"GET DOWN, MR. PRESIDENT!"

TRUMAN ESCAPES WOULD-BE ASSASSINS AT BLAIR HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 1, 1950, seventy-five years ago today, President Harry S Truman narrowly escaped an assassination attempt as he was taking his customary afternoon nap at the Blair House in the Nation's Capital.

It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon when two Puerto Rican nationalists*, a.k.a. 'independistas' approached Blair House from opposite directions.

The pair were quickly engaged in a desperate gun battle with police officers and secret service agents.

Griselio Torresola was killed and Oscar Collazo** was shot in the chest as he reached the steps of Blair House.

Officer Leslie Coffelt, who took down Torresola, died later in the day from multiple gunshot wounds.

The President was awakened from his nap by the shots and immediately went to the window to see what was going on.  Secret service agents shouted, "Get down!"  Mr. Truman obeyed the command.

JFK+50

Although not a secret service agent, Leslie Coffelt is the only member of Secret Service detail to have been killed protecting the POTUS.  The Truman family had a single rose placed on Coffelt's gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery every day.

The would-be assassins came to Washington, D.C. from New York City & were staying at a hotel near the U.S. Capitol.  They took a taxi to an area near the White House & Blair House.

The Trumans had been living at Blair House for two years while  necessary repairs were being done to The White House.

*They were members of the New York chapter of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, founded in 1922, which advocated independence for Puerto Rico from the United States.  The men were particularly angered by U.S. reprisals in Torresola's hometown on Oct 31, 1950.

**Oscar Collazo survived & his death sentence was changed to life imprisonment by HST.  President Carter commuted him & OC died in 1994.

SOURCES

"The Plot to Kill President Truman," by Jessie Kratz, Pieces of History, National Archives, www.prologue.blogs.archives.gov/

"Truman Escapes Assassination Attempt At Blair House," JFK+50, November 1, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

Blair House

Pennsylvania Ave

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2003)

"MR. TRUMAN AWAKENED BY SOUND OF GUNFIRE"

WHITE HOUSE POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 1, 1950, an assassination attempt was made on President Harry S. Truman here in the Nation's Capital.

The President was taking an early afternoon nap on the second floor of the Blair House* on Pennsylvania Avenue when the sound of gunshots awakened him.  Mr. Truman went to the window to see what was going on, but secret service agents quickly moved him to safety.

Two armed Puerto Rican nationalists had walked in opposite directions down the sidewalk toward the Blair House gate when a gun battle ensued with presidential protective security.

White House police officer Leslie Coffelt was mortally wounded but was able to get of a shot off that killed Griselio Torresola.  The other Puerto Rican, Oscar Collazo, collapsed at the steps of Blair House with a bullet in his chest.

*The Blair House is known as the President's guest house.  It is located at 1651 Pennsylvania Avenue NW & has 4 floors & 119 rooms including 14 bedrooms & 35 bathrooms.  BH actually has more floor area than does the White House.  The Coffelt Memorial Room, dedicated in 1990, is located in the basement.

SOURCE

Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri, www.trumanlibrary.gov 

 

 

The Blair House

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2003) 

BLOOD AT THE BLAIR HOUSE

TRUMAN ESCAPES HARM IN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 67 years ago this afternoon, November 1, 1950, 
two Puerto Rican nationalists walked down the sidewalk from opposite directions toward Blair House*.

They had arrived in the Capital the day before on a train from New York City with the murder of President Harry S. Truman on their minds.   The pair were armed with two 9mm semiautomatic pistols--a Luger and a Walther P-38.

At 2 p.m., the two men were involved in a desperate gun battle with White House police officers and secret service agents.   The President, awakened from his nap on the 2nd floor, came to the window to see what was going on outside. He was quickly ordered to take cover by agents.

One of the Puerto Ricans, Griselio Torresola, was killed by Officer Leslie Coffelt, who himself was mortally wounded in the gun battle.  The other man, Oscar Collazo, managed to reach the steps of the house before he collapsed from a bullet in the chest.

Collazo had fired 9 rounds from the P-38 with only 1 hit, while Torresola, who was killed by a shot in the ear, fired 8 rounds from the Luger.  He was attempting to reload when he was killed.

Two other police officers, Donald Birdzell and Joseph Downs, were wounded but survived.  Officer Coffelt died that afternoon from multiple gunshot wounds.  The Truman family had a single fresh red rose placed on his grave at Arlington every day. 

Oscar Collazo was found guilty of homicide on March 7, 1951.  He received the death penalty but that sentence was commuted to life in prison by President Truman.  In 1979, Collazo became a free man by the commutation of President Jimmy Carter.

*Blair House was built in 1824 & was the home of Dr. Joseph Lovell, the 1st surgeon general of the US Army.  Francis Preston Blair, editor of the Globe, moved into the home with his wife, Eliza, & 3 children in 1830. The Trumans used the house as their residence while the White House was undergoing renovation.

SOURCES  

Blair House, The President's Guest House, www.blairhouse.org/

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri

True Crime:  Assassination, Editors of Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1994.

Blair House

Washington, D.C

Photo by John White (2003)

GUN BATTLE AT BLAIR HOUSE

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2116

PUERTO RICAN NATIONALISTS ATTEMPT TO KILL PRESIDENT 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty-six years ago this afternoon, November 1, 1950, President Harry S Truman was napping on the second floor of Blair House* on Pennsylvania Avenue. The White House was in the process of undergoing renovation.

Two Puerto Rican nationalists, or "independistas", walked down the sidewalk toward Blair House from opposite directions.  The nationalists wanted full independence from the United States.

They had arrived in the Capital the day before on a train from New York City. The pair were armed with two 9mm semiautomatic pistols--a Luger and a Walther P-38.

At 2 p.m., the would-be assassins were involved in a desperate gun battle with White House police officers and secret service agents.   Truman, awakened from his nap, came to the window to see what was going on outside.  He was quickly ordered to take cover by agents.

One of the Puerto Ricans, identified as Griselio Torresola, was killed by Officer Leslie Coffelt, who himself was mortally wounded in the gun battle.  The other man, identified as Oscar Collazo, managed to reach the steps of Blair House before he collapsed from a bullet in the chest.

Collazo had fired 9 rounds from the P-38 with only 1 hit, while Torresola, who was killed by a shot in the ear, fired 8 rounds from the Luger.  He was attempting to reload when he was killed.

Two other police officers, Donald Birdzell and Joseph Downs, were wounded but survived.  Officer Coffelt died that afternoon from multiple gunshot wounds.  The Truman family had a single fresh red rose placed on his grave at Arlington every day. 

Oscar Collazo was found guilty of homicide on March 7, 1951.  He received the death penalty but that sentence was commuted to life in prison by President Truman.  In 1979, Collazo became a free man by the commutation of President Jimmy Carter.

*Blair House was built in 1824 & was the home of Dr. Joseph Lovell, the 1st surgeon general of the US Army.  Francis Preston Blair, editor of the Globe, moved into the home with his wife, Eliza, & 3 children in 1830.

SOURCES  

Blair House, The President's Guest House, www.blairhouse.org/

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri

True Crime:  Assassination, Editors of Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1994.

Blair House

Washington, D.C

Photo by John White (2003)

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON TRUMAN

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1761

TRUMAN ESCAPED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT 65 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty-five years ago this afternoon, November 1, 1950, President Harry S Truman escaped an assassination attempt as he was napping on the second floor of Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Two Puerto Rican nationalists, or "independistas", walked down the sidewalk toward Blair House from opposite directions.  The nationalists wanted full independence from the United States.

They had arrived in the Capital the day before on a train from New York City. The pair were armed with two 9mm semiautomatic pistols--a Luger and a Walther P-38.

On one of Washington's hottest days, the President was lounging at the Blair House which was his temporary residence while the White House was undergoing rennovations. 

At 2 p.m., the would-be assassins, who approached Blair House by walking down the sidewalk from different directions, became involved in a desperate gun battle with White House police officers and secret service agents. 

At one point, Truman, awakened from his nap, came to the window to see what was going on outside.  He was quickly ordered to take cover by agents.

One of the Puerto Ricans, identified as Griselio Torresola, was killed by Officer Leslie Coffelt, who himself was mortally wounded in the gun battle.  The other man, identified as Oscar Collazo, managed to reach the steps of Blair House before he collapsed from a bullet in the chest.

Collazo had fired 9 rounds from the P-38 with only 1 hit, while Torresola, who was killed by a shot in the ear, fired 8 rounds from the Luger.  He was attempting to reload when he was killed.

Two other police officers, Donald Birdzell and Joseph Downs, were wounded but survived.  Officer Coffelt died that afternoon from multiple gunshot wounds.  The Truman family had a single fresh red rose placed on his grave at Arlington every day. 

Oscar Collazo was found guilty of homicide on March 7, 1951.  He received the death penalty but that sentence was commuted to life in prison by President Truman.  In 1979, Collazo became a free man by the commutation of President Jimmy Carter.

SOURCES  

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri

True Crime:  Assassination, Editors of Time-Life Books, Alexandria, Virginia, 1994.

Blair House

Washington, D.C

Photo by John White (2003)

WOULD-BE ASSASSINS FOILED IN ATTEMPT ON TRUMAN'S LIFE

November 1, 2013

WOULD-BE ASSASSINS FOILED IN ATTEMPT ON TRUMAN'S LIFE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) An attempt was made on the life President Harry S Truman 63 years ago this afternoon, November 1, 1950,  at Blair House here in the Nation's Capital.

Two Puerto Rican nationalists, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola,  walked down the sidewalk along Pennsylvania Avenue in opposite directions toward the residence.
     

The Blair House                  

As they approached the front steps of Blair House, the would-be assassins became involved in a gun battle with White House police officers and secret service agents.

The attempt on the life of President Truman, who was in residence at the house while the White House was under restoration, occurred about 20 minutes after he began an afternoon nap on the 2nd floor.

Both Collazo and Torresola, a metal polisher and unemployed salesman, were members of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, a minority group in the territory which supported independence.

 They came to Washington from New York City where they learned on October 30 that Torresola's sister had been wounded and his brother was under arrest in a nationalist uprising.

They apparently also learned that President Truman had referred to the nationalist revolt as "an incident between Puerto Ricans."

Torresola, who was skilled with guns, carried a 9mm Luger pistol while Collazo used a Walther P38 pistol.

 Griselio Torresola fired 4 shots at Officer Leslie Coffelt who returned fire and killed the would-be assassin.  Coffelt would die from multiple gunshot wounds at the hospital 4 hours later.

At one point, President Truman, awakened from his nap, came to the window to see what was going on outside.  He was quickly ordered to take cover by agents.

 Officer Leslie Coffelt

 Oscar Collazo collapsed from a bullet in the chest.  He was taken into custody and later sentenced to death but President Truman commuted his sentence to life imprisonment in 1952.  

Collazo's wife, Rosa, was arrested by the FBI on suspicion of involvement in the conspiracy to kill the President.  She spent 8 months in prison, but never went to trial.

Two other police officers, Donald Birdzell and Joseph Downs, were wounded but would survive.

The Truman family ordered that a single fresh red rose placed on the grave of Officer Coffelt at Arlington National Cemetery every day in honor of his sacrifice. 

             Grave of Officer Leslie Coffelt
             Arlington National Cemetery
                  Photo by dbking (2005)

Blair House

Washington, D.C.

 Photo by John White (2003)

                                 
                                Blair House
                            Main Entrance
                          Washington, D.C.
              Photo by John White (2003)

JFK+50 NOTE

There are several ties to JFK in this story.  At the time of the incident, John F. Kennedy was completing his 2nd term as a Massachusetts congressman.

Future JFK friend, Ben Bradlee, who was to become editor of the Washington Post, covered the assassination attempt and got his 1st front page story.

Two Secret Service agents who were active in the agency both during the presidential years of Harry S Truman and John F. Kennedy were Floyd Boring and James J. Rowley.


SOURCES

 "American Gunfight:  The Plot to Kill President Truman and the Shoot-out That Stopped It," by Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge, Jr., Simon and Schuster.

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri

"Puerto Rico Nationalists Attempt to Assassinate President Truman in 1950," by Andrew Godfrey, Nostalgia and Now, July 13, 2011.



TRUMANS VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Former President Harry S Truman and former 1st Lady Bess Truman were welcomed 52 years ago today, November 1, 1961, by President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy as guests to the Executive Mansion.

      
            Elizabeth "Bess" Truman
       Official White House Portrait

A dinner was held that evening in honor of the Trumans.

According to the Jacqueline Kennedy tapes released last year, Mrs. Kennedy said that JFK brought Mr. Truman into her bedroom the next morning without warning, and when they saw she was still in her sleeping attire, quickly backed out.  

Mrs. Kennedy said that she didn't think Mr. Truman, "poor man,"  had ever seen a woman, other than his wife, in a nightgown.

                  Mrs. Kennedy's Bedroom 
                           The White House
                  JFK Library Photo (1962)

TRUMAN ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AT BLAIR HOUSE

November 1, 1950


TRUMAN ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AT BLAIR HOUSE

                        Blair House
                   Washington, D.C.
       Photo by John White (2003)


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Harry S Truman escaped an assassination attempt this afternoon at 2 o'clock when he was napping on the 2nd floor of his temporary residence at the Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue.


Two Puerto Rican nationalists, or "independistas", walked down the sidewalk toward Blair House from opposite directions.


The nationalists want full independence from the United States.

                                Blair House
                            Main Entrance
                          Washington, D.C.
              Photo by John White (2003)


The would-be assassins became involved in a desperate gun battle with White House police officers & secret service agents.


At one point, President Truman, awakened from his nap, came to the window to see what was going on outside.  He was quickly ordered to take cover by agents.


One of the Puerto Ricans, identified as Griselio Torresola, was killed by Officer Leslie Coffelt, who himself had been gravely wounded.

White House Police Officer Leslie Coffelt


The other man, identified as Oscar Collazo, managed to reach the steps of Blair House before he collapsed from a bullet in the chest.


Two other police officers, Donald Birdzell & Joseph Downs, were wounded but are expected to survive.*


*Leslie Coffelt died that afternoon from multiple gunshot wounds.  The Truman family had a single fresh red rose placed on his grave at Arlington every day. 

             Grave of Officer Leslie Coffelt
             Arlington National Cemetery
                  Photo by dbking (2005)


Source:  

 Harry S. Truman
 Presidential Library & Museum
 Independence, Missouri


November 1, 1952


UNITED STATES TESTS 1ST HYDROGEN BOMB


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The White House announced today that the United States has detonated the world's 1st hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb.


The test took place on the Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific.


This atomic device is said to be a thousand times more powerful than previous atomic bombs that have been tested.


J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the creators of the atomic bomb, has expressed opposition to the development of this more powerful hydrogen bomb.*


*The Soviet Union exploded its 1st hydrogen bomb the following year & by the late 1970s, 7 nations had built hydrogen bombs.


November 1, 1961


WOMEN MARCH AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Here in the Nation's Capital today, as well as in other cities & towns across the United States, 50,000 women took to the streets in protest against nuclear weapons.


The protests were planned by a group called "Women Strike For Peace" or WSP.


WSP calls for all governments to "end the arms race, not the human race."


Women marched outside the White House & sent letters stating their views to both Mrs. Kennedy & Mrs. Khrushchev.

                 Women Strike For Peace
                  Photo by Phil Stanziola
               New York World Telegram
        Library of Congress Photo (1962)


November 1, 1961


TRUMANS ARE GUESTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Former President Harry S Truman & former 1st Lady Bess Truman were welcomed today by President & Mrs. John F. Kennedy as guests to the Executive Mansion.

      
            Elizabeth "Bess" Truman
       Official White House Portrait


A dinner was held this evening in honor of the Trumans & they will be spending the night.*


*According to the newly released Jacqueline Kennedy tapes, Mrs. Kennedy said that JFK brought Mr. Truman into her bedroom the next morning without warning, & when they saw she was still in her sleeping attire, quickly backed out.  


Jacqueline commented that she didn't think Mr. Truman had ever seen a woman, other than his wife, in a nightgown.

                  Mrs. Kennedy's Bedroom 
                           The White House
                  JFK Library Photo (1962)


November 1, 1962


POSTAL SERVICE INTRODUCES "ZIP" CODE


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The United States Postal Service announced today that it has plans to streamline mail delivery by adding a 5-digit Zip Code to all addresses in the nation.*


*Before the new Zip Code was put in place, our address was Knoxville 20, TN. Afterwards, it became Knoxville, TN 37920.

November 1, 1800


ADAMS MOVES INTO THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The 2nd President of the United States, John Adams of Massachusetts, moved into the President's House here in the new Federal capital city today.


Mr. Adams has been living at Tunnicliffe's City Hotel while the mansion has been under construction.


President Adams, in his last year in office, will soon be joined by his wife, Abigail.*


*The Adams lived in the unfinished mansion 5 months.  They found it to be cold & damp. Mrs. Adams called it "the great castle."

                  The President's House
                     Under Construction
                             (1792-1800)
                   White House Museum


November 1, 1765


STAMP ACT GOES INTO EFFECT 


Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) American colonists, particularly here in Boston, are "up in arms" with the British Parliament's Stamp Act going into effect today.


The act, introduced by Prime Minister George Grenville & passed by Parliament on March 22, requires printed materials sold in the colonies to bear a British revenue stamp which will represent a direct tax on the items.


The purpose of the tax, according to Grenville, is to raise money to pay for the defense of the colonies.*


*The Stamp Act arouses great protest in America resulting in the formation of the Sons of Liberty to oppose it as well as a Stamp Act Congress along with a colonial boycott of British goods.

               
           Stamp Act Protest Emblem