This is a placeholder text
Group text
by keepthefaith on 23 April 2011 - 16:04
Got this email today - checked it on Snopes and it is substantially accurate
********************************************************************************************
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding his 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.
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!
********************************************************************************************
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding his 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.
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!
by SitasMom on 23 April 2011 - 16:04
straight shooter
ended the war (WW2)
common sense
didn't take a lobby job after his term
went back home and lived in near poverty after his presidency
physically conservative - opposite of FDR
he had greatness thrust upon him and stepped up to the task
had a sign on his desk "the buck stops here".
he put our country over himself
the last "Statesman" American has had......... we so need another.
ended the war (WW2)
common sense
didn't take a lobby job after his term
went back home and lived in near poverty after his presidency
physically conservative - opposite of FDR
he had greatness thrust upon him and stepped up to the task
had a sign on his desk "the buck stops here".
he put our country over himself
the last "Statesman" American has had......... we so need another.
by ziegenfarm on 24 April 2011 - 20:04
hmmm. had easter dinner with my folks today. they talked about "give em hell, harry." said we needed another like him. all i can say is that sometimes we need to take a step back in order to go forward. a step back to our conservative roots may give us a clear path to the future.
pjp
pjp
by lovejags on 25 April 2011 - 06:04
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CLEARER PAT TO THE FUTURE
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top