[Key West, Florida] —Five descendants of U.S. presidents came together Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Fla., for the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation’s annual Presidential Descendants Forum. Presented in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants, this year’s event, themed, “The Legacy of President Carter,” offered a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, service, and responsible governance. 
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Leading the program were Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter, and grandsons James Earl Carter IV and Josh Carter, who spoke about their family’s enduring commitment to public service and humanitarian work. They commemorated Carter, who passed away at age 100 in late 2024, centering on his and his late wife Rosalynn’s lifelong dedication to human rights and compassion, and how those values continue to shape their endeavors today.

The discussion also featured Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, and Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman, who offered insights on stewarding presidential legacies and their ancestors’ shared belief in integrity and coalition building regardless of political party. Together, the panelists underscored that leadership extends well beyond elected office through service, advocacy, and public engagement, reflecting on moments of fellowship, shared experience, and the spirit of fraternity and mutual support that continues to unite them.

Reflecting on her father’s lifetime of dedication, Amy Carter recalled: “He really was a man of service, basically from the moment he was born.” Building on this legacy, James Earl Carter IV highlighted the opportunities of his grandfather’s later years: “He said the best job he ever had was being a former president, because he was able to use the fame that gave him to accomplish things he couldn’t as president.”

According to Josh Carter, Jimmy Carter’s post-presidency efforts included a highly successful Guinea worm disease eradication program, resulting in near-total eradication, and travels to North Korea and Liberia to promote peace. “He would go anywhere if he could plant the seeds of peace,” he said.

Through these reflections, the Carters emphasized the enduring principles of service, integrity, and leadership that defined their forebear’s legacy, as well as the partnership between Jimmy and Rosalynn—a bond that shaped their family life, political journey, and lifelong humanitarian work.

The Forum was moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham, president of the Adams Presidential Center and Foundation, who guided a thoughtful exchange blending personal reflection with historical perspective.

Held at the site where President Truman spent 11 working vacations between 1945 and 1953, the annual Presidential Descendants Forum is recognized as one of the nation’s most distinctive civic and historical Presidents’ Weekend gatherings.
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Presented in part by the not-for-profit Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Presidential Families Weekend and Forum events continue through Monday with two performances of the one-man play “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry,” starring Daniel as his grandfather, and a Monday Presidents Day cookout.   

KEY WEST, Fla. — America’s First Ladies were in the spotlight Jan. 23-24 at the Harry S. Truman Little White House, where the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation hosted a two-night program exploring their legacies and influence. Presented in partnership with America250, the event was part of a nationwide series of programs connected to the upcoming U.S. Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026.

The weekend opened Friday evening with a moderated panel discussion featuring Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride and Nancy Kegan Smith, co-authors of “Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women.” The authors discussed the evolving role of presidential spouses from the nation’s founding through modern times, drawing on their research and professional experience in presidential history, communications and public service.

Saturday’s program featured an intimate conversation titled “Remembering the Boss: Bess Truman,” with Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess Truman, and Anita B. McBride, a nationally recognized expert on the history and role of America’s First Ladies. Together, Daniel and McBride examined Bess Truman’s life and legacy, blending personal family perspective with historical and institutional insight.

Daniel shared reflections drawn from family memories and letters, while McBride contextualized these private moments through her recent contribution to “In Pursuit”— a national essay series focused on strengthening shared civic memory ahead of America’s Semiquincentennial—highlighting how Bess Truman navigated the complexities of life in the White House and left a lasting impact on the presidency.

Both evenings were moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham, president of the Adams Presidential Center and former director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, who guided conversations examining both the public responsibilities and private dimensions of presidential life.
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The mission of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation is to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and to provide programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historic and cultural influences of the Truman era.  America250 is a nonpartisan commission established by Congress to lead the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

KEY WEST, Fla. — On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with the Society of Presidential Descendants, will welcome five distinguished presidential descendants who will engage in a panel discussion entitled “The Legacy of President Carter,” moderated by presidential historian Dr. Kurt Graham, and staged on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West, Fla.

Recognized as one of the most distinctive civic and historical Presidents’ Weekend gatherings in the nation, this year’s Presidential Descendants Forum welcomes three Carter descendants: Amy Carter, daughter of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and grandsons James Earl Carter IV and Josh Carter, alongside Susan Ford Bales, daughter of 38th U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, and Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman.

Opening the event, presidential descendants will present cash prizes and certificates of achievement to the three winners of the 2026 Monroe County Student Essay Competition, whose works, reflecting this year’s topic, were judged by members of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Society of Presidential Descendants.

“The Presidential Descendants Forum presents audiences with a personal window into presidential history — not just through policy, but through family memory and lived experience,” said Clinton Curry, Executive Director of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation. “With the nation approaching its 250th anniversary, this year’s program also offers a timely opportunity to reflect on aspects of leadership, character, and service across generations.”

While the Forum centers on the Carter legacy, it also honors the broader continuum of presidential history represented by the panel. Susan Ford Bales brings the perspective of growing up in the White House in the period following Watergate, as well as her mother Betty Ford’s groundbreaking advocacy for women’s health and recovery. Clifton Truman Daniel offers reflections shaped by his grandfather’s leadership, as well as his own work promoting historical understanding, peace, and nuclear disarmament.

Held at the site where President Truman spent 11 working vacations between 1945 and 1953, the Presidential Descendants Forum is the largest annual Presidents’ Day gathering of presidential descendants in the country. 

Forum tickets are $40 for Foundation members and $60 for non-members. Doors open at 4:00 p.m., with a cash bar; the Forum begins at 4:30 p.m. Additional Presidents’ Weekend events run February 12–16 and include “Happy Hour at Harry’s,” performances of “Give ’Em Hell, Harry!”, and a traditional Presidents Day cookout.
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Event proceeds benefit the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation whose mission is to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and to provide programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historic and cultural influences of the Truman era.
For tickets and information, visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events

Actor Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman, returns in February to Key West, Florida, where by popular demand he will reprise the role of his legendary grandfather in the hit one-man show, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” Performances take place at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, and Monday, Feb. 16, on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St.


The shows are a highlight of the annual “Presidential Families Weekend and Forum” running Feb. 12-16 at the Harry S. Truman Little White House. The weekend features a live panel discussion with descendants of U.S. presidents, along with a “Happy Hour at Harry’s” trivia competition evening and a traditional Presidents Day cookout. Past performances of “Give Em Hell, Harry!” have sold out quickly – early tickets are recommended.


“Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” is presented by The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation with support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information, visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/

The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation announces a special two-evening celebration of American First Ladies, presented in partnership with America250, the organization leading the commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial. Taking place January 23 and 24, 2026, on the elegant tropical grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., Key West, FL, the events will explore the vital roles of America’s First Ladies through panel discussions, personal stories and expert insights.
 
The weekend events begin on Friday, Jan. 23, with a moderated panel discussion featuring the three co-authors of “Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women.” Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith will explore the influential roles of America’s First Ladies throughout history in a conversation that brings their groundbreaking scholarship to life. The panel discussion begins at 5:00pm and will be preceded by a book signing with all the authors.
 
Lauded by Smithsonian Magazine as “a timely consideration of the often overlooked, yet influential ways in which presidential spouses have shaped America,” “Remember the First Ladies” examines the impact of first ladies on civil rights, political campaigns, key speeches and life in the White House throughout the nation’s history.
 
The book’s authors bring diverse expertise to the conversation: Diana B. Carlin is Professor Emerita of Communication Studies at the Saint Louis University and a founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE). Anita B. McBride is author/co-author of three books about American First Ladies, served as Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, is Executive-in-Residence at American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, and a founding member of FLARE; and Nancy Kegan Smith, FLARE’s Immediate Past President, is a distinguished historian who has written extensively about presidential history and served as director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and Records Administration.
 
On Saturday, Jan. 24, programming continues with an intimate conversation titled, “Remembering the Boss: Bess Truman,” featuring Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of First Lady Bess and President Harry S. Truman and Anita B. McBride, author and internationally recognized expert on the legacies of America’s First Ladies and the workings of the White House. As the author of “Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman” and editor of “Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman 1919-1943,” Truman Daniel brings rare personal insight into the Truman family dynamic and his grandmother’s quiet yet formidable influence. Together, Daniel and McBride will offer a distinctive dialog that blends presidential family perspective with deep institutional knowledge. Gates open at 4:30pm; panel at 5:00pm.
 
Both evenings will be moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham, President of the Adams Presidential Center and former Director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. Dr. Graham’s deep expertise in Truman History and presidential scholarship will guide conversations that illuminate both the public duties and private realities of life in the White House.
 
“The stories of America’s presidency cannot be told without understanding the First Ladies who shaped the role and supported their partners through moments of crisis and triumph,” said Clinton Curry, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “We’re honored to welcome the authors who have documented these legacies and President Truman’s own grandson, who can share what Bess Truman was really like – not just as a First Lady, but as a grandmother, a partner, and the woman Harry called “The Boss.”
 
The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, also known as America250, is a non-partisan congressional commission created in 2016 to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To learn more about the organization and its nationwide initiatives, visit www.america250.org.
 
The mission of The Harry S. Truman Foundation is to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historic and cultural influences of the Truman era.
 
A cash bar will be available on site. Tickets per evening are $40 for Foundation members and $60 for non-members, available at https://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events.