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A book-length study of Truman's retirement years is long overdue given his extensive activity for much of that twenty-year period, the richness of Truman's postpresidential papers and collateral manuscript collections at the Truman Library and elsewhere, and recent companion studies, most notably Douglas Brinkley's Dean Acheson: The Cold War Years, 1953-71.
In January 1953 President Truman returned to his modest Victorian home on North Delaware Avenue, Independence, Missouri. He initially concentrated on the publication of his Memoirs and on the creation of the Harry S. Truman Library, dedicated in 1957. He soon played an active role as party leader in promoting pet presidential candidates, in campaigning for various Democrats, and in participating on the Democratic Advisory Council, a liberal organ that sought to restore the democratic presidency. Truman also frequently lobbied Congress for legislation that reflected Fair Deal thinking; he even persuaded Congress to institutionalize the ex-presidency by passing the Former Presidents Act, which provided ex-presidents with franking privileges, a $25,000 annual allowance, a staff stipend, and office space and furnishings. His failure to influence presidents became his greatest frustration, especially regarding...