Blair House Attack

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A White House Police Officer was killed when two terrorists attacked the temporary home of President Truman on November 1, 1950. This assault on the American Executive Mansion (the White House was being reconstructed at this time and could not be used) was conducted by people seeking full independence for the United States’ Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

What can your group find out about the attack on Blair House and President Truman? Can you find stories? Pictures? Newspapers? Can you find a map showing where Blair House is?

Can you find pictures or stories of the White House being re-built during this time? When was the White House first built? The President lives in the White House, what else happens there?

Why does Puerto Rico "belong" to the United States? What does "belong" mean? Where is Puerto Rico? What language(s) do people speak there? What kind of government does Puerto Rico have?

Why do you think these men tried to kill the President? What were they trying to do?

What did people think when Blair House was attacked? Is that attack remembered today?

The New York Times Attack on President Truman (November 1, 1950)

Wikipedia Entry on Blair House Attack

Protest at the White House

The New York Times Remembers Attackers of Blair House (February 23, 1994)

Attack on President Truman at Blair House (YouTube newsreel, November 1, 1950)

Blair House, Washington, D.C. Memorial

Above: Blair House in 1951

Below: One of the attackers lies dead