#21 Press Release in our series Doing the Right Thing
We are about to elect a president of the United States. I want to look back at the qualities of some previous presidents. Harry S Truman was our 33rd president (1945-1953). He was raised in the Independence, Missouri. His father was a farmer and livestock dealer. Some notable facts about his life
He practiced the piano until the age of 15 rising at 5 am twice weekly to practice.
He worked as a timekeeper for the Santa Fe Railroad and slept in Hobo Camps
His wife Bess Truman turned him down the first time he proposed
He was turned down by West Point because his vision was poor. He enlisted in the National Guard passing his vision test by memorizing the chart 1905-1911
He reenlisted when World War I was declared. Captain Truman did not lose a man during the war while supporting George S Patton Tank Brigade in Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.
He was a Freemason and honorary member of the Supreme Council.
He chose to use the Nuclear Bomb on Japan to end World War II early saving possibly 500,000 American lives.
In 1948 Truman used an Executive Order to install civil rights in the Military
He spoke out against corporate greed and the dangers of Wall Street speculators as a Senator.
A Railway strike in 1946 stopped all passenger and cargo movement. Truman threatened to draft all striking workers and they agreed to end the strike
Recognized the establishment of Israel
Truman left the office of President with only his military pension of $112 per month. He published his memoirs for $670,000 but after paying 2/3’s toward taxes and his assistants, he netted $37,000. He financially survived by selling property he inherited from his mother, sister and brother.
Truman is remembered as exemplifying integrity and accountability. He had the lowest approval rating of any modern president when he left office but his approval has steadily risen since as historians and the general public review his work in office. He has been ranked as high as 5th among all former presidents.
We need another president of integrity and accountability.