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

(Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 30, 1945; 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 1:50:44).