Three
Presidents of the United States have stayed on the
Island of Duck Key at the resort.
Visitors
to the Florida Keys
are usually unaware that a favorite refuge of
President Harry S. Truman was Duck Key and the
Indies Inn; now known as Hawks Cay Resort. Truman
began visiting the Florida Keys in November of 1946
when a White House physician decreed a vacation was
in order so that the President might rid himself of
a persistent cold and cough. Truman liked his visit
to Key West so much he returned many times to the
Florida Keys during and after his presidency. n
1964, the 80 year old former President came to Duck
Key and stayed at the Indies Inn. He arrived with
his two grandsons, his daughter, Margaret, and her
husband, Clifford Daniels, associate editor of the
New York Times. Truman held court early each
morning with a 30 minute brisk walk just as he did
when he was President. A fast walker, Truman
expected residents who joined him to kept up with
the pace. The people of the Florida Keys are "
always cordial and act like they're glad to see
us - and of course we're glad to see them."
Truman
told reporters he planned to stay on Duck Key for
two or three weeks or "as long as my money holds
out." Agreeing to having his name given to an
"appropriate" landmark on Duck Key he said ,
"It's an honor to me . You're the ones taking
the chance." The Truman Bridge spans the
waterway separating Indies Island from the
residences of Duck Key.
The
former president returned to Duck Key for several
winters after that. He swam in local waters, walked
island streets, and, if he kept to form, played poker,
and drank Kentucky Yellow Stone bourbon.
Presidents
Eisenhower and Johnson have also stayed at this best
of resorts.
For
more information on Truman go to
http://www.duckkeyonline.com/duck_key_history/truman_and_duck_key.htm
