Harry Truman came to life for a number of Edgefield residents and visitors last Thursday night at the Edgefield Courthouse.

Dr. Mims Mobley of Greenwood, a native of Edgefield, portrayed Truman in a one-man play entitled, “Man of Decision: Harry S. Truman, Our 33rd President,” sponsored by the Edgefield Regional Arts.

Mobley took the audience back half a century into the nation’s history to take a look at one of America’s most energetic and decisive presidents. The setting was the morning of May 8, 1966 on Truman’s 82nd birthday. A gaggle of reporters gathered on the front lawn of Truman’s home in Independence, Mo. (Bettis Rainsford served as all the reporters who asked questions). Mobley’s replies to questions incorporated things Truman actually said as well as things he might well have said.

Truman (Mobley) fielded questions about World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, Civil Rights and fair employment. The answers were also incorporated with humor from time to time.

“I have no middle name,” he said. “It was customary for parents to name their children after family members. I was named Harry after my mother’s brother. Both of my grandfathers’ names started with an ‘S’ so the ‘S’ takes care of both of them.”

On a more serious note, he talked about Hiroshima, World War II and atomic weapons.

“When the Japanese would not surrender, it was my decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima,” he said. “The Japanese not capitulating made the bombing of Nagasaki their decision. Looking back on the immediate results and the restraint the world has shown ever since, I am more convinced than ever it was the right thing to do.”
 
When asked about the Cold War and if could have been avoided, he quipped, “Yes, we could have surrendered to Communism.”
A reporter then asked, “But couldn’t you just have talked it out?”

“Sure,” he responded, “But when nobody shows up at the other end of the table, how are you going to talk about it?”

Another important subject was Civil Rights and Truman had a lot to say on that.

“It was during my administration that the foundation was laid for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” he said. “I was never a racist, but I very well could have been. Both grandfathers owned slaves.”
He went on to tell how he managed to get elected Jefferson County judge without the backing of the Klan and how later he went on to do much for Civil Rights.

“It’s not the polls that count,” he said. “It’s right and wrong.”

When asked the most satisfying thing about his presidency, he smiled and said, “Getting elected president. I served eight years in the White House except for 83 days as vice president to Franklin Roosevelt.”

The play was based on information in the Pulitzer Prize winning biography, “Truman” by David McCullough. The play was written by Mobley himself.

Mobley said he did some acting with the community theatre 20 years ago and many had asked why he didn’t do more. His fascination with Truman led him to do the play which he has done once before in Greenwood. Mobley was born in Edgefield, the son of Edward Mims Mobley who owned the Town Theater. He is a retired physician living in Greenwood.

“I’ve studied Harry Truman,” he said. “He had no college education. He made decisions based on right and wrong. He used good common sense and was a moral man.”
A
rlene Traxler, who attended the play and reception later at Paperwhites, said she almost felt like she was having an up-front conversation with Truman.

“I loved it,” she said. “It makes you want to find out more. It was so authentic.”

Bill McCowan of Greenwood said it is a history lesson that should be taught in every high school and college in America.

“I was in the U.S. Navy in World War II in the Philippines, and this brought back a lot for me. Everyone should know their history.”