The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants, will host a series of special events to be held in celebration of Presidents’ Day Weekend, on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, where 33rd U.S. President Truman spent 11 working vacations from 1945-53.
The previously announced Happy Hour at Harry’s kickoff event on Feb. 15 is sold out.
Tickets are available for:
Saturday, Feb. 17, 4:30 p.m.: The 2024 Presidential Descendants Forum features U.S. presidential descendants engaged before a live audience in a moderated discussion on the topic of “Political Maneuvering: The Powerful Influence of the Presidency.” Scheduled to participate are: James Carter, grandson of Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great-grandson of Grover Cleveland; Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of William H. Taft; and moderator Kurt Graham, director of Independence, Missouri’s Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
Following the forum, presidential descendants will introduce winners of this year’s Monroe County student essay competition, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.
Sunday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to noon: Presentation by artist Tom Corbin, creator of the Truman bronze sculpture on display in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. Corbin will discuss the tools, research and processes he employed for his undertaking, answer audience questions, and share insights on where he finds his inspiration.
Sunday, Feb. 18 and Monday, Feb. 19, 4:30 p.m.: “Give ’Em Hell, Harry!”, the one-man show that spotlights the life and presidency of Harry S. Truman. Actor Clifton Truman Daniel has starred in the role since 2017.
Presidents’ Day, Monday, Feb. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: The Little White House grounds will provide a family-friendly cookout, with hamburgers, veggie burgers and hotdogs available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic blanket for the event that will also include music and lawn games.
A cash bar is available at all the events.
Other Presidential Families Weekend offerings will include guided tours of the Historic Little White House and self-guided botanical lawn tours.
The annual event is the largest Presidents Day Weekend gathering of presidential descendants in the country. Traditionally hosted by the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in 2022 the foundation partnered for the first time with the Society of Presidential Descendants, a group of individuals with direct lineage to one or more of the presidents.
More information and tickets are at trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.
