More from Harry Truman's diary......

June 28, 1948

     Bess and I are eating supper on the south porch of the White House at 7 p.m.  I am facing the Jefferson Memorial across the White House lawn.  There is a fountain in the center of the lawn surrounded by petunias - we had dwarf cannas last year, and the Jap beetles ate them into rags and tatters.
     A ball game or two goes on in the park south of the lawn.  Evidently a lot of competition, from the cheers and calls of the coaches.  A robin hops around looking for worms, finds one and pulls with all his might to unearth him.  A mocking bird imitates robins, jays, red birds, crows, hawks - but has no individual note of his own.  A lot of people like that.  Planes take off and land at the National Air Port south of the Jefferson Memorial.  It is a lovely evening.  I can see the old Chesapeake and Potomac Canal going across the Washington Monument grounds, barges anchoring west of the Monument.  I can see of J. Q. Adams going swimming in it and getting his clothes stolen by an angry woman who wanted a job.  The old guy didn't have any guards or it wouldn't have happened.  Then I wake up, go upstairs and go to work and contemplate the prison life of a President.  What the hell!