Bess Truman

Also known as Bess Wallace Truman, Elizabeth Virginia Wallace, Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman, Elizabeth Virginia Truman, Elizabeth Wallace, Bess Wallace, Elizabeth Truman, Elizabeth Wallace Truman

First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953

AI overview

Bess Truman served as First Lady of the United States during President Harry S. Truman's administration from 1945 to 1953, a period that included the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. As First Lady during this significant era in American history, she played a prominent role in representing the nation during an important and transformative time.

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Wikidata facts

Instance of: human
Family name: Wallace
Gender: female
Citizenship: United States
Place of birth: Independence
Place of death: Independence
Spouse: Harry S. Truman
Child: Margaret Truman
Occupation: politician
Position held: Second Lady or Gentleman of the United States
Political party: Democratic Party (United States)
Languages spoken: English language
Religion: Episcopal Church
Image: Bess Truman cropped.jpg

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Commons category: Bess Truman
date of birth: 1885-02-13
date of death: 1982-10-18
Commons gallery: Bess Truman
name in native language: Bess Truman
place of burial: Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum

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Encyclopedic overview

Elizabeth Virginia Truman (née Wallace; February 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982) was First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953 as the wife of President Harry S. Truman. She had previously served as Second Lady of the United States from January to April 1945. At 97 years, 247 days, she was the longest-lived first and second spouse.

She was born in Independence, Missouri, where she kept a home her entire life. She had known Harry since they were children, though she did not return his affections until adulthood. She was strongly affected by the suicide of her father when she was 18, which shaped her opinions about privacy from the public eye and the responsibilities of a spouse. Bess and Harry married in 1919, and Bess spent the following years managing the Truman household and working in her husband's offices as his political career advanced. She was apprehensive about Harry running for vice president in 1944, and she was deeply upset when he ascended to the presidency the following year.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Bess Truman” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.