Video: 'Harry S. Truman — Bess Truman Christens an Ambulance Plane'

(Wednesday, May 30, 1945, Memorial Day; during World War II) — In her first public appearance as first lady, Bess Truman today tried to christen an ambulance plane at Washington’s National Airport with a unprepared bottle of champagne. Eventually a hammer is employed against the bubbly (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:51:40).