Even after leaving presidential office at a timewhen America was in its ascendance to globalpower, Harry Truman would callIndependence, Missouri, the "e;center of the world."e; It was already a townrich in the history of westwardexploration and spiritual pilgrimage before he began sixty-four years of residence there, but the way it shaped Truman andwas, in turn, shaped by him has defined Independence's legacy. That definingrelationship is explored here by Truman expert Jon Taylor as it never has beenbefore.