Margaret Truman Appreciation: Concert Singer, Radio and Television Host, Best-Selling Author

Mary Margaret Truman Daniel, more popularly known simply as Margaret Truman, died January 29, 2008 at the age of 83. Truman, a long-time resident of Manhattan, died in Chicago following a brief illness. She had been in an assisted living facility on a respirator for the past several weeks. Her son, Clifton T. Daniel, announced her death. According to the NY Times, Truman was predeceased by her husband, Clifton Daniel, and her son, William Wallace Daniel, who died of injuries he sustained when he was struck by a taxi cab in New York City.

Truman was the only child of Harry S. Truman, Vice President under Roosevelt and eventual successor to the Presidency in 1945. Born in Independence, MO on February 17, 1924, Truman spent much of her adolescence dividing her time between Independence and Washington, DC. Truman graduated from Gunston Hall, a private Washington, DC school for girls, and subsequently enrolled in George Washington University. President Truman gave the commencement address at George Washington in 1946 and presented his daughter with her diploma.

Best known in later years as a prolific author, Truman began her career as a concert singer. Her first public performance was a national radio broadcast with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. Truman moved on New York City in 1953 to continue her radio and singing career. During 1955 - 1956 Truman was the hostess on the radio program "Weekday." In 1965 Truman began a daily special-events television show.

Truman was the author of 32 books. She wrote biographies of both her parents and 23 mystery novels, along with several other books. From 1980 until 2007 Truman authored a popular crime series set in the Washington, DC area. According to Truman, her father was the first to suggest she may have a literary career ahead of her [1].

Truman married Clifton Daniels in 1956. Daniels was then a foreign news editor for the New York Times. Daniels later became the managing editor at the NY Times. Truman had four children, Clifton Truman, William Wallace, Harrison Gates, and Thomas Washington.

Margaret Truman was an extraordinary woman by any standard. Truman refused to rely on her father's influence and fame to secure her career. While she acknowledged that her father's fame made it easier to secure engagements she also argued that the public expectation of her was greater because of his fame. Truman said she needed to be "better than the best" to justify her presence on a stage [2]. Truman enjoyed successful careers in singing, broadcasting, and writing.

Wikipedia Contributors, "Margaret Truman", Wikipedia
Truman Library Staff, "Margaret Truman Daniel's Biography", Truman Library
[1] Lawrence Van Gelder, "Truman's Daughter Dies at 83", The New York Times
[2] Mary Margaret Truman Daniel, "Letters from Father: The Truman Family's Personal Correspondence", Arbor House 1981