“Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!”
On the evening of December 5th, 1950, a carefully selected 3500-strong audience filled Washington’s Constitution Hall to witness a singing performance by Margaret Truman, the only child of then-U.S. President Harry Truman (also in attendance), and, despite the generally held consensus that her singing talents were lacking, a wave of positive reaction greeted the aspiring singer after the concert. One person who refused to feign delight was the Washington Post’s music critic, Paul Hume …
Read an excerpt of Hume’s review and the irascible father’s response from Letters of Note.