Truman At Line Crossing On Ship (1947)

Unissued / unused footage - dates and locations unknown or unclear. September 1947. M/S of President Harry S Truman, his wife Bess and daughter Margaret standing on the deck of a ship - the Missouri? - at sea. View from the bridge as the ship forges through heavy seas with spray coming right over the top of the ship. A sick merchant seaman is transferred by breeches buoy from his own ship to the Missouri as Truman watches. Bess and Margaret Truman walk along the gangplank of the ship. Bess holds up a woman’s suit on a hanger. Shot is quite dark. They are followed by the President. They all get into a car and are driven off. Cut to scenes on the ship during celebrations and ’crossing the line’ ceremony. Several shots of sailors running the gauntlet and being dipped at the crossing the line ceremony. Lots of people in fancy dress costume. The President joins in the fun. He is seen wearing a T-shirt that reads ’Coach Truman Athletics Club’ and doing hand and arm exercises with sailors.