And He Was A Democrat

[Ron61]

I received this via e-mail this morning.

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was inIndependence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year..

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home toMissouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971 , when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I say dig him up and clone him!!


Ron

[BeanCounter]

Ron,

When I was kid in grade school I went to school about 6 blocks from Harry's home. He used to go on walks down Delaware and then head back home. Many times some of us kids would shout and wave and he was always cordial and waved back. I have a picture my Mom took when we were driving down Truman Road from Kansas City back to Independence and his car pulled up beside us with Harry and Bess in it..........Harry driving. He was quite the guy.

[Ron61]

Bernie,

That is great. I never saw him but I was in Independence several times when I was a kid. We need more like him IMHO.

Ron

[VRM]

Ron,
The nice thing about despising both political parties and pretty much all politicians is that I can really appreciate the rare gem that comes along.

Ike falls in that category for me as well. I may not agree with every decision they ever made, but I do think they were fine and honourable men who genuinely wanted the best for our country.

I think the most recent Presidents could learn quite a bit from them, though I think that integrity is something you grow up learning, and it is not something you can 'put on' when the voters need to see you looking 'Presidential'.

Steve

[Ron61]

Steve,

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I thought that line pretty well summed it up. I also liked Ike as I thought he had the country's interests ahead of his own. He took the German's Autobahn idea and made out first cross country highways.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

Unfortunately, 99% of today's politicians give the rest a bad name.

Wayne