Presidential Families Weekend
February 18-20, 2023
The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants is proud to present a series of special events in celebration of Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 18-20. This annual event is the largest gathering of presidential descendants on Presidents’ Day in the country.
Friday, February 17, 2023, from 6 – 8 pm. The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation will host its first annual HST Collections Society Fundraiser. The HST Collections Society is an exclusive fundraising event to support the expansion, management, and preservation of our Harry S. Truman collections. Members Captain level ($500) and higher are invited to this invitation only event to share the night with Presidential Descendants while learning more about the importance of these collections and the Society’s plans for the future. Click here to become a Foundation member!
TICKETED PRESIDENTIAL WEEKEND EVENTS
Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 4:30 – 6:45 pm. Five prominent Presidential Descendants with a direct lineage to one or more of the 46 U.S. Presidents will share stories and historical perspectives on how their relatives worked across the aisle by fostering bipartisan relationships, debating, and negotiating America’s domestic and international policies. Moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham, Director of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence Missouri, this year we welcome presidential descendants Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald Ford; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of Grover Cleveland, and great-great nephew of William McKinley; and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of President William Howard Taft.
Winners of the inaugural Harry S. Truman Foundation and The Society of Presidential Descendants Student Essay Competition will be announced following the forum.
“Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”
Sunday and Monday, February 19 and 20, 5:00 pm, the acclaimed long-running stage production “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” returns to Key West, Florida.
Staged outdoors on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” is a dynamic one-man-show that celebrates the unique persona and presidency of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman, and stars President Truman’s own grandson Clifton Truman Daniel. Truman Daniel is an actor, humanitarian, news writer and editor, and the first direct descendant to portray a presidential ancestor in a stage production of this kind.
Sunday, February 19 performance is SOLD OUT.
SELF GUIDED GARDEN TOURS
Saturday and Sunday, February 18-19, 9:30-4:30 pm: Explore the history of the presidential grounds at the Harry S. Truman Little White House. Guest can do this by getting a garden map at the ticket booth.
PRESIDENT’S PAY PICNIC
Monday, February 20, Foundation members and the community are invited to enjoy the spacious Little White House grounds with a lunchtime Presidents’ Day Cookout. In traditional picnic style, hamburgers, veggie burgers and hotdogs will be available for purchase. A cash bar will also be available.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, please click here. Members receive advance notifications for programs and invitations to Member-Only events.
Not sure of your membership status? Please email Caitlin Roberts at Caitlin.Roberts@kwtrumanfoundation.org or call her at (305)294-9911 ext 4.