(Friday, April 13, 1945; during World War II) — President Harry S. Truman arrived at the White House today to begin his first day in office (having succeeded to the presidency the day before upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt), telling reporters: “Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now…When they told me yesterday what happened, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me” (click here to watch a clip of Apr. 13, 1945, from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:32:16).