A
Anonymous
Guest
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 (cf. 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!