“[Truman’s] consistent support for civil rights legislation was a natural consequence of his political origins as an ally of Tom Pendergast, the Kansas City political boss whose machine relied on loyal support from the city’s black wards. In explaining his vote for anti-lynching legislation, Truman told a southern colleague that the “the Negro vote in Kansas City and St. Louis is too important” to vote otherwise.” Civil RightsTrumanPolitical BossesBlack Voting Rights Author:Richard Gergel