Honoring Margaret Truman Daniel and her lifetime of accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume

I would like to submit my whole statement for the Record and be a little more brief.

Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel, as has been stated, was the daughter of Harry Truman, who was one of the fighting Presidents of the United States, and his daughter, Margaret, was also a very strong young lady. As has been mentioned, she became a vocalist, had her own television show. She went to George Washington University, and in 1944, the same year her father was elected Vice President, she earned her first degree. In 1946, one year after her father was sworn in as President of the United States, Margaret graduated with her bachelors in history. At the age of 16, she became a singer, taking voice lessons from a friend in Independence, and after graduating from GW, she pursued her career as a vocalist.

She was a very outstanding young lady, accomplished a great deal, and was a credit to not only her mother and father but her country. She was highly regarded. She married a gentleman from the New York Times, and they, I think, had four children and three or four grandchildren. She was a very fine lady, and I think it's appropriate we honor her today with this.

I rise today to urge passage of this resolution honoring one of the great first-daughters of American history, Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel.

Born to Harry and Bess Truman on February 17, 1924, in Independence, Missouri, Margaret Truman spent the majority of her childhood in her hometown until, in 1934, her father was elected to the United States Senate.

Through the remainder of her primary school years, she split her education between Independence and Washington before graduating in 1942.

That year she enrolled in George Washington University and in 1944, the same year her father was elected Vice President, she earned her associates of art. In 1946, one year after her father was sworn in as President of the United States, Margaret graduated with her bachelors in history.

At the age of 16 Margaret began taking voice lessons from a friend in Independence and after graduating from GW, she actively pursued her career as a vocalist.

Making her concert debut in 1947 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Margaret Truman embarked on a career that included several national tours and appearances at Constitution Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Never shirking her duties as first-daughter, she always made time to break from her blossoming career to help her father, including frequent trips with him during his successful 1948 ``Whistlestop'' reelection campaign.

After her father left the White House in 1953, Margaret took her vocal talents to New York City, where she spent a number of years working in both radio and television. While in New York, Miss Truman met Clifton Daniel, an assistant editor for the New York Times, and the two were wed in 1956 in Independence. The Daniels were the proud parents of four boys and grandparents of five.

Beyond singing, Margaret Truman enjoyed a successful career as a writer. Completing her first book in 1956, she is probably best known for her Capital crime series novels, most of which took place in Washington, DC. She also published a number of biographies and non- fiction books relating to her parents and her time in the White House.

After her husband's retirement in 1977, Margaret spent the remainder of her years in New York.

She maintained her deep commitment to public service until the time of her death, serving on the board of trustees of the Truman Scholarship Foundation and as a member of the board of directors of the Truman Library Institute, among other worthy bodies. In 1984, she was the recipient of the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award.

On January 29, 2008, at the age of 83, Margaret Truman Daniels passed away in Chicago.

She will live on in the hearts of this country not only as a dedicated first-daughter and public servant, but also as a passionate vocalist, talented writer, and loving mother and grandmother. Let us honor this tremendous American with swift and unanimous passage of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this fitting tribute.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 292) honoring Margaret Truman Daniel and her lifetime of accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the distinguished gentleman from Missouri, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Representative Ike Skelton.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Con. Res. 292, which acknowledges and seeks to honor the late Margaret Truman Daniel for her lifetime of achievements and accomplishments. H. Con. Res. 292 was introduced by Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri on February 12, 2008, and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee on February 26, 2008, by voice vote.

This measure has the support of over 50 Members of Congress, and provides our body a collective opportunity to both recognize and pay tribute to one of America's remarkable and accomplished first daughters, the Honorable Margaret Truman Daniel.

Margaret Truman Daniel was born on February 17, 1924, in Independence, Missouri, to the parents of former President Harry S Truman and first lady Elizabeth ``Bess'' Virginia Wallace. In fact, she was the couple's only child. A public school student up until the time of her father's election to the U.S. Senate in 1934, Margaret Truman Daniel would later attend George Washington University, beginning in the fall of 1944, which was the same year her father was elected Vice President.

Ms. Truman Daniel graduated from George Washington University in 1946, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in history. It was her father, who had been President since April 12, 1945, that delivered the commencement address at Ms. Truman Daniel's graduation ceremony and presented her with her diploma.

Beyond her role as the daughter of an American President, Margaret Truman Daniel was a talented vocalist and skillful journalist in radio and print media throughout much of the 1950s. It was around this time that Ms. Truman Daniel would meet her husband, Clifton Daniel, with whom she would later raise four boys, Clifton, William, Harrison and Thomas.

The 1984 recipient of the Harry S Truman Public Service award, presented annually by the City of Independence to an outstanding American citizen, and an acclaimed author, Margaret Truman Daniel was able to touch the hearts and minds of so many people in our country before passing away on January 28 of this year.

I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that all of us agree and concur in the passage of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H. Con. Res. 292, as offered by my distinguished colleague from Missouri, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. This resolution recognizes and honors the lifetime accomplishments of Margaret Truman Daniel. Margaret Truman Daniel, a singer and an author, was the one and only child of the late President Harry S Truman. Margaret Truman Daniel deserves no better tribute than that of being honored by members of the United States Congress.

Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was born on February 17, 1924, in Independence, Missouri. When Margaret Daniel Truman was 16 years old, she began taking voice lessons in Independence, Missouri, from Mrs. Thomas J. Strickler, a family friend. Mrs. Daniel graduated from George Washington University in 1946 and received a bachelor of arts degree in history. Her father. President Harry S Truman, took office one year before on April 12, 1945, gave her commencement address, and presented her with her diploma. She made her first outdoor appearance as a singer on August 23, 1947 at the Hollywood Bowl before a crowd of approximately 20,000 people with Eugene Ormandy conducting the orchestra. She later had her first concert on October 17, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel married Clifton Daniel on April 21, 1956, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri. They had four children; Clifton Truman, born June 5, 1957; William Wallace, born May 19, 1959 (died September 4, 2000); Harrison Gates, born March 3, 1963; and Thomas Washington, born May 28, 1966. The Daniels' family has five grandchildren.

Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was the author of 23 novels, non-fiction and fiction, including two biographies on her parents' lives. The biographies, Harry S Truman (1972) and Bess W. Truman (1986), described the lives of the former President and former First Lady from the perspective of their only daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel. After her father's death in 1972, Mrs. Daniel worked as an advocate for presidential libraries. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel died in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 83 on January 29, 2008.

It is not often in American history where the nation has the opportunity to witness the only child of a President of the United States become a singer and a novelist. Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel was widely known for these accomplishments but to many Americans she was so much more. She deserves to be honored today by our Nation.

Today, I seek to offer my condolences for her death, and also recognize her lifetime accomplishments. For these reasons, I strongly support H. Con. Res. 292 and urge all Members to do the same.

Mr. Davis of Illinois. I yield back the balance of my time.

I certainly thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration for a remarkable Missourian that I support this concurrent resolution. This measure was introduced by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, which honors the life of my late friend, Margaret Truman Daniel.

Margaret was a loving daughter, wife, mother, an accomplished vocalist, journalist and author. She was filled with the unique Truman spirit, and personified the plainspoken, no-nonsense nature of so many Show-Me-State residents. The qualities that defined Margaret as a person were instilled by her parents, President Harry S Truman and his wife, Bess. Throughout her life, Harry and Bess provided a steady hand and unfailing support and

love which allowed Margaret to flourish

But Missouri itself played a meaningful role in Margaret's life. She was always a proud Missourian. On one occasion, she returned to Independence and spoke about Missouri's influence on her. She stated, ``Even till today, I feel it in my bones. Although I have now spent much more of my life in Washington and New York than in Missouri, it is Missouri that has molded my character, my conduct, my sentiments, and yes, my prejudices; Missouri and its people, its customs, its attitudes, and its habits. These are ingrained in me.'' She added, speaking of her many Missourian artifacts and pictures in her home, ``So you see that on every hand I'm reminded of my Missouri, Jackson County, Independence heritage. I couldn't forget it even if I wanted to.''

Through the years, I had the great pleasure of working with Margaret on several occasions that honored her father's life. Her efforts gave added meaning to President Truman's legacy. Margaret was gracious, intelligent, wise, witty, and spirited. Truly her father's daughter. I was pleased that our paths crossed, as they did, during her lifetime.

She will long be remembered as an inspiration to those who knew her and to all Missourians. I was honored to call Margaret Truman Daniel my friend.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the committee and the work that has been done by Chairman Davis. All nine members of the Missouri delegation joined together to support this concurrent resolution.

As I think all people in this Nation know, Harry Truman was from Independence, Missouri, a part of the district that I currently represent, and we are very, very pleased and proud that Harry Truman not only rose to become President of the United States in 1948, but he contributed to our community in a number of ways.

And his daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel, was not a person who had her sights on becoming an individual in Washington who would garner a great deal of attention, but it was bestowed on her. And when her father chose to run for President, she actually traveled around with him on the ``Whistlestop'' campaign.

Once he became President, she did all of the things that the offspring of Presidents will in fact do. But she had more to offer than just being the President's daughter. She ended up being a great singer. She performed at the Metropolitan Opera, she was on the old ``Ed Sullivan Show,'' and then eventually had her own television show in Philadelphia, a daily show in Philadelphia.

She was such a factor in our community that on February 23, my colleague from Missouri, Ike Skelton, and I, along with all the members of the Truman family, buried her at the Harry Truman Library, alongside her parents in Independence, Missouri.

And so it is my hope that Congress can make its expression of support of Margaret Truman Daniel by passing this concurrent resolution.