Harry Truman --- A Different Kind of President

[John317]

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. (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!!

A FWD my sister sent me. It's all true. They don't make 'em like Harry any more.

[phkrause]

Here's an interesting read on HST.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman