[294] In February 1953, Truman signed a book deal for his memoirs, and in a draft will dated December of that year listed land worth $250,000, savings bonds of the same amount, and cash of $150,000.[292] He wrote, "Bonds, land, and cash all come from savings of presidential salary and free expense account. It should keep you and Margaret comfortably."[292]
The writing of the memoirs was a struggle for Truman and he went through a dozen collaborators during the project,[295] not all of whom served him well,[296] but he remained heavily involved in the result.[297] For the memoirs, Truman received a payment of $670,000 (equivalent to $6,777,404 in 2021).[298] The memoirs were a commercial and critical success.[299][300] They were published in two volumes: Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions (1955) and Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Years of Trial and Hope (1956).[301][302]
Former members of Congress and the federal courts received a federal retirement package; President Truman himself ensured that former servants of the executive branch of government received similar support. 