Celebrate Women’s History Month with New York Times bestselling author Meryl Gordon and her “winsome…ode to an overlooked fixture of midcentury American politics.” (Publishers Weekly)

Perle Mesta was a force to be reckoned with. In her heyday, this wealthy globe-trotting Washington widow was one of the most famous women in America, garnering as much media attention as Eleanor Roosevelt. Renowned for her world-class parties featuring politicians and celebrities, she was a regular at the White House for four decades and had very close ties to three presidents—Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson.

A pioneering supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, she was a prodigious Democratic fundraiser and rescued Harry Truman’s financially flailing 1948 campaign. In return, he named Perle as envoy to Luxembourg, only the third woman in American history to hold a diplomatic post. The historic appointment, and the larger-than-life diplomat, inspired a hit musical based on Perle’s life, Call Me Madam. The show starred Ethel Merman, ran on Broadway for two years, and later became a movie.

In this intensely researched biography, author Meryl Gordon chronicles Perle’s lavish life and society adventures in Newport, Manhattan and Washington, while highlighting her important, but nearly forgotten contribution to American politics and the feminist movement.

Meryl Gordon is an award-winning journalist and tenured NYU journalism professor. She is the author of four biographies; two have been New York Times bestsellers. As a magazine writer and TV, radio and newspaper reporter, she has covered a wide array of topics including national politics, influential New Yorkers, fashion, food, celebrities and pioneering women. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, Vanity Fair and The New York Times.

Rainy Day Books will host an onsite book sale for in-person attendees.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click below to choose in-person or livestream registration.

REGISTER NOW        TRU EXCLUSIVE: BOOK EXCERPT

The fourth installment of our popular Women Rising series will focus its lens on another first: the Six Triple Eight. The 6888th Central Directory Postal Battalion was the only unit of mostly-Black American women to be sent overseas during the Second World War. The battalion’s exemplary service and valor helped inspire President Truman to take two significant steps in the journey towards equal rights: Executive Order 9981 desegregating the U.S. military and the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act.

To tell their story, Women Rising will bring to the stage another history maker—Col. Eries L.G. Mentzer, the first Black woman to command Maxwell Airforce Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

Save the date for this popular event; sign up for event alerts here.

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HONORARY CHAIRS
Carla & Danny O’Neill

EVENT CHAIRS
Polly & Jeffrey Kramer, M.D.
Bridget McCandless, M.D. & Dennis Taylor

Save the date for WILD ABOUT HARRY!, the premier fundraising event benefiting Harry S. Truman’s presidential library and legacy.

Held at the historic Muehlebach Hotel—President Truman’s hometown political headquarters—WILD ABOUT HARRY! attracts nearly 800 guests annually and features exciting sponsor benefits, a Sponsors’ Happy Hour Kick-Off, VIP Patrons’ Party, Underwriters’ Reception, Social Hour with open bar, live music, a chef-curated three course dinner and much more.

Whether you love history, love Harry, or just love a great party, you won’t want to miss WILD ABOUT HARRY!

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View temporary exhibitions now showing at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum and in the community. Unless otherwise noted, special exhibitions are included with regular Museum admission at the Truman Library, where Members enjoy free year-round admission.

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THE PROMISE OF AMERICA

Applications are open for a regional teacher workshop at the Truman Library, hosted in partnership with Ford’s Theater. Local teachers are encouraged to apply for this free oratory-based professional workshop for K-12 teachers. Join colleagues and museum educators to explore how two iconic leaders—Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln—navigated unprecedented national crises and left lasting legacies. This three-day workshop offers educators the opportunity to engage with primary sources, scholarly insights, public speaking and theater arts-integrated strategies that will enrich classroom discourse and teaching on presidential

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EXPLORING THE PRESIDENCY FROM THE 18TH TO 20TH CENTURIES

Applications open January 6, 2025, for the Truman Library’s annual Summer Teacher Conference.

Join us for a collaborative, immersive five-day professional development workshop designed to help teachers create a deeper understanding of the president’s role within a democracy, strengthen classroom best practices, and connect historical relevance to student learning. This week-long workshop is open to K-12 teachers nationwide. The Truman Library’s nationally recognized educators will be joined by scholars from other presidential sites, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.

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Book one of our dynamic speakers to create a captivating and informative program for your next meeting! Engage audiences with Truman-era presentations designed to spark conversations, inspire insights, and entertain. Presentations are intended for adult groups of 20 or more, and speakers are limited to a one-hour radius from Kansas City.

Now booking 2025 events!

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