The version I read was that Truman had refused to see the elderly Dr. Chaim Weizman who would become Israel’s first president (Ben-Gurion as prime minister), to give the U.S.’s blessing to the new Jewish state. Some mixup with the American Jewish Committee had angered Truman.
Eddie Jacobson had access to the Oval Office and made his case to Truman for Dr. Weizman. He concluded that Truman’s refusal was uncharacteristic, “it does not sound like you, Harry”.
Suddenly, Jacobson saw Truman drumming his fingers on the arm of his swivel chair (”I thought, he’s changing his mind”).
Then Truman wheeled about & smiled at Jacobson: “All right, you baldheaded sonofabitch! I’ll see him. Tell Matt to arrange a meeting as soon as possible after I get back from New York”.
The meeting took place, and American recognition of the new state of Israel was assured.
Yup, I read that version of events in McCollough’s Truman bio.