Robert B. Landry Oral History Interview

This document is an oral history interview with General Robert B. Landry, conducted by James R. Fuchs on February 28, 1974, at the Harry S. Truman Library. Landry served as the first United States Air Force Aide to President Harry S. Truman from 1948 to 1953. The interview covers a wide range of topics regarding his tenure, including his appointment, his duties as an aide, his relationship with the President, and his involvement in various high-level government matters. Landry discusses the President's management style, his loyalty to his staff, and his interactions with military leaders such as General Carl Spaatz, General Omar Bradley, and General Douglas MacArthur. He provides anecdotes about the President's daily routine, including his exercise habits and poker games, and reflects on significant historical events such as the Berlin airlift, the Korean War, and the Wake Island meeting with MacArthur. Landry also details his role in special assignments, such as the investigation into the 'witch-hunting' hysteria of the McCarthy era and the selection of a site for the new Washington International Airport. Notably, the addendum to the transcript includes a section on UFOs. Landry states that during his time in office, the President was exposed to UFO reports and, while he did not give them much serious thought, he directed Landry to consult with Central Intelligence and report quarterly on whether any incidents posed a strategic threat to national security. Landry confirms that all such reports were made orally and that nothing of substance considered credible or threatening was ever received from intelligence. The document provides a personal and professional perspective on the Truman administration, emphasizing the President's character, integrity, and leadership.