Margaret Truman Dies

On Tuesday, Margaret Truman Daniel died at the age of 83. The AP reports that she died at a Chicago assisted-living facility following a brief illness. She had been at the facility for a few weeks.

She was the daughter of President Harry Truman and his wife, Bess. Mrs. Daniel was the only child the couple had, and she was born in Independence (Missouri) on February 17, 1924.

She had a varied career as a concert singer, actress, radio and TV personality, and author. She is perhaps best known today as a well-respected writer in the mystery genre. She wrote Murder in the White House in 1980, and it was very well-received. She followed up with several other mystery novels, all set in government locations in Washington, D.C.

She said of her years living in the White House, "I feel that I've lived several different lives and that was one of them. Some of it was fun, but most of it was not. It was a great view of history being made. The only thing I ever missed about the White House was having a car and driver."

She is pictured above with her father.