Harry Truman had a way with words…
‘It doesn’t matter how big a ranch ya’ own, or how many cows ya’ brand, the size of your funeral is still gonna to depend on the weather.’… ……Harry Truman.
When President Truman retired from office in 1952, his income was substantially 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.
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.’
We now see that the Clintons and other past presidents, 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.
Was good old Harry Truman correct when he observed, ‘My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.
I, for one, believe the piano player job to be much more honorable than current politicians.
September 30, 2008 at 11:21 pm
My union leader Dad in 1950 loved HST as one of the greatest presidents that history will recognize. He was right. THE TWO OF THEM ARE ENJOYING A CIAGAR AND A RECORDING BY MARGERAT AT THIS MOMENT
October 9, 2009 at 10:11 pm
God bless Harry Truman for his candid truth. He would roll over in his grave if he knew how degenerated Washington, DC has become. I agree with J.D. Pendry on about everything he writes. It is too bad that all those people leaving hate-mail for and about him will never have a clue. If you were not there, you don’t have a clue and cannot possibly understand the special kind of person it takes to wear the uniform. I too was chosen for the Army’s top enlisted rank but was unable to serve in that position; old war injuries exacerbated and prevented any further service. I feel honored to have served for as long as I did. After 9/11 I notified the Army I would come back to active duty if called. Personally, I think J.D. Pendry should close those columns and prevent those hate-mongers from making a nuisance of themselves. Also, I think I will be a new target for the hate-mongers. But, I got their numbers!