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What are some ideal qualifications for our President and for lesser offices of government? Here is what we should aim for.
President Harry S. Truman had most of the qualities needed in our highest office. Historians regard Truman as one of America’s greatest Presidents.
- He was very honest. His word was golden.
- He was decisive with each decision. He seldom waffled.
- He was well versed in the great books of history and literature.
- He enjoyed people and friends and his closely knit family.
- He knew how to quickly judge other politicians.
- He prized trust and loyalty and truthfulness in others.
- He had a determined attitude to succeed in every challenge.
- He had high integrity and could be non-partisan when called for.
- He displayed wisdom , common sense, and self knowledge.
- He was humble and never put himself above his country.
- He was not greedy and was mostly quite close to being poor.
- He never aspired to be famous or to become President.
Harry S. Truman has been called “The Accidental President” and rightly so. He was wisely appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt as a competent, hard-working, and unscrupulously honest man from Missouri. Truman served two terms as President and is now considered by some historians to be our best President since Abraham Lincoln. He skillfully guided the Nation and the World through the War and the critical post war years of rebuilding and new foreign policies.
Vice President Truman was thrust into the Presidents’ role at the sudden death of FDR in 1945, a few months before the end of WWII. These next few years ushered in a prolonged struggle for power both within the country and overseas. Truman displayed great wisdom and patience to guide us and the world to a better future against much opposition, including a hostile Republican Congress. The details of his administration are described in the biography entitled “Harry S. Truman”. This book is highly recommended for the serious student and scholar.
Truman drops the Bomb!
The Atomic Bomb was successfully tested and Truman did not hesitate to use it to end the war with Japan. It was a horribly destructive weapon but had to be used to end the war and save tens of thousands of lives on both sides. His strategies for using the two available bombs brought an immediate end to a long and bloody conflict. “I don’t mind telling you that you don’t feel normal when your plans of war involve the lives of so many people, friends and foe and the innocent. The decision had to be made and I made it. I could not worry about what history would say about my personal morality. I made the only decision I ever knew how to make. I did what I thought was right.”
Truman’s other achievements and actions include the Potsdam meeting with Stalin and Churchill involving the future of Europe and much of the world. He brought a rapid end to the war with Japan by his gutsy decision to drop two atomic bombs (He later tried to eliminate all atomic weapons). He deftly handled postwar domestic labor strikes, proposed a 21-point progressive program to Congress, developed the Marshall Plan, the CIA, the United Nations, and established our Foreign Policy, Promoted a Jewish State, and with great reluctance promoted the H-Bomb. He dealt with Joseph Stalin, Emperor Hirohito, Chiang Kai-shek, Mao tse-tung, Manchuria, China, Korea, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh and France, Palestine Policies, and the Greek-Turkish crisis. He thwarted soviet Russian expansion and their Iron Curtain, along with Senator Joseph McCarthy and The House Un-American Activities Committee. He proposed an ambitious Civil Rights Program, a National Health Policy, Medicare, and a Five-Year-Plan for Peace in the World. President Johnson was finally able to pass the Medicare Bill, signed into law in Independence, Mo. to honor Truman.
Yet, Democratic President Truman was constantly criticized by the press during his entire Presidency!
Truman waged a vigorous whistle-stop campaign and defeated the powerful Republican machine in his 1948 reelection against Thomas Dewey. He embarrassed the biased press which was estimated to be 90% conservative and had predicted a landslide victory for Dewey.
Truman won a solid victory in 1948 and carried a Democratic Congress with him.
His second term also held some critical decisions. When the North Koreans invaded South Korea, he swiftly, within hours, brought in the United Nations to initiate a Police Action and defeat the military expansion before Russia was able to veto the motion. Without this decisive action, Truman feared an escalation into World War III was possible. Our World today is better and safer due to his wise leadership.
Truman’s rousing last speech before the election is partly quoted below:
“People are waking up to the fact that this is their government, and they can control their government if they get out and vote on election day. That is all they need to do. … People are waking up that the tide is beginning to roll, and I am here to tell you that if you do your duty as citizens of the greatest Republic the sun has ever shone on, we will have a government that will be for your interests, and that will be for peace in the world, and for the welfare of all the people, and not just for a few.”
Truman’s words ring as true and relevant today as they did in 1948. The elitists are even more powerful and super-rich today, and the press is just as biased and wrong on the political issues. The press in 2015 is still controlled by the conservatives even though they claim otherwise. Do not believe what they say no matter how often they repeat it! … Pay attention and think for yourself.
Truman’s thoughts about the Free Press: … “The special interests controlled the press and it is difficult for the average citizen of this great republic to understand how a “Free Press” can be used to distort facts as a means of character assassination. I do not mean to condemn the whole press and charge all of the newspapers and magazines with this campaign, but the vast majority was guilty. A systematic attack against individuals were singled out and made the victims of character assassination in the hope of destroying public confidence in the administration and the government.”
As then, people must turn out to vote or they will lose all advantage to the 1% elitists. The elitist/conservative strategy is to “stir up the pot” to constantly divide and discourage us and thus keep us from voting! … Yes, … they actually do try to keep us from voting.
Truman’s parting words: … “Now I want to say something very important to you about the issue of morality in government. I stand for honest government. I have worked for it. I have probably done more for it than any other President. I have done more than any other President to reorganize the government on an efficient basis, and to extend the Civil Service merit system. I hate all corruption because it is the deadly enemy of all the things the Democratic Party has been doing all these years. I hate corruption everywhere.”
Harry S. Truman left the office of the President nearly broke financially. He was just an honest public servant and patriot. He declined the pressures for a “third term” as President to which he was legally entitled. He did not want to set a bad president as Roosevelt had done. Upon his return to Independence Missouri he was satisfied with the “Warmest demonstration that any man could ever have”.
Maybe someday, in the fullness of time, we will enjoy higher standards for all of our elected officials. When 80% of Americans turn out to Vote, then better qualified candidates will appear on our ballots.
PLEASE DO YOUR PART AND VOTE.
