Buzz
Numerous children of U.S. presidents have authored nonfiction works, providing unique insights into the lives of those who held the nation's highest office. Margaret Truman Daniel, the sole child of Harry and Bess Truman, contributed to this genre with books like Harry S. Truman (1973), Bess W. Truman (1986), and Letters From Father: The Truman Family’s Personal Correspondence (1981).
While working on a nonfiction project about White House children, Daniel grew disinterested and set it aside. However, her fascination with 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue persisted. During a meeting with her agent, she shared an idea for a mystery novel titled 'Murder in the White House.' Reflecting on the moment, she remarked in a 1990s interview, 'I don’t know where those words came from.'
Given her insider knowledge of the White House, publishers eagerly acquired her scandalous tale. Murder in the White House, which revolves around the mysterious death of a corrupt secretary of state in the Lincoln Bedroom, debuted in 1980. This marked the beginning of a prolific series of Washington-based mysteries, with new installments appearing almost every year for decades (the series continues today).
“My mother appears to hold strong, often negative, opinions about nearly everyone in Washington,” Daniel’s son Clifton noted in his memoir. “That’s why she writes those murder mysteries: to eliminate them one by one.” He wasn’t wrong—though Daniel stopped writing the books herself after the first installment (her publisher employed a ghostwriter), she continued to shape the storylines. “I recall Margaret telling me during our first meeting, ‘I want the speaker of the House killed,’” ghostwriter Donald Bain revealed to The Kansas City Star.
Daniel’s skepticism toward Washington insiders resonated with many readers. The success of Murder in the White House led to its adaptation into a film—Murder at 1600 (1997), featuring Wesley Snipes and Diane Lane.
Yes, this one.
Interestingly, Margaret’s initial career aspirations were in music, not writing. She debuted as a concert singer on national radio with the Detroit Symphony in 1947 and toured across the United States, including a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.
Her father, the sitting president at the time, famously penned a letter to The Washington Post music critic Paul Hume, who remarked that Truman “cannot sing very well, is often flat,” and “lacks the polish of a professional singer.”
True to his nickname "Give 'Em Hell Harry," he didn’t hold back, labeling Hume “a bitter old man who never achieved success,” and warning that if they ever met, Hume would require “a new nose, plenty of beefsteak for black eyes, and maybe even a supporter downstairs!”
Feel free to evaluate her abilities yourself:
