As one who knew friends of Truman in the Pendergast era I will voice that he kept him at arms length. Would he have attacked Pendergast? No but that’s it.
I worked with a former colleague who actually drove to Truman’s house in Independence on a Sunday afternoon unannouced during the American Royal livestock show. My colleague was attending Penn State and was on the livestock judging team. He was a big fan of Truman (actually named one of his sons Truman years later). When he showed up at the front gate, there was a retired sheriff who confronted him. After explaining his motivations to the guard, the guard went into the house, came out and invited him in to have breakfast with him and Bess.
Barry spent the entire day with Mr. Truman. Even went to a program with him later that day.
MFO