John Truman Discusses the Dedication of the Harry S. Truman Building
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want to go to Washington, where the State Department's headquarters is about to get a new name. A short time from now, the complex will be dedicated as the Harry S. Truman Building. Joining us from our Washington bureau, John Truman, a nephew of the late president. Mr. Truman, good morning. Thanks for joining us.</s>JOHN TRUMAN, PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S NEPHEW: Good morning.</s>KAGAN: An appropriate selection, the State Department headquarters for your grand uncle?</s>TRUMAN: I think so. I believe it recognizes the fact that he was one of the great presidents of the United States, and that his greatest achievements were in the foreign policy area. So I think it's appropriate to name the State Department headquarters after Uncle Harry.</s>KAGAN: Uncle Harry. We have played a trivia game about your Uncle Harry in the newsroom here yesterday. The question was: How many buildings or monuments in Washington are named after Harry Truman? Up until today, the answer: none.</s>TRUMAN: None.</s>KAGAN: I missed it. It was a trick question, I thought. But are you surprised, though -- Bill, my co-anchor, did get it right. We have to say that for the record. Are you surprised that, up until this point, that no buildings have been named after Uncle Harry, as you call him so affectionately?</s>TRUMAN: It's OK. This is the best tribute I think that there could have been given to President Truman. So it was worth the wait.</s>KAGAN: So why now? Why do you think, after this long wait, they are giving him the name of the State Department headquarters?</s>TRUMAN: Well, I think President Truman, while he was in office, was not popular as the years went on. But after he left office, I believe that recognition of his greatness has grown. And my understanding is that this was done by the Congress of the United States, unanimously. So I think there is bipartisan recognition of the fact that he was a great president. And he constructed the foreign policy that carried the United States through the Cold War, and I think this is recognition of that.</s>KAGAN: Well, congratulations to you and your family. It will be a special day indeed. John Truman, nephew of President Harry S. Truman, thanks for joining us this morning.</s>TRUMAN: Thank you.