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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Oct. 25, 1963
Ex-President Truman Frolics at Grinnell College
GRINNELL, Iowa — (UPI) — With all the breezy pep of a college freshman, former President Harry S. Truman today laughingly absorbed a whack from an initiation paddle and shrugged off a tumble into a clump of campus shrubbery.
In most cases, he said, negotiations with foreign countries are best handled by the president "acting as mediator, discussing issues with
AFTER DORMITORY president Ken Richards of Naperville, Ill., made a light swing with the paddle, Truman straightened up, grinned and said: "Well, that's not so bad."
Truman, still full of vigor, despite his 79 years, emerged unhurt from his slip and fall at the start of his traditional early morning stroll and his staged initiation into a men's dormitory at Grinnell College.
He lost his balance as his foot slipped two or three inches to the ground and he toppled into the clump of shrubs. He jumped up quickly. While aids were still brushing dust from his suit he jovially began signing autographs for the children.
Then he complied with photographer's pleas that he repeat the performance.
"If I had hit hard I would have had at least 50 per cent of the people on my neck," he said.
heads of the states individually" and reaching agreements through mutual understanding."
The Democratic elder statesman breezed through his second and concluding day as "politician in residence" at the college he jokingly calls "my alma mater."
Richards explained why he swung lightly.
"They wouldn't be good photographers if they didn't want one more," he said.
HE TOLD STUDENTS that presidents at summit conferences deal with "some of the stiffest necked people in the world." He obligingly tried to answer for students of international politics "all the questions you think I've got sense enough to answer."
Truman slipped off a sidewalk curbing as he was leaving the college guest house with about 50 persons, including grade school and pre-school children, crowding around him.
VOLUBLE AS EVER, Truman did not brush off autograph seekers by scribbling only his name. He wrote a brief message to each child. To Craig Baumann, 4, youngest of the lot; Truman wrote:
A few hours later, Truman was initiated into West Norris Hall. The ex-president smilingly assumed the proper position and took the whack of a wodden paddle at the appropriate spot of the anatomy.
In an international affairs class conducted by Assst. Prof. James R. Magee, Truman told students he did not approve of handling foreign af- fairs at conferences between heads of state "except in extreme cases where emergencies make them necessary."
Some of the delighted children held their history books open to a page with the former president's picture on it.
"May Craig always be happy and lüüky."
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