MR. PRESIDENT. THE FIRST PUBLICATION FROM THE PERSONAL DIARIES, PRIVATE LETTERS PAPERS AND REVEALING INTERVIEWS OF HARRY TRUMAN

New York: Farrar, Straus & Young, (1952). First Edition. Hardcover. Minor rubbing to the spine tips of the book. Near Fine in a Near Fine slipcase. Outstanding association. Quarto (8" x 11") bound in full blue synthetic leather with gilt lettering on the spine and front cover consisting of a quote by Truman. Illustrated with numerous facsimiles of Truman's writing, drawings, and photographs in color and black and white. This is one of only 250 numbered copies. Instead of a number, Truman has written the initials "G.M.E." for the recipient of the copy. Further the book is INSCRIBED by Truman as President below the initials "To: Hon. George M. Elsey,/From: The President./White House./August 10, 1952." In addition, in the blank margin beneath the color frontispiece photograph of Truman at his desk, the President has written: "To an able & efficient public servant!" George Elsey worked in the White House Map Room during WWII briefing both Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill before becoming an Administrative Assistant to President Truman from 1949 until the end of 1951 when he left the White House staff to be the senior assistant to Averill Harriman who was named to the new post of director for Mutual Security in the Executive Office of the President. Elsey remained in that position until January 1953 and the end of the Truman administration. As Truman's assistant, Elsey accompanied Truman to the Potsdam Conference and worked on most of Truman's important speeches, having an important role in shaping them to conform to Truman's natural, off-the-cuff, forceful style. It was to Elsey in 1945 that Truman handed his historic handwritten note to be transmitted to the War Department authorizing the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

George Elsey went on to serve as President of the American Red Cross.