GOOD OLD HARRY TRUMAN

Good old Harry Truman was probably most of the most important presidents of the United States. No US president has ever been this honest or direct. You knew where you stood with Harry without any second guessing, presumptions or guessing games. He was simply as dead honest as Abraham Lincoln (a;though Lincoln was quite the politician, himself) and George Washington, the father of our country. But here is a unique story about Harry that you have probably never heard before. It really tells volumes about the man. Even though we should know that Harry Truma was a very different kind of President. "Give 'em Hell Harry" probably made as many, or mor important decisions regarding our nations history as any of the other forty-two Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his ultimate 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 thei years in the White House, Beth and Harry Truman lived their entire lives there. When Harry 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 dont 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. -- like in dear old 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 you the truth,there's hardly any difference! I say dig him up and clone him!! This is for discussion. I'm sure Lincoln and Washington would agree. Hell, they might even be there with the first shovels!