“The Father of Basketball Coaching”, Phog Allen, didn’t just have the undying respect and devotion of everyone in the college basketball world, but his relationships extended far and wide across the United States, even to the doorstep of the White House. As a boy in Independence, Missouri, Allen lived on the same block as future president Harry Truman, and the two remained close to the end of their lives. It is no wonder therefore, that Phog did not hesitate to write the former president on behalf of his grandson, who was seeking a position in the Courier Service of the State Department. In the letter, dated December 3, 1958, Allen calls Truman “one of my good friends”. In his reply, which was typed on his personal letterhead, President Truman says about the Allen’s grandson that he’ll “keep his fingers crossed for him” with respect to the job he was seeking. Truman signed the bottom with “Harry” in black pen, with the signature rating a 9. The letter comes with a LOA from JSA. Also included are the letters that President Truman and Deputy Undersecretary of State Loy Henderson exchanged on this subject.