The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World—A Fast-Paced Chronicle of Truman’s Tumultuous First Days Amidst World War II

by A.J. Baime

With Connelly’s help, Truman commandeered a military plane and took off. His presence at Pendergast’s funeral was the talk of the town in Washington; even Truman’s political opponents had to admit, it was a gutsy move. “That was one of the greatest things he ever did in the minds of the political public,” Connelly said. “It was awfully popular.”