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HARRY S TRUMAN'S LITTLE WHITE HOUSE

 
 
 
     
"...I've a notion to move the capitol to Key West and just stay." Letter to Bess Truman, March 13, 1949

The Harry S Truman Little White House in Key West, Fl. was built in 1890 as the first officer's quarters on the naval station. The wooden duplex contained Quarters A for the base commandant and Quarters B for the paymaster. The house was built on the waterfront of the harbor of Key West. In the beginning of the 20th century, the home was converted into a single family dwelling to house the base commandant and additional land was filled in front of the house.

A brief history:
Thomas Edison resided in the house during World War I while donating his services to the Navy.
In 1946, Harry Truman began visiting the island for rest and relaxation and returned for 175 days during his

   presidency. While here bills were enacted, policies discussed and the State of the Union addresses and budgets prepared.
In 1948-49 General Eisenhower held a series of meetings that resulted in the creation of the Department of Defense. He returned in 1956 as President to recuperate from a heart attack.
John Kennedy and Britain’s Prime Minister Harold Macmillan held a one day summit here in 1961. President . Kennedy made a second visit in 1962 immediately following the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The house served as the Naval Station commandant’s house until 1974. In 1991, it opened as a state historic site & museum. Former President Jimmy Carter and family had a reunion here in 1996. In April, 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell lead a week of peace talks between the Presidents of Armenia & Azerbaijan.		  
 

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