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Document 217553

HARRY S TRUMAN
To the son of late Kansas City political boss Pendergast, who was important to Truman's career, re: politics back home.
TLS: "Harry" as 33rd U.S. President, 1p, 7x9. The White House, Washington, 1946 January 17. To James M. Pendergast, Kansas City, Missouri. In full: "You asked me the other day to make a suggestion for a candidate for Mayor. I think Bryce Smith would be more than happy to run again. He was in to see me the other day and I asked him why he didn't run for Mayor, in sort of a joking way. He took it in dead earnest. I think you could go much further and do a lot worse. Bryce made a good Mayor and I know he has always been our friend." BRYCE SMITH (1878-1962) was elected Mayor of Kansas City on the Democratic ticket in 1930. During his campaign, Smith publicly declared his independence from Pendergast-machine politics, but when he won the election the Pendergast machine gained complete control over City Hall. The candidate opposing Smith's mayoral reelection in 1934, A. Ross Hill, anticipated violence at the polls and contacted Missouri Governor Guy Park, asking him to call in the National Guard. Park refused, and Thomas Pendergast's armed enforcers took charge of the day. The "bloody election" of 1934 left four people dead and dozens injured. Bryce Smith was reelected by a majority of the vote AND ANOTHER PENDERGAST HAND-PICKED CANDIDATE, HARRY S TRUMAN, WAS ELECTED U.S. SENATOR. In May 1939, THOMAS PENDERGAST (1872-1945) entered Leavenworth Prison after being convicted of tax evasion. Following Pendergast's imprisonment, Mayor Smith tried to administer Kansas City by leading a reform movement. Kansas City was $20 million in debt due to the waste and corruption of the Pendergast machine, which did not help Smith's public image. Machine-controlled council members pressured Smith to abandon his reforms. Facing a possible recall, Mayor Smith resigned in disgrace on January 5, 1940. He never ran for public office again. Pendergast was paroled from Leavenworth in July 1940 on condition that he abstain from political activity for five years. He died January 26, 1945. This letter was written by President Truman to Pendergast's son a year after his father's death suggesting Smith run again. Lightly creased. Fine condition.

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