elwestb
Well-known member
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, Nebraska,LA,FL. etc.etc. )
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!!
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, Nebraska,LA,FL. etc.etc. )
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!!
