GIVE 'EM HELL, HARRY

Way back during the closing days of World War II I fondly remember the Presidency of Harry S. Truman. He was a feisty politician who came under a great deal of criticism, but he stood his ground and was legendary for standing up to the hostile Washington press corps. Truman told off the press when they ran critical comments about his daughter’s singing abilities.

One of the interesting historical facts was that President Franklin Roosevelt never told his Vice-President anything about the development of the atomic bomb, and Truman learned about it upon Roosevelt’s death. History has proven that Truman was one of our better Presidents, and of course will be known in our history books for his decision to drop the atomic bomb that ended World War II. Here is a copy of an email that has been floating around the internet which provides an extremely interesting perspective to his methods of operation that certainly could be beneficial in today’s economic circumstances.

"We will never see this again

Thought you'd enjoy this one! This one you want your Children and Grandchildren to read.

They won't believe this happened, but it DID.

Harry & Bess

This seems unreal.....

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 in Independence 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 to Missouri 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. (e.g. Illinois )

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

I say dig him up and clone him!!

This is not sent for discussion."

Harry Truman was a strong willed Democrat to his core, and I am certain he would address our current economic problems in a totally different way than the current occupant of the White House.

COMMANDER GRANGER