"A GAUDY, GORGEOUS PLACE"

HARRY TRUMAN VACATIONS IN MONTE CARLO

Monte Carlo (JFK+50) On December 3, 1918, Captain Harry S Truman wrote in a letter to Bess Wallace...

"I am having a very enjoyable vacation...(we) went to Monte Carlo* day before yesterday and stayed all night."

Truman wrote that soldiers were not allowed to go into the casino but he described the city as..."a gaudy, gorgeous place, just what you would expect in a place whose sole income is from fleecing tourists & making them gamblers..."

The Captain added...

"I'll bet this country drinks enough wine to float the British navy every month."

The letter was signed...

"Yours Always, Harry"

*Monte Carlo (Mount Charles) is located at the base of the Martime Alps along the French Riviera.  It is the home of the Hotel Paris which was established in 1864.  The Monte Carlo Casino was featured in the James Bond movie "Never Say Never Again."

SOURCE

"World War I Letter, Harry S Truman to Bess Wallace, December 3 1918", Harry S Truman Library and Museum, www.trumanlibrary.org/

Monaco, Monte Carlo

Photo by Martinp1 (2010)

PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1713

PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO DIED 33 YEARS AGO TODAY

Monte Carlo, Monaco (JFK+50) Princess Grace of Monaco, a.k.a. Grace Kelly*, died thirty-three years ago today, September 14, 1982.  The Princess had suffered severe injuries in an automobile accident here in Monte Carlo. Princess Grace was 52 years old. 

The former Hollywood actress lost control of her Rover PG which she was driving on a mountain road near her home.  The car plunged off the road. A passenger, Princess Grace's 17 year old daughter Stephanie survived the accident.  

An autopsy showed that the Princess suffered a brain hemorrhage which led to the loss of control of her car.  She had multiple broken bones and she was rushed to surgery in critical condition.    The Princess died at 9:30 p.m. local time.

Princess Grace had given up her acting career to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956.

*Grace Patricia Kelly (1929-1982) was born in Philadelphia.  She began acting at age 12 & graduated from Stevens School.  GPK attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and soon made her debut on Broadway. 

She appeared in many television dramas before signing a contract with MGM. Miss Kelly's performance in the motion picture Mogambo won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

GPK had leading roles in 5 major Hollywood films including "Dial M for Murder," & "High Noon."

SOURCE

"Sept 14, 1982:  Hollywood star turned princess Grace Kelly dies after Riviera car crash," by Chas Early, September 13, 2015, B.T., www.home.bt.com/

Princess Grace & Prince Rainier III

May 24, 1961

The White House

Photo by Robert LeRoy Knudsen