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It's noon on January 20th, 1945, on the South Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Harry Truman lowers his right hand and steps away from a lectern set up before a small crowd.

Pride burns in his heart because he's just been sworn in as vice president of the United States.

Truman glances over at President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only person seated on the portico.

Roosevelt lifts his arm slightly as his son and a secret service agent grasps him underneath his shoulders and hoist him from his wheelchair.

Roosevelt then himself places his hand on a Bible and takes his oath of office.

As he finishes, cheers erupt below.

The president waits for them to subside. Then, gripping a lectern with both

hands, he begins to deliver a prepared speech. But Harry Truman, the new vice president, barely

listens to the commander-in-chief's fourth inaugural address. He's too distracted by the sight of

Roosevelt's arms, trembling with the effort of holding himself upright.

Roosevelt keeps his speech short, and a military band begins to play

while Roosevelt's son and the Secret Service agent help him back to his wheelchair.

As the president mops his sweaty brow with a handkerchief, Truman wonders whether Roosevelt

told him the truth about his health and ability

to serve an unprecedented fourth term in office. His stomach knots as he considers a sobering

possibility, and if Roosevelt dies within the next four years, it's Truman who will have to

succeed him as the next president of the United States.

...