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Truman Assassination Attempt

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  • The Truman Assassination Attempt - Photo 1

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    Blair House stands at 1651 Pennsylvania Avenue, across the street from the White House. Harry Truman was in residence here during his second term when the assassination attempt took place. Today it is an official state guest house for the president. Note the guard booth, which no longer exists.

    Library of Congress

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  • The Truman Assassination Attempt - Photo 3

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    Leslie Coffelt was the Secret Service officer on duty in a guard booth outside Blair House. He was mortally wounded by Griselio Torresola but managed to kill Torresola before succumbing. He is the only Secret Service agent ever to die in defense of the president.

    U.S. Secret Service / U.S. Department of Treasury

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  • The Truman Assassination Attempt - Photo 5

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    The White House was renovated during Truman's second term. This is a glimpse of the renovation in progress, taken the day of the attack. It was because of these renovations that President Truman was residing in the Blair House.

    Truman Library

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  • The Truman Assassination Attempt - Photo 6

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    A letter to President Truman from former President Herbert Hoover, sent the day after the attack. Hoover declares that "assassination is not part of the American way of life."

    Truman Library

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