Archive 2008 - 2019

Harry & Bess

by From the Publisher's Desk
3/13/2016

Contributing writer Charlie Collie discovered this article on the internet.

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 in augurated, 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.

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!

Comments (4)

Our country wouldn't have nearly as many problems if we had more men like Harry Truman. He was the last great democrat president!

Bill Duffy | 2016-03-16 09:46:05

Imagine if we had listened to Harry Truman in 1945 and passed National Health Care Insurance - it was defeated by intense lobbying from the AMA, American Bar Association, American Legion and others as being "Un-American" - the Republicans won control of the US Senate and House in the 1946 mid-term elections and effectively killed the measure - give 'em hell Harry

Lee DeSorgher | 2016-03-15 11:03:40

Washington, D.C. is now one of the most expensive cities in the world. it's not the sleepy town JFK was running around in during the 1950's. Politicians are the last ones to be left out of having the best. They are partly the blame, but it's also safe to say they are mostly to blame. It's no wonder voters are so upset, they know the system is rigged! Washington has three industries, government, restaurants, and lobbyists. Still, it's a beautiful city.

Charles Collie | 2016-03-13 15:54:11

REAL DEMOCRACY IS NOT FOR SALE. "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 "not for sale."

Warren Chamberlain | 2016-03-13 13:51:56