Truman decided not to run again for the Presidency, so on January 20, 1953, he said goodbye to Washington and in so doing became, once again, an ordinary citizen. He and Bess were amazed at the crowd that came to see him off, as well as the ones that were there to greet them in Independence.
Upon seeing the people, Bess actually said that made it all worth it.
Harry and Bess went on to live in the old house on North Delaware Street that had belonged to his mother-in-law. He spent his days reading, writing, giving lectures, and taking long walks. Americans will always remember the feisty little man that said, "The buck stops here".
Harry S. Truman died on Dec. 26, 1972. May he rest in peace.
Truman said, "When Franklin Roosevelt died, I felt there were a million men better qualified than I to take up the Presidential task. But the work was mine to do, and I had to do it. And I tried to give it every thing that was in me.".....and he did.
