three years of his chairmanship, the "Truman Committee" held hundreds of hearings in Washington and around the country, and had considerable success in promoting honesty and ensuring that defense contractors delivered to the nation quality goods at fair prices. In 1943 it was reported that savings attributable to the work of the Truman Committee were estimated in the range of $11 billion. In 1944, when Democratic Party leaders sought to replace controversial Vice President Henry Wallace, Truman’s national stature and reputation for integrity made him an ideal choice.

Typed Letter Signed as Truman Committee chairman, May 14, 1942 to a Missouri friend, T. W. Madouros, declining either to do special favors or ask favors of those he would be investigating. “Replying to yours of the Thirtieth, I would suggest that you get in touch with the OPA [Office of Price Administration] in Kansas City and give them your qualifications.  You may give me as a reference and when they ask me about you of course I will be glad to say a good word for you. The present Price Administator is in line for investigation by my Committee and I don’t like to ask him to place friends of mine, particularly from Kansas City.  If you give me as a reference they will ask me about you and I can then give you the necessary boost and it may help.” This letter shows just the kind of integrity that made Truman’s Committee successful and led to his presidency. He refuses to intervene to secure his friend a job, saying only that he will give him a good reference if he applies for one through the normal channels. Even more importantly, he declines to compromise his independence by asking a favor of a person whose agency he will be investigating. Evidence of such virtue in a public servant is hard to find, but we can see it here in this letter with Truman.