btericam Yewish Perla- cal Cotter
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO
Page Three
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
Friday, April 12, 1946
-Jo
PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S BUDDY
(Eddie Jacobson, Former Busi-
ness Partner of America's Chief
Executive, Reveals Intimate
Glimpses of Links that Have
Bound Them Together Since Sol-
diering Days in World War 1).
By
Samuel S. Mayerberg, D.D.
". . . Then President Truman
ordered some shirts from Eddie
Jacobson, who had been his part-
ner when he was a haberdasher
in Kansas City, and a member of
his battery in the last war .. .
The President a n d Jacobson
talked together over the counter
and were photographed . ." —
News Item, June 28, 1945.
Edward Jacobson's eyes shone
with a radiant light of joy as he
spoke, and a flush of pleasant ex-
citement suffused his cheeks: "It
is like a tale out of Arabian
Nights! Just think of it, rabbi,
the great President of the United
States was my business partner
and now he holds the most im-
portant position on earth! Noth-
ing like it can be found outside
the pages of a fairy story."
Edward has been a member of
my Reform congregation for
many years—a faithful and de-
vout member. Accompanied by
his wife and children he regular-
ly attends our Sabbath services
on Friday nights. Furthermore,
he is an active member of my
Temple Brotherhood, serving on
its board, and never misses one
of its functions. He heads our
corps of ushers at High Holyday
services.
CLOSE FRIENDS
We are close personal friends
and, therefore, it was not diffi-
cult for me to get Eddie to talk
about a subject so dear to his
heart, lie is usuall:, quite taci-
turn, but when I dropped in one
afternoon to see his beautiful new
store and said, "Eddie, thousands
of our fellow Jews throughout
America might be interested in
your friendship and former busi-
ness connection with President
Truman. Will you tell me in
some detail about it, so I can
write an article on the subject
for LIBERAL JUDAISM?" His
face lighted up and he became
almost garrulous!
"That is a subject," he replied,
"that always fascinates me, rab-
bi, and I will tell you anything
you want to know."
Giving his clerks instruction
not to interrupt us until we were
through, he led me into his of-
fice and we seated ourselves to
enjoy a long and happy conver-
sation.
"Tell me, Eddie, how your
friendship with Harry Truman
began."
With an almost beatific look
on his face, Edward answered:
"War was declared in April,
1997, and in June I enlisted as
a private in the 2nd Field Artil-
lery of the Missouri National
Guard. Harry was then 2nd lieu-
tenant of that company. On Aug-
ust 5th we were mustered into
the United States Army, 129th
Field Artillery, and were sent to
Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, for
training. There Harry Truman
was appointed Exchange Officer
in charge of the regimental can-
teen. I was Supply Sergeant at
that time, but Harry had me
transferred as Exchange Ser-
geant."
IMPORTANT BOOK
when I went into town, I would
mail them.
"Our regiment went overseas
on June 7th, 1918, and we served
in Vosges Mts., St. Mihiel, the
Argonne and Verdun. Harry be-
came the Captain of Battery D,
and no man was more respected
or beloved than he. We partici-
pated in a lot of heavy fighting
right up to the end.
"We were discharged in May,
1919," continued Jacobson, "and
we looked about for something
to do. I had had business expe-
rience before the war and, since
we saw each other frequently and
were intimate friends, we decided
to go into business together. We
waited for a store to be remod-
eled on 12th Street, near Balti-
more Avenue, and we opened up
in November, 1919. We continued
in business until 1922. Those
were happy years! We were not
only business partn e rs but close
friends, frequently in each other's
homes.
"I was the buyer and Harry
was the bookkeeper. We both
waited on trade and we would
take turns opening the store and
closing it. The store became a
kind of meeting place for the
buddies of our regiment. Then
came the depression and . we had
to close up. I became a traveling
salesman while Harry went into
local politics."
At this point I interrupted Ja-
cobson: "Eddie, just why did the
Jacobson reached into his desk-
drawer and drew out a nicely
bound volume, "The Artillery-
man," and cheerfully said: "This
is one of the most important
books in the world to any man
of the 129th Regiment and here
is what it says about the can-
teen—"
One of the first acts of the
regimental authorities after
arrival at Camp Doniphan
was the establishment of a
regimental exchange or
"Canteen" under the respon-
sible supervision of 1st
Lieutenant Harry S. Truman,
with the assistance of Ser-
geant Edward Jacobson of F
PASSOVER GREETINGS!
Battery.
With a reminiscent look in his
eyes and a half-sheepish grin on
his face, Jacobson said: "Our
friendship became intimate from
MICHIGAN BAG AND
then on. Each day Harry would
BARREL CO.
write a letter to his girl, Bess
Wallace, and I would write one
4825 RUSSELL ST.
to my sweetheart, Bluma Rosen-
baum, who is now my wife, and ■
04•114.0 ■0■0 0.4=4.1 ■1
.0.14 ■ 0.M•40•041M1. ■
A VERY JOYOUS PASSOVER TO ALL
DICK CONNELL, Inc.
23 YEARS A CHEVROLET DEALER
NEW AND USED CARS
TWinbrook 1-0600
12020 JOS. CAMPAU
After 9 P. M. Sundays and Holidays—TEmple 1.6300
•■••■•■••■•
•■••■
firm of Truman and Jacobson
fail? I ask the question because
so many shallow-minded people
associate auccesa in life only with
business and financial success.
Some may even think that be-
cause Mr. Truman failed in the
haberdashery business, twenty-
three years ago, he can't be a
great president now. You don't
have to answer the question if it
embarrasses you."
In eager tones, Jacobson re-
plied: "On the contrary, I am
glad to answer it. In spite of our
hard work and long hours, in
spite of careful administration of
the store, we couldn't keep it go-
ing because the inflation of the
Mellon boom caught us when de-
pression came, Overnight the
stock for which we had paid such
high prices depreciated in value
until it was worth almost noth-
ing. Harry and I had very small
financial resources and we could
not weather the storm." With a
glow of pride, he continued: "We
were hit hard but, over the fol-
lowing years, Harry and I paid
every debt. It took a lot of sacri-
fice, but both of us are glad that
the old firm of Truman and Ja-
cobson doesn't owe anybody a
dime.
"By the way, rabbi, I wish you
would explain how Harry went
into politics. It was through
young Jim Pendergast, nephew of
Tom Pendergast. Jim was a fel-
low officer in the 129th Regiment
and he suggested to Harry that
he ought to run for some public
office. Jim introduced him to
Tom, That was a fortunate cir-
cumstance for Harry and you
know, as well as everybody else
knows, that in each office he has
held, Harry Truman has been
above reproach in his personal
and political life."
NOT MACHINE PRODUCT
Jacobson's eyes flashed with
anger as he proceeded: "Sonic of
the eastern papers and maga-
zines occasionally refer to Harry
4
Passover Greetings and
Best Wishes to .411!
*
Humboldt Egg Co.
A VERY JOYOUS PASSOVER TO ALL
FRIGID FOOD PRODUCTS
INCORPORATED
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. R. Roth
Mr. and Mrs. Julius Green
1599 E. WARREN
TEmple 1-7900
4.
PASSOVER
GREETINGS
To you, friends and neighbors,
whom we have been privi-
leged to serve over the
many years, we ex-
tend our greetings
KERSCHER
ELEVATOR CO.
Parts
e
and best
and Grates
wishes.
20547 FENKELL AVE.
4624 HAMILTON AVE.
REDFORD 2167
C. J. Leggert
PLUMBING — HEATING
Furnaces Vacuum Cleaned
Passover Greetings and
Best Wishes to All!
K. SHAPIRO,
Best Wishes
for
Wholesale
VEAL and LAMB
1531.3 WINDER ST.
CHerry 1291
A Happy and Joyous
Passover
Passover Greetings to All!
Ridal's Service
Station
"That Good Gulf Gas"
Brakes Lined and Adjusted
Cars Washed
Cor. Milwaukee and John R.
PETER RIDAL
TRINITY 2.9698
THE DETROIT BANK
COMMERCIAL and SAVINGS BANKING
Main Office: GRISWOLD at STATE
Member F. D. I. C.
32 Convenient Offices Throughout the City
THE
DOW
CHEMICAL
COMPANY
Midland, Mich.