Post by psychecc on Aug 7, 2008 6:24:11 GMT -6
Found this in my email. No idea of the source. Just thought it was a nice reminder of a perhaps more ethical time.
Subject: Harry Truman
kinda puts politics into proper perspective......
What has happened to Politics ??
Harry Truman, from Missouri, was a different kind of President. He
probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation's
history as any of the other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his
greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.
Historians have written the only asset he had when he died was the
house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. On top of
that, his wife inherited the house from her Mother.
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 were 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.'
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
early 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.'
Subject: Harry Truman
kinda puts politics into proper perspective......
What has happened to Politics ??
Harry Truman, from Missouri, was a different kind of President. He
probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation's
history as any of the other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his
greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.
Historians have written the only asset he had when he died was the
house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. On top of
that, his wife inherited the house from her Mother.
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 were 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.'
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
early 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.'