“Presidential Families Weekend” in Key West, Florida, to feature gathering of Presidential descendants in forum discussion, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” stage production and more
A moderated forum discussion among a panel of distinguished presidential descendants on Saturday, February 15, is to be the centerpiece event of this year’s “Presidential Families Weekend” at the Key West Truman Little White house in Key West, Fla. (Photo: Carol Tedesco/TrumanLittleWhiteHouse.org)
The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with The Society of Presidential Descendants, is pleased to host a multi-day series of special events in celebration of Presidents’ Day Weekend, set for Thursday, Feb. 13 through Monday, Feb. 17 on the elegant tropical grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., Key West, Florida.
Events officially kick off on Thursday, Feb. 13 with “Happy Hour at Harry’s.” From 5:30 to 7:30pm, ticket holders can enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and a specialty bourbon cocktail, beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverage at the Truman Little White House, while enjoying the historically appointed living room, poker porch, and “Harry’s Bar.”
The long weekend’s centerpiece is a Saturday, Feb. 15, forum discussion to be held among a panel of distinguished presidential descendants before a live audience. Moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham, the former Director of Independence, Missouri’s federally operated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, the topic under discussion will be “Historic Preservation—artifacts, objects and sites. Preserving our nation’s history for future generations.”
Scheduled participants represent a notable “Who’s Who” of presidential descendants: James Carter, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland; Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of 27TH U.S. President William H. Taft.
Following the forum discussion, attending presidential descendants will introduce winners of this year’s Monroe County student essay competition, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.
Returning by popular demand for the 2025 Presidential Families Weekend, actor Clifton Truman Daniel will deliver two live performances of “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”, the long running, acclaimed one-man-show written by Samuel Gallu that spotlights the life and presidency of his grandfather, Harry S. Truman. The fast paced, faithful to history, and often humorous one-man-show is set for Sunday evening, Feb. 16, and Monday evening, Feb. 17, outdoors on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House.
During the daytime on Monday, Feb. 17, the Little White House grounds will provide the setting for a family-friendly Presidents’ Day cookout, with hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hotdogs available for purchase. A cash bar will also be available, and attendees are welcome to bring a picnic blanket for the lunchtime event.
Other Presidential Weekend offerings are to include guided tours of the Historic Little White House, self-guided botanical lawn tours, and for Foundation members, ancillary cocktail parties with presidential descendants.
Held at the site where 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman spent 11 working vacations from 1945-53, Key West’s event is the largest annual Presidents Day Weekend gathering of presidential descendants in the country. Traditionally hosted by The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in 2022 the Foundation partnered for the first time with the Society of Presidential Descendants, a membership organization for individuals with direct lineage to one or more of the forty-six United States Presidents.
The “Presidential Families Weekend” is presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.
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